Rent or own: Where can you afford to live?

Buy? Rent? Move? How much house you can afford depends a lot on where you live. Enter your household income and other factors to see where you can afford the mortgage payment on a median-priced house or the rent on a typical two-bedroom apartment.

Household income
Percent of income
Down payment
Length of mortgage
Mortgage rate
Property tax
Monthly debts
Homeowner's insurance
Maintenance
Closing cost
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Cheaper to own
Cheaper to rent
Difficult to afford
No data
Show: Own Rent

Sources: DataQuick, Trulia, ESRI

Affordability is calculated based on the industry rule of thumb of 30% of gross household income (though you can choose to spend less or more). Ownership calculations do not include mortgage interest tax deductions. In each ZIP Code, calculations are based on the median price for re-sold single-family homes in the second quarter of 2014 and the median rent for a two-bedroom unit in the last 12 months.

*Monthly home cost is calculated based on mortgage payments, property taxes, maintenance, insurance and other expenses.