Buying a home means more than simply finding listings in your budget. Potential buyers need to consider key factors such as the safety of the area and its livability score, to ensure the money spent provides the best possible return on investment for your lifestyle. If your homebuying budget is on the modest side, you’re in luck. There are at least 50 reputable metros with homes priced below $250,000 worth keeping on your radar.
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GOBankingRates was able to determine the 50 best places to buy homes under $250,000 by reviewing the 100 most populous cities where home values from February 2024 to February 2025 did not go above $250,000 and averaged below this amount via Zillow data. After identifying these 100 cities, GOBankingRates looked at each metro’s median household income, livability score out of 100, violent crime rate and property crime rate per 1,000 residents, unemployment rate and percentage of the population living below the poverty line to determine the rankings.
Ranked from first to 50th place, consider exploring these 50 metros with homes for sale under $250,000.
1. Lynchburg, Virginia
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Average home value (2024-2025): $246,165
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Livability: 91
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Median household income: $59,808
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Unemployment rate (%): 2.9
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People below the poverty line (%): 17.4
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 3.34
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 20.08
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2. Joliet, Illinois
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Average home value (2024-2025): $238,645
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Livability: 76
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Median household income: $88,026
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Unemployment rate (%): 4.4
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People below the poverty line (%): 11
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 4.05
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.09
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3. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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Average home value (2024-2025): $198,676
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Livability: 76
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Median household income: $67,859
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.2
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People below the poverty line (%): 11.8
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 2.99
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 28.81
4. Fort Wayne, Indiana
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Average home value (2024-2025): $225,442
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Livability: 84
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Median household income: $60,293
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.9
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People below the poverty line (%): 15.6
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 2.71
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 23.50
5. Florissant, Missouri
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Average home value (2024-2025): $180,892
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Livability: 73
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Median household income: $66,344
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.2
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People below the poverty line (%): 9.5
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 2.66
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 22.75
6. Independence, Missouri
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Average home value (2024-2025): $192,412
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Livability: 82
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Median household income: $59,480
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.2
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People below the poverty line (%): 15.3
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 2.00
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.26
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7. Des Moines, Iowa
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Average home value (2024-2025): $198,474
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Livability: 83
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Median household income: $63,966
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.1
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People below the poverty line (%): 14.9
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 7.04
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 33.38
8. Kenosha, Wisconsin
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Average home value (2024-2025): $240,042
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Livability: 82
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Median household income: $68,532
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Unemployment rate (%): 4.4
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People below the poverty line (%): 13.8
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 3.88
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.99
9. Odessa, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $231,950
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Livability: 74
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Median household income: $73,030
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.3
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People below the poverty line (%): 14.4
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 3.96
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 17.69
10. Tyler, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $244,781
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Livability: 74
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Median household income: $65,527
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.4
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People below the poverty line (%): 12.8
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 4.43
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 22.38
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11. Abilene, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $190,222
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Livability: 75
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Median household income: $62,720
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Unemployment rate (%): 2.9
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People below the poverty line (%): 14.8
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 4.42
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 17.41
12. Oklahoma City
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Average home value (2024-2025): $199,006
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Livability: 81
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Median household income: $66,702
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Unemployment rate (%): 2.8
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People below the poverty line (%): 15.2
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 6.37
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 29.48
13. San Angelo, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $216,133
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Livability: 73
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Median household income: $64,146
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.2
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People below the poverty line (%): 11.9
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 2.83
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 26.26
14. High Point, North Carolina
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Average home value (2024-2025): $242,247
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Livability: 76
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Median household income: $61,228
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.7
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People below the poverty line (%): 14.7
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 4.40
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 25.13
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15. Champaign, Illinois
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Average home value (2024-2025): $213,229
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Livability: 83
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Median household income: $57,544
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.3
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People below the poverty line (%): 23.9
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 4.27
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 18.14
16. El Paso, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $223,374
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Livability: 81
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Median household income: $58,734
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Unemployment rate (%): 4
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People below the poverty line (%): 18.4
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 3.38
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 16.33
17. Lafayette, Indiana
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Average home value (2024-2025): $240,402
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Livability: 75
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Median household income: $52,946
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.6
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People below the poverty line (%): 17.1
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 5.10
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 21.41
18. Amarillo, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $195,436
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Livability: 66
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Median household income: $62,469
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Unemployment rate (%): 2.6
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People below the poverty line (%): 15.8
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 7.22
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 30.84
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19. Scranton, Pennsylvania
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Average home value (2024-2025): $168,511
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Livability: 85
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Median household income: $49,531
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.8
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People below the poverty line (%): 22
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 3.10
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.12
20. Pittsburgh
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Average home value (2024-2025): $223,378
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Livability: 84
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Median household income: $64,137
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.4
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People below the poverty line (%): 19.5
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 5.28
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 32.88
21. Kansas City, Kansas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $182,761
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Livability: 75
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Median household income: $59,183
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.2
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People below the poverty line (%): 17.9
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 4.84
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 23.64
22. Laredo, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $211,212
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Livability: 73
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Median household income: $63,264
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.7
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People below the poverty line (%): 20.8
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 4.24
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.64
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23. Lubbock, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $202,459
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Livability: 78
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Median household income: $60,487
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Unemployment rate (%): 3
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People below the poverty line (%): 19
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.61
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 32.18
25. Longview, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $220,414
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Livability: 72
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Median household income: $62,488
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Unemployment rate (%): 4.2
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People below the poverty line (%): 18.2
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 4.17
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 24.89
26. Corpus Christi, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $217,577
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Livability: 80
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Median household income: $66,325
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Unemployment rate (%): 4
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People below the poverty line (%): 17.5
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.57
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 31.67
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27. Springfield, Illinois
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Average home value (2024-2025): $149,090
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Livability: 81
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Median household income: $65,537
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.9
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People below the poverty line (%): 16.5
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.01
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 47.63
28. Davenport, Iowa
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Average home value (2024-2025): $173,778
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Livability: 77
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Median household income: $64,497
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Unemployment rate (%): 4.5
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People below the poverty line (%): 15.6
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 6.88
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 37.94
29. Indianapolis
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Average home value (2024-2025): $223,139
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Livability: 76
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Median household income: $62,995
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.6
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People below the poverty line (%): 15.7
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.5
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 36.06
30. Erie, Pennsylvania
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Average home value (2024-2025): $173,738
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Livability: 82
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Median household income: $43,397
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Unemployment rate (%): 4
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People below the poverty line (%): 24.6
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 5.08
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 18.65
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31. Waco, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $190,388
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Livability: 73
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Median household income: $51,468
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.3
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People below the poverty line (%): 24
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 5.11
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 26.89
32. Baytown, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $241,165
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Livability: 69
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Median household income: $61,699
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Unemployment rate (%): 4.1
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People below the poverty line (%): 17.7
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 4.2
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 33.27
33. Tulsa, Oklahoma
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Average home value (2024-2025): $202,872
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Livability: 75
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Median household income: $58,407
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Unemployment rate (%): 2.9
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People below the poverty line (%): 18.6
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.11
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 39.35
34. Wichita Falls, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $163,812
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Livability: 68
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Median household income: $58,568
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.5
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People below the poverty line (%): 17.4
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 4.98
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 25.12
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35. Warren, Michigan
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Average home value (2024-2025): $196,134
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Livability: 74
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Median household income: $63,741
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Unemployment rate (%): 4.7
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People below the poverty line (%): 12.8
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 5.69
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 18.48
36. Kansas City, Missouri
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Average home value (2024-2025): $234,487
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Livability: 78
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Median household income: $67,449
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.2
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People below the poverty line (%): 14.6
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.76
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 50.02
37. Killeen, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $220,176
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Livability: 63
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Median household income: $58,339
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Unemployment rate (%): 4.3
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People below the poverty line (%): 17.2
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 4.90
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 17.71
38. Topeka, Kansas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $180,630
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Livability: 69
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Median household income: $55,902
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.1
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People below the poverty line (%): 15.6
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.68
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 41.20
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39. Akron, Ohio
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Average home value (2024-2025): $125,135
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Livability: 81
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Median household income: $48,544
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Unemployment rate (%): 4.6
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People below the poverty line (%): 22.9
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 7.83
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 30.15
40. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
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Average home value (2024-2025): $215,205
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Livability: 76
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Median household income: $48,536
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Unemployment rate (%): 3
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People below the poverty line (%): 23.8
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 5.84
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 31.77
41. McAllen, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $225,696
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Livability: 75
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Median household income: $60,165
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Unemployment rate (%): 6.2
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People below the poverty line (%): 20.2
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 1.49
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 19.58
42. Reading, Pennsylvania
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Average home value (2024-2025): $239,107
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Livability: 80
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Median household income: $45,599
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.3
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People below the poverty line (%): 27
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 2.81
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.72
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43. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
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Average home value (2024-2025): $240,391
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Livability: 85
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Median household income: $47,783
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Unemployment rate (%): 2.9
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People below the poverty line (%): 29.1
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.72
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 20.52
44. Brownsville, Texas
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Average home value (2024-2025): $189,631
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Livability: 79
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Median household income: $48,675
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Unemployment rate (%): 5.1
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People below the poverty line (%): 24.9
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 3.95
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 20.71
45. Springfield, Missouri
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Average home value (2024-2025): $229,556
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Livability: 74
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Median household income: $45,984
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Unemployment rate (%): 2.7
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People below the poverty line (%): 19.4
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.72
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 41.21
46. Columbus, Georgia
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Average home value (2024-2025): $156,745
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Livability: 64
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Median household income: $56,622
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Unemployment rate (%): 4
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People below the poverty line (%): 18.8
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 6.16
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 25.74
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47. Lawton, Oklahoma
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Average home value (2024-2025): $126,092
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Livability: 63
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Median household income: $53,588
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.3
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People below the poverty line (%): 20.8
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 7.93
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 22.56
48. Milwaukee
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Average home value (2024-2025): $197,620
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Livability: 79
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Median household income: $51,888
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Unemployment rate (%): 3
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People below the poverty line (%): 23.3
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.61
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 27.93
49. Montgomery, Alabama
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Average home value (2024-2025): $140,929
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Livability: 64
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Median household income: $55,687
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.2
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People below the poverty line (%): 20.9
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 5.70
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 26.13
50. Columbia, South Carolina
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Average home value (2024-2025): $229,774
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Livability: 79
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Median household income: $55,653
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Unemployment rate (%): 3.9
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People below the poverty line (%): 23.3
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Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 7.55
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Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 35.40
Heather Taylor and Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting for this article.
Methodology: In order to find the 50 best places to buy a home for under $250,000, GOBankingRates looked at the 100 most populous cities where home values from February 2024 to February 2025 did not go above $250,000 and had an average during that same period below $250,000, according to Zillow’s February 2025 data. Income was sourced from the United States Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey, livability from AreaVibes, violent crime rate per 1,000 residents and property crime rate per 1,000 residents from Neighborhood Scout, unemployment rate from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary data for December 2024, percent of population living below the poverty line from the American Community Survey and annual cost of living from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey and Sperling’s BestPlaces. All data was collected on and is up to date as of March 18, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 50 Best Places To Buy a Home for Under $250K