Six-figure income still needed to buy a typical U.S. home in 2026

A Redfin analysis shows that in June 2026 a household would need about $109,796 per year to afford the median-priced U.S. home while spending no more than 30% of income on housing, with median income around $87,599 and home prices up 2.2%. The result is a roughly $22,200 gap to affordability, though 24 of 46 major metros saw improvements and Seattle led the gains; San Francisco remains the least affordable major market, requiring about $453,205 in income. Only three metros (St. Louis, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh) had median incomes that exceeded the amount needed to buy locally.