The 10 best and 10 worst states to buy a home in 2026

• Median listing price: $299,000
• Median Household income: $65,000
• Population: 4,123,288

1. Arkansas
   

• Grade: B
• Median listing price: $300,000
• Median Household income: $61,000
• Population: 3,114,791

1. South Dakota
   

• Grade: B
• Median listing price: $379,000
• Median Household income: $77,000
• Population: 935,094

1. Delaware
   

• Grade: B
• Median listing price: $486,000
• Median Household income: $88,000
• Population: 1,059,952

1. Nebraska
   

• Grade: B+
• Median listing price: $346,000
• Median Household income: $77,000
• Population: 2,018,006

1. North Carolina
   

• Grade: B+
• Median listing price: $299,000
• Median Household income: $65,000
• Population: 11,197,968

1. Texas
   

• Grade: A-
• Median listing price: $300,000
• Median Household income: $61,000
• Population: 31,709,821

1. South Carolina
   

• Grade: A
• Median listing price: $379,000
• Median Household income: $77,000
• Population: 5,570,274

1. Iowa
   

• Grade: A
• Median listing price: $486,000
• Median Household income: $88,000
• Population: 3,238,387

1. Indiana
   

• Grade: A
• Median listing price: $346,000
• Median Household income: $77,000
• Population: 6,973,333

The 10 worst states for homebuilding and affordability

10. New Hampshire

Grade: D+

Median listing price: $586,123

Median Household income: $96,809

Population: 1,409,032

9. New Jersey

Grade: D

Median listing price: $556,344

Median Household income: $99,357

Population: 9,500,851

1. Montana
   

Grade: D

Median listing price: $628,387

Median Household income: $72,066

Population: 1,137,233

1. Oregon
   

Grade: D-

Median listing price: $564,005

Median Household income: $80,356

Population: 4,272,371

1. Connecticut
   

Grade: F

Median listing price: $518,892

Median Household income: $95,392

Population: 3,675,069

1. California
   

Grade: F

Median listing price: $742,305

Median Household income: $95,065

Population: 39,431,263

1. Hawaii
   

Grade: F

Median listing price: $767,360

Median Household income: $94,556

Population: 1,446,146

1. Rhode Island
   

Grade: F

Median listing price: $563,235

Median Household income: $85,698

Population: 1,112,308

1. Massachusetts
   

Grade: F

Median listing price: $763,660

Median Household income: $98,170

Population: 7,136,171

1. New York
   

Grade: F

Median listing price: $668,173

Median Household income: $82,657

Population: 19,867,248

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