There are an abundance of U.S. cities, including major metros and smaller suburbs, where homebuyers on a budget can purchase luxury houses. In an original research study, GOBankingRates identified 31 such cities where top-tier homes are available for under $300,000.
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GOBankingRates used the Zillow data to source luxury homes with a $300,000 home value and identify the 500 largest housing markets in America. The average mortgage on these top-tier homes was calculated using the home value, assuming a 10% down payment and the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate. The Midwest took the lead with 17 ranking cities, the most out of any U.S. region, where luxury homes are on the market for $300,000 or less. Luxury homes are the cheapest in Detroit, which ranked first with average home values of $141,433.
Here are 31 cities where buyers can snap up luxury homes for under $300,000:
1. Detroit
- Median household income: $39,938
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $771
- Total cost of living annually: $36,839
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $73,678
- Average top-tier home value: $141,433
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2. Flint, Michigan
- Median household income: $37,646
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $852
- Total cost of living annually: $33,913
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $67,827
- Average top-tier home value: $156,298
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3. Cleveland
- Median household income: $40,801
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,018
- Total cost of living annually: $34,614
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $69,229
- Average top-tier home value: $186,692
4. Jackson, Mississippi
- Median household income: $42,071
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,022
- Total cost of living annually: $35,037
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $70,074
- Average top-tier home value: $187,431
5. Toledo, Ohio
- Median household income: $49,724
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,144
- Total cost of living annually: $36,015
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $72,030
- Average top-tier home value: $209,769
6. Saginaw, Michigan
- Median household income: $38,579
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,242
- Total cost of living annually: $37,917
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $75,834
- Average top-tier home value: $227,731
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7. Akron, Ohio
- Median household income: $48,076
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,282
- Total cost of living annually: $37,202
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $74,405
- Average top-tier home value: $235,065
8. Lansing, Michigan
- Median household income: $54,382
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,351
- Total cost of living annually: $39,128
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $78,256
- Average top-tier home value: $247,637
9. Lawton, Oklahoma
- Median household income: $54,433
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,354
- Total cost of living annually: $39,326
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $78,652
- Average top-tier home value: $248,302
10. Warren, Michigan
- Median household income: $64,016
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,373
- Total cost of living annually: $41,844
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $83,688
- Average top-tier home value: $251,836
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11. Scranton, Pennsylvania
- Median household income: $50,739
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,382
- Total cost of living annually: $40,125
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $80,249
- Average top-tier home value: $253,371
12. Dayton, Ohio
- Median household income: $45,247
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,397
- Total cost of living annually: $39,488
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $78,976
- Average top-tier home value: $256,125
13. Rockford, Illinois
- Median household income: $54,752
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,403
- Total cost of living annually: $40,115
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $80,230
- Average top-tier home value: $257,234
14. Peoria, Illinois
- Median household income: $59,410
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,403
- Total cost of living annually: $40,133
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $80,266
- Average top-tier home value: $257,289
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15. Memphis, Tennessee
- Median household income: $51,736
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,428
- Total cost of living annually: $40,561
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $81,122
- Average top-tier home value: $261,769
16. Shreveport, Louisiana
- Median household income: $48,699
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,453
- Total cost of living annually: $40,150
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $80,300
- Average top-tier home value: $266,325
17. Brownsville, Texas
- Median household income: $52,130
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,494
- Total cost of living annually: $40,194
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $80,388
- Average top-tier home value: $273,991
18. Montgomery, Alabama
- Median household income: $56,811
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,522
- Total cost of living annually: $42,340
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $84,679
- Average top-tier home value: $279,019
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19. Augusta, Georgia
- Median household income: $55,485
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,533
- Total cost of living annually: $41,645
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $83,289
- Average top-tier home value: $281,131
20. Independence, Missouri
- Median household income: $60,339
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,539
- Total cost of living annually: $42,519
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $85,038
- Average top-tier home value: $282,150
21. Kansas City, Kansas
- Median household income: $62,401
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,567
- Total cost of living annually: $42,451
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $84,901
- Average top-tier home value: $287,225
22. Columbus, Georgia
- Median household income: $58,073
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,582
- Total cost of living annually: $42,025
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $84,049
- Average top-tier home value: $289,979
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23. Beaumont, Texas
- Median household income: $56,997
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,583
- Total cost of living annually: $41,579
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $83,158
- Average top-tier home value: $290,307
24. Hartford, Connecticut
- Median household income: $46,411
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,588
- Total cost of living annually: $46,791
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $93,583
- Average top-tier home value: $291,177
25. Canton, Ohio
- Median household income: $43,188
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,595
- Total cost of living annually: $40,748
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $81,496
- Average top-tier home value: $292,384
26. Jackson, Michigan
- Median household income: $44,558
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,605
- Total cost of living annually: $42,123
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $84,247
- Average top-tier home value: $294,370
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27. Springfield, Ohio
- Median household income: $47,143
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,606
- Total cost of living annually: $41,267
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $82,535
- Average top-tier home value: $294,539
28. Des Moines, Iowa
- Median household income: $65,932
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,607
- Total cost of living annually: $41,761
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $83,523
- Average top-tier home value: $294,690
29. Killeen, Texas
- Median household income: $60,977
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,610
- Total cost of living annually: $42,016
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $84,031
- Average top-tier home value: $295,203
30. Wichita Falls, Texas
- Median household income: $60,177
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,616
- Total cost of living annually: $43,238
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $86,476
- Average top-tier home value: $296,232
31. Pasadena, Texas
- Median household income: $64,927
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,631
- Total cost of living annually: $44,625
- Comfortable cost of living annually: $89,249
- Average top-tier home value: $298,962
Read more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.
Photo disclaimer: Imagery is for representational purposes only. In many cases, the closest major city outside of the city/county mentioned in the article was used.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed luxury home values to find the places you can buy a luxury home for under $300,000. Using the Zillow Home Value Index for Top-Tier Homes, defined by Zillow as the typical value for homes within the 65th to 95th percentile range for a given region, all luxury homes with a home value of no more than $300,000 (as well as within the largest 500 housing markets) were identified. For each location, a number of factors were found, including total population, population ages 65 and over, total households and household median income as sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and include the grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous cost of living indexes. Using the cost of living indexes and the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location can be calculated. Using the average top-tier home value, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the most recent national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 6.10% as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data on Feb 4th, the average mortgage can be calculated. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the average total monthly and annual cost of living can be calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes for each location. Using the 50/30/20 finance rule that states needs should not exceed 50% of household income, the total cost of living was doubled to find the average comfortable cost of living for each location. All data is up to date as of February 4th, 2026.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 31 US Cities With Luxury Homes Buyers Can Still Afford Under $300,000
