Housing Guide
Understand US housing markets with data on home prices, rents, and price-to-rent ratios. Know when to buy vs rent in any city.
Most Expensive Markets
Cities with the highest median home prices. High prices often correlate with high incomes, but also high cost of living.
| City | Median Home | 1BR Rent | P/R Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | $1,712,500 | $2,694 | 53.9 |
| Carlsbad, CA | $1,650,000 | $2,248 | 39 |
| Santa Clara, CA | $1,632,500 | $2,694 | 44.4 |
| Costa Mesa, CA | $1,597,000 | $2,252 | 39.9 |
| Irvine, CA | $1,580,699 | $2,344 | 45.2 |
| Bellevue, WA | $1,535,000 | $2,269 | 45.6 |
| Fremont, CA | $1,460,625 | $2,131 | 47.8 |
| San Francisco, CA | $1,400,000 | $2,818 | 31.5 |
| San Mateo, CA | $1,335,000 | $2,818 | 39.8 |
| San Jose, CA | $1,298,000 | $2,694 | 36.7 |
Most Affordable Markets
Cities with the lowest median home prices. Great for first-time buyers or those looking to stretch their budget.
Best for Renters (Low P/R Ratio)
Price-to-Rent ratio under 15 means it's typically better to buy. These cities have low ratios — great for buyers, tough for rental yields.
Best Rental Yields (For Investors)
Highest gross rental yields — where annual rent is a high percentage of home price. Good for real estate investors.
Understanding Housing Data
Price-to-Rent Ratio
A quick rule of thumb for rent vs buy decisions:
- • <15x Better to buy (homes are cheap relative to rent)
- • 15-20x Neutral — either is fine
- • >20x Better to rent (homes are expensive)
Gross Rental Yield
Annual rent ÷ home price × 100. For investors:
- • >8% Excellent yield
- • 5-8% Good yield
- • <5% Low yield (expect appreciation)
Analyze Your Housing Decision
Use our tools to make the right decision for your situation.