The spread of work-from-home arrangements amplified homeowners’ desire to upsize, with American condo-dwellers rethinking their space, as well as their proximity to neighbors. But is this attainable? Can condoWhat is a condo? Many people think of luxurious living when they think of “condos.”... More owners even dream about upsizing to a detached home in the same city?
With this question in mind, Point2 analysts looked at the country’s major cities to determine where transitioning from a condo to a house would be easier. Specifically, we analyzed the median price for sold condo and house units in the 200 largest cities, 150 of which happen to be core cities within their metros, as well as 50 that are non-main cities, defined in our study as “secondary.”
Considering the local median household income, we then calculated the price-difference-to-income ratio. Simply put, the equivalent to the number of years’ worth of income that it would take to match the difference between a condo and a detached home. As it turns out, such a move would not only be possible but also profitable in some core cities:
- The cities where houses cost less than condos are all core cities within their respective metros: Houses sell cheaper in Detroit (75%), Akron, OH (39%), Cleveland (36%), and many more main cities.
- Core city Rochester, NY, is the only place where single-family homes and condos display the same median price: $183,000.
- Upsizing comes easy in Providence, RI: It takes less than a month’s salary to cover the $3,000 price difference between a condo and a detached home.
- In 10 cities, the price-difference-to-income ratio is between 0.1 and 0.4, meaning it would take less than half of the yearly income to cover the price difference between a condo and a house.
- Fontana, CA, Joliet, IL, Chesapeake, VA, and McKinney, TX, are the only secondary cities where it would take a maximum of one year’s income to match the price difference.
- Upsizing is also achievable in the core cities of Killeen, TX, Kansas City, KS, and Norfolk, VA, all of which boast a 0.1 ratio and net differences of less than $8,000.
- But, not all large cities make upsizing easy: Houses are more than twice the median price of condos in Bellevue, WA (185%), Arlington, VA (173%), and more.
- Honolulu claims the highest ratio (10.1), meaning the $744,000 price difference between a condo and a house is the equivalent of 10 years’ income here.
Single-Family Homes Cheaper Than Condos in Core Cities
4 houses for the median price of 1 condo in Detroit, where a single-family home is $171k cheaper
Surprisingly, going from a condo to a house is more than possible in 21 of the 200 largest U.S. cities where single-family homes are either cheaper or equally priced to condos.
Coincidentally, all of them are the main cities in their respective metro — from urban hubs like Chicago, Boston, Detroit, Memphis, or Cleveland to less buzzing areas, such as Jackson, MS, Macon, GA, or Rockford, IL. Even more interesting is that most of these core cities have experienced either decreases or minimal increases in population, according to the latest Census data. For example, the population declined by almost 9% in Jackson, MS, an area that’s seen its fair share of challenges leading to the drastic demographic dip.
The biggest price difference is in Detroit (75%), where a single-family home is $171,000 cheaper than a condo — although some houses here might need extra TLC. This cost difference means one could almost buy four detached homes for the median price of one condo. Similarly, in Akron, OH, houses are 39% cheaper than condos, which translates into a $66,000 difference — the same price gap as in Cleveland, where houses are 36% cheaper than condos.
In 17 other core cities, detached homes are $5,000 to $72,000 cheaper than condos. This includes Jersey City, NJ — the only outlier with a 10% spike in population. More precisely, single-family homes in Jersey City are 4% (or $22,000) cheaper than condos. Notably, Rochester, NY, is the only large city where detached homes and condos are up for sale for a similar median price: $183,000.
Upsizing a Breeze in Providence, RI, But Not in California Cities: Price Differences Amount to 5 to 9 Years’ Income
In Honolulu, the $744,000 price difference between a condo and a house can be covered… by saving one’s entire income for 10 years
Analyzing median prices isn’t enough to gauge how realistic it is to upsize from a condo to a house in major U.S. cities. Accordingly, this is where the price-difference-to-income ratio comes into play to determine how easy it would be to match the difference between the two property types.
In 10 cities, the price-difference-to-income ratio is less than 0.5, which is the equivalent of less than half the annual median income. Besides the major cities where houses are either cheaper or boast the same median price as condos, upsizing comes the easiest in Providence, RI. Given the city’s 0.05 ratio and $3,000 price gap, it takes less than a month’s salary to cover the difference between a condo and a detached home. Next up are Killeen, TX, Kansas City, KS, and Norfolk, VA, with 0.1 ratios and price differences of less than $8,000.
Making the transition from condo to house is particularly difficult in Honolulu (10.1 ratio). Houses in the most exotic city on the list cost $1,198,000. That’s 164% more than the median price of a condo — a difference that’s equivalent to more than 10 years’ local median income.
Back on the mainland, California sets itself apart with the most cities where matching the upsizing price difference would take quite some time. Perhaps surprisingly, it would be easier in Los Angeles and Long Beach than in Irvine and Glendale, both secondary cities within the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro. The price difference is the equivalent of more than nine years’ income in Irvine and more than seven years’ in Glendale.
Other cities where it would take more than five years full income to close the price gap between a condo and a house are Bellevue, WA, Hialeah, FL, and Arlington, VA.
Houses Double, Almost Triple the Median Price of Condos
160%+ more expensive in Bellevue, WA, Arlington, VA, Pembroke Pines, FL, & More
Upsizing is no easy financial feat. But, in some major cities, it feels more unattainable than in others. In fact, in 16 of the major cities analyzed, houses cost more than twice as much as condos, with prices 103% (Spring Valley, NV) to 164% higher (Honolulu, HI, Pembroke Pines, FL, Overland Park, KS).
However, the highest price discrepancies between single-family homes and condos can be found in Bellevue, WA (185%) and Arlington, VA (173%) — the only less-sunny outliers in a sea of California cities where houses sell for over $1M.
At almost $144,300, Bellevue enjoys the third-highest median income among the 200 largest cities in the country — higher than its core sister cities in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro. This comes in handy given the city's pricey condos ($535,000) and even pricier single-family homes ($1,525,000). Consequently, upsizing here means splurging almost $1,000,000 extra. In Arlington, VA, condos go for a median of $415,000, while houses cost $1,132,000. Here, the 173% price difference translates into $717,000.
Back on the West Coast, houses and condos in Sunnyvale have a smaller percentile difference in median price (61%), particularly for a city in California. Even so, the city claims the largest price tags for both condos ($1,240,000) and detached houses ($1,991,000), along with one of the highest net differences: $751,000.
From Condo to House in Secondary Cities
Fontana, CA, & Joliet, IL, are the only non-core cities where the price difference is less than one year’s income
Among the 200 largest cities in the U.S., 50 are non-core cities within their respective metro. As per their residential property profile, these secondary cities look more prone to larger shares of detached homes compared to the urban hubs that tend to get the title of “main city” within a metro. In fact, houses make up more than half of the homes for sale in 46 of the 50 secondary cities analyzed. And, in 13 of them, detached homes make up the vast majority of listings, reaching 98% in Overland Park, KS, Denton, TX, and Palmdale, CA.
Additionally, price differences in the secondary cities analyzed are between $32,000 and $960,000, with houses ranging from 6% more expensive (Fontana, CA) to up to 164% in Overland Park, KS, and Pembroke Pines, FL.
Interestingly, there are only four secondary cities where the difference in median price going from a condo to a detached home corresponds to a maximum of one year’s income: Fontana, CA (0.3 ratio), Joliet, IL (0.7), Chesapeake, VA, and McKinney, TX (both 1.0)
In Fontana (part of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro where 85% of listings are single-family homes), the price difference amounts to less than half a year’s income of almost $94,000. As for Joliet, not only does the city have some of the most affordable home prices compared to the other cities ($190,000 for a condo, $247,000 for a house), but it also displays one of the smallest price gaps between the two properties: $57,000.
At the other end of the spectrum, closing the price gap can take more than five years’ income (ratio at least 5.0) in six secondary cities, all of them in either the LA metro area (Irvine, Glendale, Torrance, and Huntington Beach) or in the Miami metro (Hialeah and Hollywood, FL).
Notably, the cities that registered the highest population gains recently are secondary: Enterprise, NV (69%), Frisco, TX (33%), and Santa Clarita, CA (26%). In fact, seven of the top 10 cities with the highest increases in population between 2016 and 2021 were secondary. Frisco and Santa Clarita also happened to enjoy some of the highest median incomes among the 200 largest U.S. cities, well above $100,000.
Check out the table below for the main data points used in the study. Use the filters to rank the 200 largest cities in the United States based on the variable of interest, including: population, income, median condo price, median house price, price differences between the two properties, and the ratio determining how realistic a condo-to-house transition would be in each city.
| City | Metro | City Type | Population | Median Income | Median Condo Price | Median House Price | % Difference | Net Difference | Price Difference to Income Ratio (difference/yearly income) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | main | 8,736,047 | 67,997 | $665,000 | $725,000 | 9% | $60,000 | 0.9 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | main | 3,902,440 | 70,372 | $674,000 | $1,100,000 | 63% | $426,000 | 6.1 |
| Chicago, IL | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | main | 2,742,119 | 66,576 | $320,000 | $295,000 | -8% | -$25,000 | house is cheaper |
| Houston, TX | Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | main | 2,293,288 | 55,499 | $217,000 | $320,000 | 47% | $103,000 | 1.9 |
| Philadelphia, PA | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | main | 1,596,865 | 52,899 | $284,000 | $350,000 | 23% | $66,000 | 1.2 |
| Phoenix, AZ | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | main | 1,591,119 | 68,435 | $300,000 | $420,000 | 40% | $120,000 | 1.8 |
| San Antonio, TX | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | main | 1,434,540 | 54,923 | $189,000 | $259,000 | 37% | $70,000 | 1.3 |
| San Diego, CA | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | main | 1,385,398 | 93,042 | $622,000 | $983,000 | 58% | $361,000 | 3.9 |
| Dallas, TX | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | main | 1,300,239 | 57,995 | $285,000 | $455,000 | 60% | $170,000 | 2.9 |
| San Jose, CA | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | main | 1,013,337 | 126,377 | $757,000 | $1,350,000 | 78% | $593,000 | 4.7 |
| Austin, TX | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | main | 944,658 | 79,542 | $462,000 | $570,000 | 23% | $108,000 | 1.4 |
| Jacksonville, FL | Jacksonville, FL | main | 937,690 | 58,621 | $193,000 | $310,000 | 61% | $117,000 | 2.0 |
| Fort Worth, TX | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | main | 908,469 | 68,235 | $263,000 | $306,000 | 16% | $43,000 | 0.6 |
| Columbus, OH | Columbus, OH | main | 898,143 | 58,202 | $213,000 | $255,000 | 20% | $42,000 | 0.7 |
| Indianapolis, IN | Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | main | 880,104 | 58,479 | $175,000 | $235,000 | 34% | $60,000 | 1.0 |
| San Francisco, CA | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | main | 865,933 | 121,826 | $1,125,000 | $1,465,000 | 30% | $340,000 | 2.8 |
| Charlotte, NC | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | main | 864,871 | 70,869 | $270,000 | $394,000 | 46% | $124,000 | 1.7 |
| Seattle, WA | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | main | 726,054 | 110,781 | $515,000 | $865,000 | 68% | $350,000 | 3.2 |
| Denver, CO | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | main | 706,799 | 81,630 | $414,000 | $580,000 | 40% | $166,000 | 2.0 |
| Washington, DC | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | main | 683,154 | 90,088 | $443,000 | $727,000 | 64% | $284,000 | 3.2 |
| Nashville, TN | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | main | 682,646 | 64,857 | $358,000 | $449,000 | 25% | $91,000 | 1.4 |
| El Paso, TX | El Paso, TX | main | 676,395 | 51,241 | $149,000 | $230,000 | 54% | $81,000 | 1.6 |
| Oklahoma, OK | Oklahoma City, OK | main | 673,183 | 59,214 | $133,000 | $250,000 | 88% | $117,000 | 2.0 |
| Boston, MA | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | main | 672,814 | 79,283 | $675,000 | $670,000 | -1% | -$5,000 | house is cheaper |
| Portland, OR | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | main | 647,176 | 79,057 | $365,000 | $538,000 | 47% | $173,000 | 2.2 |
| Detroit, MI | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | main | 645,658 | 36,140 | $229,000 | $58,000 | -75% | -$171,000 | house is cheaper |
| Las Vegas, NV | Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | main | 634,786 | 59,746 | $230,000 | $424,000 | 84% | $194,000 | 3.2 |
| Memphis, TN | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | main | 634,139 | 44,317 | $217,000 | $200,000 | -8% | -$17,000 | house is cheaper |
| Louisville, KY | Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN | main | 630,260 | 57,182 | $190,000 | $227,000 | 19% | $37,000 | 0.6 |
| Baltimore, MD | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | main | 592,211 | 54,652 | $215,000 | $279,000 | 30% | $64,000 | 1.2 |
| Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | main | 578,198 | 46,637 | $159,000 | $175,000 | 10% | $16,000 | 0.3 |
| Albuquerque, NM | Albuquerque, NM | main | 562,336 | 58,512 | $218,000 | $309,000 | 42% | $91,000 | 1.6 |
| Fresno, CA | Fresno, CA | main | 538,678 | 61,250 | $226,000 | $361,000 | 60% | $135,000 | 2.2 |
| Tucson, AZ | Tucson, AZ | main | 538,167 | 50,306 | $207,000 | $318,000 | 54% | $111,000 | 2.2 |
| Sacramento, CA | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | main | 518,605 | 75,311 | $359,000 | $459,000 | 28% | $100,000 | 1.3 |
| Kansas, MO | Kansas City, MO-KS | main | 502,597 | 63,396 | $210,000 | $246,000 | 17% | $36,000 | 0.6 |
| Mesa, AZ | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | main | 497,752 | 69,266 | $246,000 | $466,000 | 89% | $220,000 | 3.2 |
| Atlanta, GA | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA | main | 492,204 | 74,107 | $315,000 | $434,000 | 38% | $119,000 | 1.6 |
| Omaha, NE | Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | main | 488,059 | 62,948 | $218,000 | $260,000 | 19% | $42,000 | 0.7 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | Colorado Springs, CO | main | 475,282 | 74,579 | $290,000 | $448,000 | 54% | $158,000 | 2.1 |
| Long Beach, CA | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | main | 466,565 | 73,905 | $494,000 | $875,000 | 77% | $381,000 | 5.2 |
| Raleigh, NC | Raleigh-Cary, NC | main | 462,219 | 74,612 | $255,000 | $422,000 | 65% | $167,000 | 2.2 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | main | 457,658 | 81,634 | $276,000 | $385,000 | 39% | $109,000 | 1.3 |
| Miami, FL | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL | main | 440,807 | 48,789 | $520,000 | $549,000 | 6% | $29,000 | 0.6 |
| Oakland, CA | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | main | 437,548 | 82,236 | $595,000 | $821,000 | 38% | $226,000 | 2.7 |
| Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | main | 425,091 | 69,397 | $235,000 | $317,000 | 35% | $82,000 | 1.2 |
| Tulsa, OK | Tulsa, OK | main | 410,652 | 51,008 | $115,000 | $214,000 | 86% | $99,000 | 1.9 |
| Bakersfield, CA | Bakersfield, CA | main | 398,756 | 66,666 | $215,000 | $385,000 | 79% | $170,000 | 2.6 |
| Wichita, KS | Wichita, Kansas | main | 394,574 | 56,293 | $127,000 | $180,000 | 42% | $53,000 | 0.9 |
| Arlington, TX | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | main | 392,304 | 59,889 | $168,000 | $330,000 | 96% | $162,000 | 2.7 |
| New Orleans, LA | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | main | 383,974 | 46,942 | $302,000 | $330,000 | 9% | $28,000 | 0.6 |
| Aurora, CO | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | main | 383,496 | 71,647 | $304,000 | $509,000 | 67% | $205,000 | 2.9 |
| Tampa, FL | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | main | 380,476 | 63,404 | $303,000 | $388,000 | 28% | $85,000 | 1.3 |
| Cleveland, OH | Cleveland-Elyria, OH | main | 374,861 | 35,562 | $181,000 | $115,000 | -36% | -$66,000 | house is cheaper |
| Honolulu, HI | Urban Honolulu, HI | main | 351,554 | 73,434 | $454,000 | $1,198,000 | 164% | $744,000 | 10.1 |
| Anaheim, CA | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | main | 348,204 | 81,747 | $643,000 | $850,000 | 32% | $207,000 | 2.5 |
| Lexington, KY | Lexington-Fayette, KY | main | 321,354 | 60,942 | $190,000 | $328,000 | 73% | $138,000 | 2.3 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | Corpus Christi, TX | main | 318,168 | 59,812 | $211,000 | $203,000 | -4% | -$8,000 | house is cheaper |
| Stockton, CA | Stockton, CA | main | 317,818 | 69,844 | $250,000 | $421,000 | 68% | $171,000 | 2.4 |
| Riverside, CA | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | main | 314,858 | 76,558 | $381,000 | $587,000 | 54% | $206,000 | 2.7 |
| Santa Ana, CA | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | secondary | 313,818 | 80,265 | $439,000 | $753,000 | 72% | $314,000 | 3.9 |
| Henderson, NV | Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | main | 311,250 | 77,924 | $299,000 | $474,000 | 59% | $175,000 | 2.2 |
| St. Paul, MN | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | main | 309,751 | 66,098 | $256,000 | $250,000 | -2% | -$6,000 | house is cheaper |
| Cincinnati, OH | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | main | 308,664 | 42,733 | $179,000 | $240,000 | 34% | $61,000 | 1.4 |
| Newark, NJ | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | main | 306,247 | 43,242 | $275,000 | $325,000 | 18% | $50,000 | 1.2 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh, PA | main | 303,207 | 57,821 | $227,000 | $212,000 | -7% | -$15,000 | house is cheaper |
| Orlando, FL | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | main | 302,968 | 54,167 | $205,000 | $385,000 | 88% | $180,000 | 3.3 |
| St. Louis, MO | St. Louis, MO-IL | main | 302,787 | 49,965 | $204,000 | $251,000 | 23% | $47,000 | 0.9 |
| Irvine, CA | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | secondary | 297,868 | 105,774 | $1,030,000 | $1,990,000 | 93% | $960,000 | 9.1 |
| Greensboro, NC | Greensboro-High Point, NC | main | 295,483 | 51,825 | $161,000 | $235,000 | 46% | $74,000 | 1.4 |
| Anchorage , AK | Anchorage, AK | main | 292,545 | 86,654 | $231,000 | $400,000 | 73% | $169,000 | 2.0 |
| Lincoln, NE | Lincoln, NE | main | 289,136 | 62,294 | $213,000 | $259,000 | 22% | $46,000 | 0.7 |
| Jersey City, NJ | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | main | 287,146 | 81,958 | $551,000 | $529,000 | -4% | -$22,000 | house is cheaper |
| Plano, TX | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | secondary | 282,181 | 95,002 | $270,000 | $490,000 | 81% | $220,000 | 2.3 |
| Durham, NC | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | main | 279,106 | 71,343 | $244,000 | $375,000 | 54% | $131,000 | 1.8 |
| Buffalo, NY | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | main | 276,011 | 40,669 | $188,000 | $198,000 | 5% | $10,000 | 0.2 |
| Chula Vista, CA | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | main | 274,818 | 91,949 | $590,000 | $830,000 | 41% | $240,000 | 2.6 |
| Chandler, AZ | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | main | 272,439 | 94,613 | $318,000 | $500,000 | 57% | $182,000 | 1.9 |
| Toledo, OH | Toledo, OH | main | 271,454 | 44,150 | $145,000 | $108,000 | -26% | -$37,000 | house is cheaper |
| Madison, WI | Madison, WI | main | 265,447 | 67,270 | $265,000 | $380,000 | 43% | $115,000 | 1.7 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | Fort Wayne, IN | main | 262,676 | 54,737 | $188,000 | $203,000 | 8% | $15,000 | 0.3 |
| Gilbert, AZ | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | secondary | 262,249 | 104,802 | $368,000 | $589,000 | 60% | $221,000 | 2.1 |
| Reno, NV | Reno, NV | main | 259,913 | 67,478 | $241,000 | $525,000 | 118% | $284,000 | 4.2 |
| North Las Vegas, NV | Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | secondary | 259,638 | 67,035 | $231,000 | $380,000 | 65% | $149,000 | 2.2 |
| St. Petersburg, FL | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | main | 258,245 | 64,141 | $283,000 | $410,000 | 45% | $127,000 | 2.0 |
| Lubbock, TX | Lubbock, TX | main | 255,537 | 54,747 | $220,000 | $260,000 | 18% | $40,000 | 0.7 |
| Laredo, TX | Laredo, TX | main | 254,697 | 52,438 | $154,000 | $229,000 | 49% | $75,000 | 1.4 |
| Irving, TX | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | secondary | 254,184 | 70,340 | $236,000 | $337,000 | 43% | $101,000 | 1.4 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | main | 247,917 | 54,228 | $147,000 | $226,000 | 54% | $79,000 | 1.5 |
| Chesapeake, VA | Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | secondary | 247,172 | 88,815 | $286,000 | $375,000 | 31% | $89,000 | 1.0 |
| Glendale, AZ | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | secondary | 245,685 | 62,910 | $226,000 | $386,000 | 71% | $160,000 | 2.5 |
| Garland, TX | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | secondary | 245,075 | 61,607 | $175,000 | $310,000 | 77% | $135,000 | 2.2 |
| Scottsdale, AZ | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | secondary | 238,685 | 99,097 | $400,000 | $863,000 | 116% | $463,000 | 4.7 |
| Norfolk, VA | Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | main | 238,556 | 58,591 | $252,000 | $259,000 | 3% | $7,000 | 0.1 |
| Arlington , VA | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | main | 235,764 | 125,651 | $415,000 | $1,132,000 | 173% | $717,000 | 5.7 |
| Boise, ID | Boise City, ID | main | 231,537 | 70,217 | $400,000 | $481,000 | 20% | $81,000 | 1.2 |
| Fremont, CA | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | secondary | 231,502 | 155,968 | $780,000 | $1,445,000 | 85% | $665,000 | 4.3 |
| Santa Clarita, CA | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | secondary | 227,182 | 109,336 | $460,000 | $770,000 | 67% | $310,000 | 2.8 |
| Spokane, WA | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | main | 225,709 | 58,714 | $222,000 | $380,000 | 71% | $158,000 | 2.7 |
| Richmond, VA | Richmond, VA | main | 225,676 | 51,770 | $302,000 | $330,000 | 9% | $28,000 | 0.5 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | Baton Rouge, LA | main | 225,539 | 41,257 | $137,000 | $270,000 | 97% | $133,000 | 3.2 |
| Hialeah, FL | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL | secondary | 224,362 | 46,674 | $216,000 | $515,000 | 138% | $299,000 | 6.4 |
| San Bernardino, CA | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | main | 220,821 | 65,311 | $275,000 | $440,000 | 60% | $165,000 | 2.5 |
| Enterprise , NV | Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | secondary | 219,566 | 84,902 | $261,000 | $440,000 | 69% | $179,000 | 2.1 |
| Modesto, CA | Modesto, CA | main | 217,728 | 70,469 | $275,000 | $402,000 | 46% | $127,000 | 1.8 |
| Spring Valley , NV | Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | secondary | 217,441 | 61,179 | $224,000 | $455,000 | 103% | $231,000 | 3.8 |
| Tacoma, WA | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | main | 217,332 | 77,141 | $401,000 | $455,000 | 13% | $54,000 | 0.7 |
| Des Moines, IA | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | main | 213,545 | 60,693 | $209,000 | $180,000 | -14% | -$29,000 | house is cheaper |
| Rochester, NY | Rochester, NY | main | 211,100 | 41,980 | $183,000 | $183,000 | 0% | $0 | - |
| Huntsville, AL | Huntsville, AL | main | 210,081 | 70,757 | $164,000 | $335,000 | 104% | $171,000 | 2.4 |
| Yonkers, NY | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | secondary | 209,730 | 66,395 | $359,000 | $632,000 | 76% | $273,000 | 4.1 |
| Fayetteville, NC | Fayetteville, NC | main | 208,497 | 51,629 | $138,000 | $217,000 | 57% | $79,000 | 1.5 |
| Moreno Valley, CA | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | secondary | 208,371 | 79,840 | $363,000 | $503,000 | 39% | $140,000 | 1.8 |
| Fontana, CA | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | secondary | 208,087 | 93,851 | $553,000 | $585,000 | 6% | $32,000 | 0.3 |
| Columbus, GA | Columbus, GA-AL | main | 204,366 | 52,734 | $160,000 | $145,000 | -9% | -$15,000 | house is cheaper |
| Worcester, MA | Worcester, MA-CT | main | 203,867 | 63,194 | $254,000 | $372,000 | 46% | $118,000 | 1.9 |
| Oxnard, CA | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | main | 202,981 | 88,268 | $597,000 | $700,000 | 17% | $103,000 | 1.2 |
| Birmingham, AL | Birmingham-Hoover, AL | main | 202,234 | 36,614 | $246,000 | $174,000 | -29% | -$72,000 | house is cheaper |
| Port Saint Lucie, FL | Port St. Lucie, FL | main | 202,177 | 71,381 | $210,000 | $385,000 | 83% | $175,000 | 2.5 |
| Little Rock, AR | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | main | 201,893 | 53,565 | $192,000 | $185,000 | -4% | -$7,000 | house is cheaper |
| Augusta, GA | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | main | 201,264 | 47,921 | $175,000 | $196,000 | 12% | $21,000 | 0.4 |
| Montgomery, AL | Montgomery, AL | main | 201,022 | 46,957 | $104,000 | $128,000 | 23% | $24,000 | 0.5 |
| Amarillo, TX | Amarillo, TX | main | 200,371 | 55,572 | $158,000 | $225,000 | 42% | $67,000 | 1.2 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | Salt Lake City, UT | main | 199,153 | 66,658 | $415,000 | $580,000 | 40% | $165,000 | 2.5 |
| Huntington Beach, CA | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | secondary | 198,735 | 107,808 | $690,000 | $1,225,000 | 78% | $535,000 | 5.0 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI | main | 197,858 | 59,596 | $215,000 | $235,000 | 9% | $20,000 | 0.3 |
| Glendale, CA | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | secondary | 196,512 | 79,633 | $639,000 | $1,223,000 | 91% | $584,000 | 7.3 |
| Sunrise Manor , NV | Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | secondary | 196,411 | 51,287 | $173,000 | $336,000 | 94% | $163,000 | 3.2 |
| Grand Prairie, TX | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | secondary | 195,992 | 68,473 | $148,000 | $314,000 | 112% | $166,000 | 2.4 |
| Overland Park, KS | Kansas City, MO-KS | secondary | 195,249 | 89,280 | $170,000 | $448,000 | 164% | $278,000 | 3.1 |
| Tallahassee, FL | Tallahassee, FL | main | 195,057 | 51,224 | $155,000 | $318,000 | 105% | $163,000 | 3.2 |
| Frisco, TX | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | secondary | 193,140 | 130,118 | $437,000 | $695,000 | 59% | $258,000 | 2.0 |
| Cape Coral, FL | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | main | 193,003 | 66,425 | $300,000 | $422,000 | 41% | $122,000 | 1.8 |
| Akron, OH | Akron, OH | main | 191,483 | 41,628 | $169,000 | $103,000 | -39% | -$66,000 | house is cheaper |
| Paradise , NV | Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | main | 189,852 | 50,096 | $233,000 | $410,000 | 76% | $177,000 | 3.5 |
| McKinney, TX | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | secondary | 189,394 | 98,317 | $394,000 | $496,000 | 26% | $102,000 | 1.0 |
| Shreveport, LA | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | main | 189,374 | 42,034 | $96,000 | $115,000 | 20% | $19,000 | 0.5 |
| Knoxville, TN | Knoxville, TN | main | 189,339 | 45,700 | $270,000 | $303,000 | 12% | $33,000 | 0.7 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | main | 189,258 | 73,273 | $212,000 | $287,000 | 35% | $75,000 | 1.0 |
| Providence, RI | Providence-Warwick, Rhode Island-MA | main | 188,812 | 60,970 | $331,000 | $334,000 | 1% | $3,000 | 0.0 |
| Vancouver, WA | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | main | 188,331 | 69,993 | $323,000 | $481,000 | 49% | $158,000 | 2.3 |
| Peoria, AZ | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | secondary | 187,733 | 92,566 | $299,000 | $475,000 | 59% | $176,000 | 1.9 |
| Mobile, AL | Mobile, AL | main | 187,445 | 43,786 | $145,000 | $169,000 | 17% | $24,000 | 0.5 |
| Brownsville, TX | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | main | 185,849 | 47,435 | $90,000 | $197,000 | 119% | $107,000 | 2.3 |
| Newport News, VA | Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | main | 185,069 | 58,937 | $173,000 | $250,000 | 45% | $77,000 | 1.3 |
| Aurora, IL | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | secondary | 183,447 | 83,996 | $222,000 | $335,000 | 51% | $113,000 | 1.3 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL | main | 182,247 | 64,912 | $366,000 | $678,000 | 85% | $312,000 | 4.8 |
| Chattanooga, TN | Chattanooga, TN-GA | main | 180,353 | 55,065 | $301,000 | $259,000 | -14% | -$42,000 | house is cheaper |
| Santa Rosa, CA | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | main | 179,213 | 86,459 | $430,000 | $714,000 | 66% | $284,000 | 3.3 |
| Tempe, AZ | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | secondary | 178,862 | 68,662 | $282,000 | $480,000 | 70% | $198,000 | 2.9 |
| Elk Grove, CA | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | secondary | 175,510 | 109,242 | $407,000 | $612,000 | 50% | $205,000 | 1.9 |
| Ontario, CA | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | main | 175,223 | 73,872 | $567,000 | $635,000 | 12% | $68,000 | 0.9 |
| Oceanside, CA | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | secondary | 174,461 | 78,125 | $597,000 | $850,000 | 42% | $253,000 | 3.2 |
| Salem, OR | Salem, OR | main | 174,193 | 63,927 | $299,000 | $406,000 | 36% | $107,000 | 1.7 |
| Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | secondary | 173,946 | 83,850 | $475,000 | $710,000 | 49% | $235,000 | 2.8 |
| Eugene, OR | Eugene-Springfield, OR | main | 173,278 | 59,338 | $273,000 | $460,000 | 68% | $187,000 | 3.2 |
| Garden Grove, CA | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | secondary | 172,708 | 74,109 | $535,000 | $890,000 | 66% | $355,000 | 4.8 |
| Lancaster, CA | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | secondary | 171,820 | 64,242 | $281,000 | $436,000 | 55% | $155,000 | 2.4 |
| Cary, NC | Raleigh-Cary, NC | main | 171,603 | 123,857 | $318,000 | $635,000 | 100% | $317,000 | 2.6 |
| Pembroke Pines, FL | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL | secondary | 170,346 | 76,439 | $220,000 | $580,000 | 164% | $360,000 | 4.7 |
| Springfield, MO | Springfield, MO | main | 168,603 | 41,808 | $191,000 | $214,000 | 12% | $23,000 | 0.6 |
| Palmdale, CA | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | secondary | 167,987 | 73,417 | $378,000 | $465,000 | 23% | $87,000 | 1.2 |
| Fort Collins, CO | Fort Collins, CO | main | 166,788 | 73,945 | $399,000 | $613,000 | 54% | $214,000 | 2.9 |
| Clarksville, TN | Clarksville, TN-KY | main | 163,518 | 60,686 | $242,000 | $286,000 | 18% | $44,000 | 0.7 |
| Salinas, CA | Salinas, CA | main | 163,004 | 80,154 | $370,000 | $648,000 | 75% | $278,000 | 3.5 |
| Hayward, CA | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | secondary | 162,254 | 96,386 | $592,000 | $833,000 | 41% | $241,000 | 2.5 |
| Alexandria, VA | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | main | 158,185 | 101,162 | $336,000 | $763,000 | 127% | $427,000 | 4.2 |
| Paterson, NJ | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | secondary | 157,927 | 46,451 | $225,000 | $397,000 | 76% | $172,000 | 3.7 |
| Corona, CA | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | secondary | 157,844 | 92,606 | $499,000 | $705,000 | 41% | $206,000 | 2.2 |
| Jackson, MS | Jackson, MS | main | 156,803 | 35,070 | $128,000 | $100,000 | -22% | -$28,000 | house is cheaper |
| Macon, GA | Macon-Bibb County, GA | main | 156,711 | 48,176 | $163,000 | $143,000 | -12% | -$20,000 | house is cheaper |
| Springfield, MA | Springfield, MA | main | 155,770 | 42,498 | $167,000 | $246,000 | 47% | $79,000 | 1.9 |
| Kansas City, KS | Kansas City, MO-KS | main | 155,745 | 53,884 | $175,000 | $180,000 | 3% | $5,000 | 0.1 |
| Lakewood, CO | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | main | 155,608 | 77,122 | $320,000 | $623,000 | 95% | $303,000 | 3.9 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | main | 155,550 | 156,059 | $1,240,000 | $1,991,000 | 61% | $751,000 | 4.8 |
| Hollywood, FL | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL | secondary | 152,597 | 60,490 | $291,000 | $592,000 | 103% | $301,000 | 5.0 |
| Pasadena, TX | Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | secondary | 151,964 | 60,939 | $135,000 | $211,000 | 56% | $76,000 | 1.2 |
| Pomona, CA | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | secondary | 151,592 | 70,494 | $438,000 | $604,000 | 38% | $166,000 | 2.4 |
| Escondido, CA | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | secondary | 151,443 | 80,749 | $432,000 | $783,000 | 81% | $351,000 | 4.3 |
| Joliet, IL | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | secondary | 150,323 | 76,495 | $190,000 | $247,000 | 30% | $57,000 | 0.7 |
| Killeen, TX | Killeen-Temple, TX | main | 150,082 | 51,619 | $216,000 | $220,000 | 2% | $4,000 | 0.1 |
| Mesquite, TX | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | secondary | 149,848 | 60,957 | $148,000 | $267,000 | 80% | $119,000 | 2.0 |
| Bellevue, WA | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | main | 149,365 | 144,274 | $535,000 | $1,525,000 | 185% | $990,000 | 6.9 |
| Naperville, IL | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | main | 149,013 | 129,664 | $217,000 | $496,000 | 129% | $279,000 | 2.2 |
| Murfreesboro, TN | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | main | 148,970 | 77,584 | $320,000 | $423,000 | 32% | $103,000 | 1.3 |
| Rockford, IL | Rockford, IL | main | 148,942 | 44,525 | $149,000 | $127,000 | -15% | -$22,000 | house is cheaper |
| Bridgeport, CT | Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | main | 148,529 | 46,445 | $161,000 | $305,000 | 89% | $144,000 | 3.1 |
| Savannah, GA | Savannah, GA | main | 147,930 | 49,612 | $248,000 | $271,000 | 9% | $23,000 | 0.5 |
| Charleston, SC | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | main | 147,928 | 74,139 | $330,000 | $550,000 | 67% | $220,000 | 3.0 |
| Torrance, CA | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | secondary | 147,156 | 100,392 | $484,000 | $1,046,000 | 116% | $562,000 | 5.6 |
| Syracuse, NY | Syracuse, NY | main | 146,781 | 40,076 | $210,000 | $155,000 | -26% | -$55,000 | house is cheaper |
| Roseville, CA | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | main | 145,687 | 107,714 | $360,000 | $625,000 | 74% | $265,000 | 2.5 |
| Fullerton, CA | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | secondary | 142,964 | 95,431 | $548,000 | $932,000 | 70% | $384,000 | 4.0 |
| McAllen, TX | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | main | 141,941 | 57,359 | $141,000 | $259,000 | 84% | $118,000 | 2.1 |
| Surprise, AZ | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | secondary | 141,875 | 78,411 | $233,000 | $421,000 | 81% | $188,000 | 2.4 |
| Metairie , LA | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | main | 140,590 | 66,074 | $133,000 | $277,000 | 108% | $144,000 | 2.2 |
| Thornton, CO | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | secondary | 140,538 | 93,873 | $352,000 | $527,000 | 50% | $175,000 | 1.9 |
| Olathe, KS | Kansas City, MO-KS | secondary | 140,339 | 99,631 | $214,000 | $368,000 | 72% | $154,000 | 1.5 |
| Visalia, CA | Visalia, CA | main | 140,109 | 64,165 | $255,000 | $361,000 | 42% | $106,000 | 1.7 |
| Denton, TX | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | secondary | 139,704 | 64,873 | $200,000 | $357,000 | 79% | $157,000 | 2.4 |
Methodology
Point2, a division of Yardi Systems Inc., covers real estate trends and news. Point2 studies are based on internal data, public records, governmental sources, online research, and other reliable third-party agencies.
- The top 200 largest cities in the United States by population were determined using data from 2021 Census Estimates.
- For the purpose of this study, we classified the 200 largest cities into main cities and secondary cities, based on their position in their respective metro. A main city refers to the core city within a metro area; A secondary city refers to a large city within a metro area, that’s not one of the metro’s core cities.
- All median house and condo prices were sourced from realtor associations, local MLS, and various listing portals (Point2, realtor.com, Redfin, Zillow).
- To determine how easy it would be to upsize from a condo to a house in the 200 largest U.S. cities, we calculated the difference between median prices for these two property types. We then calculated the ratio between this difference and the local yearly median income.
- The median income used in the study was extracted from the 2021 U.S. Census.
- For a better picture of the residential property profile of a city, the study also determined the share of single-family homes in the total number of residential listings in each city (based on various listing portals, as well as the share of one-unit detached homes in the total owner-occupied units (based on Census Estimates).
Fair use and redistribution
We encourage and freely grant permission to reuse, host or repost this article. When doing so, we only ask that you kindly attribute the authors by linking to Point2Homes.com or this page, so that your readers can learn more about this project, the research behind it and its methodology.
