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Best States for First-Time Home Buyers (2026)

First-time buyers need states that combine affordable home prices with strong down payment assistance programs and reasonable closing costs. Every state on this list offers FHA-eligible properties and dedicated first-time buyer programs. Here are the best states ranked by overall affordability for new buyers.

1
West Virginia
Median: $155KTax: 0.58%Insurance: $1,400/yr
$155,000
Median Home Price
2
Mississippi
Median: $175KTax: 0.8%Insurance: $2,400/yr
$175,000
Median Home Price
3
Arkansas
Median: $195KTax: 0.62%Insurance: $2,500/yr
$195,000
Median Home Price
4
Louisiana
Median: $195KTax: 0.55%Insurance: $3,500/yr
$195,000
Median Home Price
5
Iowa
Median: $210KTax: 1.52%Insurance: $1,800/yr
$210,000
Median Home Price
6
Kentucky
Median: $210KTax: 0.83%Insurance: $2,400/yr
$210,000
Median Home Price
7
Oklahoma
Median: $210KTax: 0.88%Insurance: $3,600/yr
$210,000
Median Home Price
8
Ohio
Median: $215KTax: 1.56%Insurance: $1,400/yr
$215,000
Median Home Price
9
Kansas
Median: $225KTax: 1.41%Insurance: $2,900/yr
$225,000
Median Home Price
10
Alabama
Median: $230KTax: 0.41%Insurance: $1,950/yr
$230,000
Median Home Price
11
Missouri
Median: $235KTax: 0.97%Insurance: $2,200/yr
$235,000
Median Home Price
12
Indiana
Median: $240KTax: 0.84%Insurance: $1,700/yr
$240,000
Median Home Price
13
Michigan
Median: $240KTax: 1.54%Insurance: $1,800/yr
$240,000
Median Home Price
14
Nebraska
Median: $245KTax: 1.73%Insurance: $2,800/yr
$245,000
Median Home Price
15
North Dakota
Median: $255KTax: 0.98%Insurance: $2,100/yr
$255,000
Median Home Price
16
Illinois
Median: $270KTax: 2.07%Insurance: $1,900/yr
$270,000
Median Home Price
17
New Mexico
Median: $280KTax: 0.8%Insurance: $1,900/yr
$280,000
Median Home Price
18
Pennsylvania
Median: $280KTax: 1.36%Insurance: $1,400/yr
$280,000
Median Home Price
19
Wisconsin
Median: $280KTax: 1.76%Insurance: $1,300/yr
$280,000
Median Home Price
20
South Dakota
Median: $295KTax: 1.22%Insurance: $2,300/yr
$295,000
Median Home Price
21
South Carolina
Median: $305KTax: 0.57%Insurance: $2,600/yr
$305,000
Median Home Price
22
Texas
Median: $310KTax: 1.8%Insurance: $3,800/yr
$310,000
Median Home Price
23
Minnesota
Median: $335KTax: 1.12%Insurance: $2,100/yr
$335,000
Median Home Price
24
Georgia
Median: $340KTax: 0.92%Insurance: $2,200/yr
$340,000
Median Home Price
25
North Carolina
Median: $340KTax: 0.78%Insurance: $2,300/yr
$340,000
Median Home Price
26
Tennessee
Median: $340KTax: 0.56%Insurance: $2,400/yr
$340,000
Median Home Price
27
Wyoming
Median: $340KTax: 0.61%Insurance: $1,800/yr
$340,000
Median Home Price
28
Alaska
Median: $350KTax: 1.19%Insurance: $1,400/yr
$350,000
Median Home Price
29
Maine
Median: $350KTax: 1.3%Insurance: $1,300/yr
$350,000
Median Home Price
30
Delaware
Median: $355KTax: 0.56%Insurance: $1,300/yr
$355,000
Median Home Price
31
Arizona
Median: $380KTax: 0.62%Insurance: $2,100/yr
$380,000
Median Home Price
32
Vermont
Median: $380KTax: 1.9%Insurance: $1,100/yr
$380,000
Median Home Price
33
Florida
Median: $395KTax: 0.86%Insurance: $4,200/yr
$395,000
Median Home Price
34
Virginia
Median: $400KTax: 0.82%Insurance: $1,700/yr
$400,000
Median Home Price
35
Connecticut
Median: $405KTax: 2.15%Insurance: $2,100/yr
$405,000
Median Home Price
36
Idaho
Median: $420KTax: 0.63%Insurance: $1,600/yr
$420,000
Median Home Price
37
Maryland
Median: $420KTax: 1.09%Insurance: $1,700/yr
$420,000
Median Home Price
38
Nevada
Median: $425KTax: 0.53%Insurance: $1,700/yr
$425,000
Median Home Price
39
Rhode Island
Median: $425KTax: 1.53%Insurance: $2,200/yr
$425,000
Median Home Price
40
Montana
Median: $430KTax: 0.74%Insurance: $2,100/yr
$430,000
Median Home Price
41
New Hampshire
Median: $430KTax: 2.09%Insurance: $1,400/yr
$430,000
Median Home Price
42
New York
Median: $430KTax: 1.72%Insurance: $2,100/yr
$430,000
Median Home Price
43
Oregon
Median: $480KTax: 0.93%Insurance: $1,400/yr
$480,000
Median Home Price
44
Utah
Median: $480KTax: 0.58%Insurance: $1,200/yr
$480,000
Median Home Price
45
New Jersey
Median: $505KTax: 2.47%Insurance: $1,500/yr
$505,000
Median Home Price
46
Colorado
Median: $520KTax: 0.51%Insurance: $3,200/yr
$520,000
Median Home Price
47
Washington
Median: $580KTax: 0.98%Insurance: $1,600/yr
$580,000
Median Home Price
48
Massachusetts
Median: $595KTax: 1.2%Insurance: $2,200/yr
$595,000
Median Home Price
49
California
Median: $785KTax: 0.73%Insurance: $2,200/yr
$785,000
Median Home Price
50
Hawaii
Median: $830KTax: 0.28%Insurance: $1,200/yr
$830,000
Median Home Price
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