Middle-class earners are being hit with income stagnation, rising housing costs, and increasing debt loads, but there are several markets across the country that could offer relief. The middle class is defined as households who earn between $42,000 to $125,000 annually, according to the Pew Research Center.
Realtor.com® analyzed the nation’s 100 largest metros with the highest share of homes on the market that are priced for middle-income workers. The site factored in the costs of a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Realtor.com® found that the top cities for middle-class home buyers in 2018 are:
- Provo, Utah: 76 percent (share of homes affordable to middle-income buyers)
- Des Moines, Iowa: 71.8 percent
- Austin, Texas: 69.9 percent
- Raleigh, N.C.: 69.7 percent
- El Paso, Texas: 69.2 percent
- Lakeland, Fla.: 68.4 percent
- Boise, Idaho: 68.2 percent