Attom Data recently took a look at whether it’s more affordable to rent or buy a home. In about 60 percent of the 341 U.S. counties that the firm studied, it’s still cheaper to own.
Specifically, big home expenses in those counties make up a smaller proportion of average wages compared to a three-bedroom rental – even as, over the past year, median home prices have been growing faster than average rents.
Still, another hurdle for many homeowners-to-be is affording a down payment in the first place. Geography also plays a role. For instance, it’s cheaper to rent in the West, but homeownership is the better financial option in the Midwest and South, according to Attom’s analysis.
Here are the counties (with a population of 100,000+, 100+ of sales, and sufficient rental data) where it’s most affordable to own a home in the U.S.
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