In 21 of 25 major metros, the median income cannot buy the median home

Income required to qualify for a median-priced home versus HUD area median income. A ratio above 1.0 means a household earning the area median cannot qualify. Only Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Kansas City and Columbus clear the 28% rule.

PITI is MODELLED, not observed: 30-year fixed, 20% down, Freddie Mac PMMS rate of 7.0% (week ending April 2026), taxes and insurance included. AMI is a HUD administrative figure, not an observed income distribution, so this is a benchmark rather than a count of qualifying households. 25 metros, not a national sample.
Chart: Dreamy Leads ResearchSource: HUD FY2026 Income Limits; Freddie Mac PMMS (April 2026)Get the dataCreated with Datawrapper