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rlando, Florida. JillianCain/Getty Images

    WalletHub ranked 300 US cities to reveal the best and worst places for first-time homebuyers. Cities were scored on 22 factors, including housing costs, weather, crime rates, and school quality.

    First-time homebuyers face an uphill battle due to older generations holding onto large homes or the overall slowing of the housing market amid economic uncertainty. Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows a decrease in first-time homebuyers from 32% in 2023 to 24% in 2024, the lowest share since NAR began tracking in 1981.

    The median age of a first-time homebuyer increased from 35 in 2023 to 38 in 2024. However, some cities have better conditions than others for first-time buyers. WalletHub analyzed 300 US cities across 22 metrics, grouped into three key categories: affordability, the local real estate market, and quality of life.

    According to WalletHub, six of the best 10 cities for first-time homebuyers are in Florida, while all but one are in the South. California garnered the most cities at the bottom of the list.

    The top 10 cities for first-time homebuyers include:

    1. Palm Bay, Florida

    2. Boise, Idaho

    3. Tampa, Florida

    4. Surprise, Arizona

    5. Huntsville, Alabama

    6. Gilbert, Arizona

    7. Cape Coral, Florida

    8. Orlando

    9. Lakeland, Florida

    10. Sunrise, Florida

    The worst cities for first-time homebuyers include:

    1. Berkeley, California

    2. Santa Monica, California

    3. Oakland, California

    4. San Francisco

    5. Los Angeles

    6. Costa Mesa, California

    7. Santa Barbara, California

    8. New Orleans

    9. Anchorage, Alaska

    10. San Mateo, California