• Buying a home in 2025 can feel out of reach, especially if you’re single.
• Realtor.com used SmartAsset data to find 10 states where solo buyers can best afford a home.
• Eight of the top 10 are in the South, but one Southern state surprisingly didn’t make the cut.

From takeout to doctor visits, soaring costs mean single Americans need every advantage they can get.

That’s especially true when it comes to buying a home. As of June, the US median listing price was $440,000, according to Realtor.com, a steep cost for many Americans who live from paycheck to paycheck or are severely cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing.

Finding an affordable home as a single buyer can be tough, but data can help you understand where the opportunities might be.

To determine where single people can buy homes and still live comfortably, Realtor.com combined national income threshold data — the minimum income needed to cover basic expenses like housing, food, and savings without financial hardship — from an analysis of MIT living wage calculator data by financial technology company SmartAsset, with its housing data.

The research team found that the 10 most affordable states for singles have median listing prices below $440,000, with monthly mortgage payments, excluding the cost of tax and home insurance, under $2,000 — based on a 6.81% interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage.

These states are largely in the South, reinforcing the region’s existing reputation as an affordable place to live. While familiar budget-friendly spots like Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana made the list, one Southern state was surprisingly absent: Texas.

Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com, told Business Insider that the state’s influx of movers, drawn by relatively low home prices and better job opportunities, has been a Catch-22 for its real estate market and economy.

“The booming Texas economy has driven wages higher, but the cost of living has risen as well, making it more challenging to live comfortably on one income,” she said.

Below are the 10 US states where it’s most affordable for singles to buy a home.

For each city, Business Insider used median home price and mortgage data from Realtor.com. Income data is from SmartAsset.

10. Mississippi

Median-priced home: $295,680

Monthly mortgage payment: $1,544

The income needed to live comfortably single: $86,320

9. Louisiana

Median-priced home: $285,000

Monthly mortgage payment: $1,488

The income needed to live comfortably single: $85,322

8. Alabama

Median-priced home: $340,000

Monthly mortgage payment: $1,775

The income needed to live comfortably single: $85,280

7. Ohio

Median-priced home: $289,900

Monthly mortgage payment: $1,513

The income needed to live comfortably single: $84,781

6. Oklahoma

Median-priced home: $306,900

Monthly mortgage payment: $1,644

The income needed to live comfortably single: $83,574

5. Kentucky

Median-priced home: $314,900

Monthly mortgage payment: $1,644

The income needed to live comfortably single: $83,574

4. North Dakota

Median-priced home: $380,000

Monthly mortgage payment: $1,986

The income needed to live comfortably single: $82,285

3. South Dakota

Median-priced home: $399,000

Monthly mortgage payment: $2,083

The income needed to live comfortably single: $82,160

2. Arkansas

Median-priced home: $300,000

Monthly mortgage payment: $1,566

The income needed to live comfortably single: $81,078

1. West Virginia

Median-priced home: $269,900

Monthly mortgage payment: $1,409

The income needed to live comfortably single: $80,829