L
ower‑budget buyers are shifting to markets where their dollars stretch farther. Several metros still have median home prices below $300,000—well under the national median of $425,000—offering affordable entry without sacrificing city perks. As Realtor.com’s senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones notes, “In these markets, home prices align more closely with local incomes, enabling typical households to afford the typical for‑sale home.”
**Top 10 metros with median prices under $300,000**
1. **Muncie, IN** – Median price $184,900; income $56,828. Home to Ball State University and Prairie Creek Reservoir, about an hour from Indianapolis.
2. **Toledo, OH** – Median price $199,900; income $63,133. Arts hub with the Toledo Museum of Art, roughly 60 miles from Detroit.
3. **Battle Creek, MI** – Median price $224,950; income $59,424. Ranked fifth‑best U.S. city for veterans, two hours from Detroit.
4. **Pittsburgh, PA** – Median price $245,000; income $72,935. Sports city with a growing tech sector.
5. **Cleveland, OH** – Median price $250,000; income $68,695. Lakeside parks and a burgeoning culinary scene.
6. **Scranton/Wilkes‑Barre, PA** – Median price $260,000; income $63,615. Near NYC and Philadelphia, known for breweries and historic theaters.
7. **Buffalo/Cheektowaga, NY** – Median price $259,900; income $71,055. Home to Frank Lloyd Wright designs, two hours from Toronto.
8. **Wichita, KS** – Median price $285,000; income $70,286. Renowned food scene and local theater.
9. **Frankfort, KY** – Median price $285,000; income $71,983. River town within an hour of Louisville and Lexington.
10. **St. Louis, MO** – Median price $291,990; income $79,869. Startup community, hiking, craft beer, and the Gateway Arch.
