The most affordable city in the U.S. in 2025
In this DML Report…
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been identified as the most affordable city in the United States, according to a recent report by Realtor.com economists. In October, the median listing price in the Pittsburgh metro area stood at $250,000, which is more than $150,000 below the national median listing price. This positions Pittsburgh as the lowest-priced large housing market among U.S. metros. The city consists of 90 neighborhoods. In September 2025, the median list price was $269,000, reflecting a 3.5 percent year-over-year increase, while the median sold price reached $271,000.
Pittsburgh is the only major metro where becoming a first-time homeowner is more economical than paying monthly rent, based on a Realtor.com analysis from this summer. Among the 50 largest U.S. metros, it is one of only three considered affordable for median earners under the 30 percent affordability rule, which advises spending no more than 30 percent of pre-tax income on housing. In May, the typical for-sale home in Pittsburgh cost $249,900, requiring just 27.4 percent of median income to finance with a 20 percent down payment and a standard 30-year fixed mortgage rate.
(read more below)
The U.S. housing market faces ongoing challenges, with mortgage rates remaining near their highest levels in over two decades for nearly two years, acting as a barrier to entry, slowing demand, and fueling an affordability crisis. As of the latest data, the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.24 percent from 6.22 percent the previous week, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey. Anthony Smith, senior economist at Realtor.com, noted that the near-flat movement in rates indicates a broader market pause, influenced by fiscal and economic uncertainty, with the 10-year Treasury yield stabilizing but lacking drivers for significant changes.