According to ATTOM’s Q1 2026 U.S. Home Affordability Report, major monthly costs on a median-priced home consumed 30.3% of the average worker’s wages—down slightly from 30.6% in the previous quarter and 31.6% a year earlier.
The report also found that in Q1 2026, major monthly homeownership costs exceeded 28% of typical wages in 401 of the 580 counties analyzed by ATTOM (69.1%), surpassing standard affordability thresholds.
The latest analysis stated that in 144 of the 580 counties analyzed by ATTOM (24.8%), monthly costs for a median-priced home would have exceeded 43% of typical wages—a level widely considered seriously unaffordable.
ATTOM’s latest home affordability analysis revealed that among the most populous counties, Los Angeles County, CA was the largest one where monthly homeownership expenses exceeded the 28% income threshold (home expenses required 66 percent of a typical resident’s wages). Followed by Maricopa County, AZ (36.6 percent of wages); San Diego County, CA (65.7 percent of wages); Orange County, CA (88.1 percent of wages); and Miami-Dade County, FL (43.6 percent of wages).
The report stated that among the most populous counties, those where homeownership was considered affordable included Cook County, IL (25.1% of wages); Harris County, TX (21.2%); Dallas County, TX (26.5%); Bexar County, TX (27.3).
In this post, we examine the data behind ATTOM’s Q1 2026 U.S. Home Affordability Report to highlight the top 10 U.S. counties where owning a median-priced single-family home or condo required the smallest share of annualized wages in Q1 2026. Among counties with populations of at least 100,000 and at least 50 home sales during the quarter, the most affordable were:
#10 – Bibb County, Georgia
- Percentage of Annualized Wages to Own: 15.8.%
#9 – Mercer County, Pennsylvania
- Percentage of Annualized Wages to Own: 15.6%
#8 – Saint Louis City County, Missouri
- Percentage of Annualized Wages to Own: 15.3%
#7 – Jefferson County, Alabama
- Percentage of Annualized Wages to Own: 14.9%
#6 – Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
- Percentage of Annualized Wages to Own: 13.8%
#5 – Rock Island County, Illinois
- Percentage of Annualized Wages to Own: 13.4%
#4 – Mobile County, Alabama
- Percentage of Annualized Wages to Own: 13.3%
#3 – Peoria County, Illinois
- Percentage of Annualized Wages to Own: 12.4%
#2 – Macon County, Illinois
- Percentage of Annualized Wages to Own: 8.1%
#1 – Cambria County, Pennsylvania
- Percentage of Annualized Wages to Own: 8.0%
Conclusion
While homeownership remains out of reach for many Americans, the Q1 2026 data shows that affordability pressures have eased slightly compared to recent quarters. Still, with nearly 70% of counties exceeding standard affordability thresholds and about a quarter falling into the “seriously unaffordable” range, challenges persist across much of the country. At the same time, the counties highlighted in this top 10 list demonstrate that meaningful pockets of affordability remain.
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