MoneyGeek Analysis:

Homeowners Trapped by 74% Mortgage Cost Hike from Pandemic-Era Low Rates

The past two years have seen a significant shift in the housing market, with mortgage rates rising from roughly 3% in 2021 to over 6% in 2023. This increase has led to a substantial surge in annual mortgage spending, leaving many homeowners feeling trapped. Compounding this issue, the national average home value has also risen by 18.1% during the same period. The combination of these factors, along with a decrease in housing supply and demand, has created a challenging environment for homeowners looking to sell and move.

To uncover where homeowners feel most trapped in their mortgages, MoneyGeek analyzed data for over 312 metro areas across home values, historic mortgage rates, and housing supply and demand trends. While more factors are involved in purchasing or selling a home, our findings examine the waning flexibility of doing so in a heated housing market.

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Last Updated: 8/1/2023
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Key Findings

  • The South is feeling the heat. Gainesville and Atlanta, Georgia, rank as the No. 1 and No. 2 metro areas where homeowners are most trapped in their mortgages. Homeowners looking to buy would face increases of more than 82% in annual mortgage spending. Further south, in the Naples-Marco Island area of Florida, mortgage costs have more than doubled since 2021.

  • San Jose, California, has the highest average mortgage payment, which surged by 67% to $8,110 per month between 2021 and 2023, posing a challenge for budget-conscious homeowners. To manage this cost without exceeding 28% of income, prospective homebuyers would need an annual income exceeding $420,000.

  • National housing trends reveal a tightening grip on supply and demand. In the Northeast, Ocean City, New Jersey, is seeing a 31.7% plunge in housing supply, while Austin, Texas, grapples with a 56.5% surge in listing-to-close time, signaling a dip in demand.

  • The Danville, Illinois, metro area is a haven for homeowners, with a minimal $1,898 rise in annual mortgage spending from 2021 to 2023. Further south, the Midland, Texas, metro area saw the smallest percent change (50.4%), a modest increase compared to the rest of the country.

Double Whammy: Homeowners in Georgia and Coastal Cities Face Rising Mortgage Costs and Competitive Housing Markets

Homeowners in the Gainesville and Atlanta, Georgia, areas are among those feeling the most pressure. If they were to sell and buy now, they'd face an annual mortgage spending increase of over $10,500, a result of the 83.7% and 82.4% rise from 2021 to 2023. With new listings down by more than 25% and selling times up by over 27%, the market is less accommodating for those looking to move.

The heat is also on for homeowners in the Ocean City, New Jersey, and San Diego, California, metro areas. Selling and buying now would mean grappling with a surge in annual mortgage spending by $17,515 and $23,447, respectively. With housing supply dropping by over 29% and selling times increasing, the market is becoming more competitive, adding to the challenges of selling and moving.

A Silver Lining: Lower Mortgage Cost Increases in West Virginia, Louisiana and Illinois

For homeowners in Wheeling and Parkersburg-Vienna, West Virginia, the prospect of selling and buying a new home is less intimidating. Those who bought homes at 2021 rates in Wheeling would face an additional $3,025 in annual mortgage spending if they were to buy now, while in Parkersburg-Vienna, the increase would be $3,883 per year.

Similarly, homeowners in Alexandria, Louisiana, and Danville, Illinois, are less constrained by the current market. The increases in annual mortgage spending in these areas are 52.8% ($3,340) and 64.6% ($1,898), respectively. Coupled with minor decreases in housing supply and longer selling times, homeowners in these areas might find the transition to a new home more manageable, despite the overall challenging housing market conditions.

Behind the Scenes: The Role of Supply and Demand in the Housing Market

Current housing market trends are making it harder for homeowners to sell and move, particularly those who are locked in at lower rates and now face dramatically increased mortgage spending. From 2021 to 2023, the U.S. has seen a 17.9% drop in new listings and a 5.9% increase in selling times.

However, these trends aren't uniform across the country. The Northeast is feeling the squeeze of a 20.4% decrease in new listings, the most pronounced drop in supply. Meanwhile, homeowners in the West are dealing with the longest wait times for closing, with a 20% increase. If you're a homeowner in these regions, the current market trends could add to your challenges of selling and moving.


california icon
Metros with the Largest Decrease in Housing Supply
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
2. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
3. Ocean City, NJ
4. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
5. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
texas icon
Metros with the Largest Decrease in Housing Demand
1. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX
2. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
3. St. George, UT
4. Provo-Orem, UT
5. Logan, UT-ID

Navigating the Market: Essential Tips for Homeowners

Homeowners are navigating a challenging housing market. Metro areas like San Jose, California, and Austin, Texas, are seeing a surge in mortgage payments, contrasting with the more stable situations in places like Danville, Illinois, and Midland, Texas. The West and South regions are at the epicenter of these shifts, with housing supply and demand dwindling.

With rising mortgage rates, the financial hurdle of moving is becoming challenging for many. Fortunately, there are strategies available to help you navigate this landscape:

  • house2 icon

    Transform your home with strategic upgrades.

    HELOC rates have increased along with mortgage rates. But, if you’ve been lucky enough to see an increase in your home value, you may be able to borrow against it to perform some upgrades, which can make your home more attractive to prospective buyers.

  • coins icon

    Understand your buying power and the power of increasing your down payment.

    Despite the current landscape, you may stand to make money selling your current home. You can also increase your downpayment to help keep your rates lower for your next abode.

  • smallCalculator icon

    Consider downgrading or moving to decrease your expenses.

    Downgrading could mean opting for a smaller home or a property with less land, which can significantly reduce mortgage payments. Alternatively, moving to an area with a lower cost of living can offer financial relief for homeowners feeling trapped by rising costs.

Methodology

To determine where homeowners are most trapped in their mortgages, MoneyGeek analyzed data for 312 metro areas across the U.S. and compared them across four key metrics:

  • Two-year percent change in monthly mortgage spending. This is a comparison of the average mortgage rate for 2021 and the one-year average for June 2022 through May 2023.
  • Two-year dollar change in annual mortgage spending. This is a comparison of the average mortgage rate for 2021 and the one-year average for June 2022 through May 2023.
  • Two-year percent change in housing supply. This is a comparison of the average mortgage rate for 2021 and the one-year average for June 2022 through May 2023.
  • Two-year percent change in housing demand. This is a comparison of the average mortgage rate for 2021 and the one-year average for May 2022 through April 2023.

To calculate mortgage payments used in the analysis, we used the median home value in each metro area and assumed a 30-year fixed mortgage. For 2021 calculations, we relied on an average mortgage rate of 2.96%. For 2023 calculations, we used an average mortgage rate of 6.28% from June 2022 through May 2023. Home value data comes from Zillow, and mortgage rates come from the St. Louis FRED Economic Data. The typical down payment for all buyers is 13%, according to the National Association of Realtors; as such, we used this figure to calculate the down payment across metro areas.

To measure the impact of supply and demand on the housing market, we examined:

  • Two-year change in new listings: This represents the housing supply in local markets.
  • Average number of days for houses to go from listing to close: This represents the housing demand in local markets.

Data for both topics comes from Zillow.

Full Data

Rank
Metro Area
Percent Change in Monthly Mortgage Spending (2021 to 2023)
Additional Annual Mortgage Spending (2021 to 2023)
Average Mortgage Payment per Month
Percent Change in Home Value (2021 to 2023)
Percent Change in No. of New Listings
Percent Change in No. of Days for Houses to Sell
Average No. of Days for a Sale

1

Gainesville, GA

83.7%

$10,720

$1,960

24.8%

-27.8%

29.7%

50.2

2

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA

82.4%

$10,953

$2,020

23.9%

-25.6%

27.2%

48.0

3

Ocean City, NJ

77.9%

$17,515

$3,334

20.8%

-31.7%

9.3%

73.4

4

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

71.2%

$23,447

$4,698

16.3%

-29.6%

18.7%

43.4

5

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

73.1%

$15,363

$3,032

17.5%

-24.9%

25.6%

54.3

6

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

69.6%

$30,734

$6,244

15.1%

-31.1%

17.7%

51.0

7

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

82.2%

$10,931

$2,019

23.7%

-23.9%

12.9%

46.0

8

The Villages, FL

86.7%

$12,370

$2,219

26.8%

-26.1%

0.8%

65.7

9

Flagstaff, AZ

79.3%

$16,901

$3,184

21.8%

-16.2%

34.2%

57.9

10

Bend, OR

68.1%

$17,535

$3,608

14.1%

-24.4%

29.3%

57.7

11

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

67.0%

$39,038

$8,110

13.4%

-34.6%

15.9%

50.2

12

Naples-Marco Island, FL

104.5%

$19,515

$3,182

38.9%

-15.8%

10.1%

63.3

13

Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV

72.6%

$11,332

$2,246

17.2%

-20.1%

43.4%

58.8

14

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (Tie)

66.7%

$23,466

$4,885

13.2%

-27.8%

15.7%

49.2

14

Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (Tie)

74.3%

$12,543

$2,452

18.4%

-17.1%

53.3%

58.3

16

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

80.6%

$25,748

$4,806

22.7%

-16.1%

10.2%

44.3

17

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

65.6%

$18,399

$3,872

12.4%

-27.1%

25.5%

45.6

18

Athens-Clarke County, GA

76.1%

$8,872

$1,711

19.6%

-23.3%

17.2%

47.8

19

Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI

88.4%

$29,980

$5,326

27.9%

-28.2%

-8.8%

63.1

20

North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL

97.4%

$14,888

$2,515

34.0%

-12.8%

13.4%

53.0

21

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (Tie)

70.2%

$22,756

$4,599

15.6%

-27.6%

3.7%

43.9

21

Tucson, AZ (Tie)

75.8%

$9,450

$1,826

19.4%

-22.0%

15.6%

47.7

23

Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL

84.0%

$13,427

$2,452

24.9%

-14.6%

14.1%

59.0

24

Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL

84.5%

$11,423

$2,079

25.3%

-17.6%

7.5%

52.4

25

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

88.6%

$11,360

$2,015

28.1%

-13.1%

19.8%

52.8

26

Asheville, NC (Tie)

77.5%

$11,740

$2,241

20.5%

-24.0%

0.5%

49.6

26

Salisbury, MD-DE (Tie)

74.4%

$10,841

$2,117

18.4%

-27.0%

3.4%

58.3

28

Jacksonville, FL

88.3%

$11,049

$1,963

27.9%

-14.8%

14.2%

55.2

29

Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA (Tie)

63.9%

$20,750

$4,437

11.3%

-29.4%

16.4%

46.7

29

Yuma, AZ (Tie)

82.5%

$7,785

$1,435

23.9%

-21.6%

11.6%

57.0

31

Salinas, CA (Tie)

66.1%

$20,647

$4,323

12.8%

-27.1%

12.1%

51.0

31

Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL (Tie)

78.6%

$10,251

$1,941

21.3%

-18.4%

15.0%

57.4

33

Charleston-North Charleston, SC

81.8%

$11,921

$2,208

23.4%

-19.1%

3.1%

52.0

34

Salt Lake City, UT

67.5%

$14,276

$2,952

13.8%

-18.9%

37.1%

44.5

35

Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC

91.1%

$14,704

$2,571

29.7%

-17.2%

-1.1%

57.3

36

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL

89.3%

$13,608

$2,404

28.5%

-17.5%

0.0%

62.2

37

Brunswick, GA

82.5%

$8,155

$1,503

24.0%

-21.7%

6.3%

52.3

38

Wilmington, NC

82.5%

$11,696

$2,156

23.9%

-21.3%

-2.5%

42.3

39

Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ

75.9%

$8,374

$1,617

19.5%

-28.4%

3.4%

92.0

40

Urban Honolulu, HI

70.6%

$23,489

$4,728

15.9%

-19.0%

6.5%

57.5

41

Port St. Lucie, FL

88.7%

$12,019

$2,130

28.2%

-7.8%

20.4%

58.5

42

Stockton, CA

63.1%

$13,353

$2,875

10.8%

-25.5%

27.9%

51.2

43

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

59.4%

$27,987

$6,262

8.2%

-28.5%

15.1%

45.1

44

Savannah, GA

86.1%

$8,876

$1,599

26.4%

-19.8%

2.2%

43.0

45

Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ

72.2%

$9,540

$1,897

16.9%

-17.2%

26.5%

61.3

46

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA

61.7%

$14,331

$3,131

9.8%

-25.3%

25.2%

45.0

47

Punta Gorda, FL

95.4%

$11,739

$2,004

32.7%

-8.7%

14.5%

53.2

48

Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

84.7%

$13,108

$2,382

25.4%

-4.8%

23.5%

50.8

49

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

62.3%

$13,827

$3,000

10.2%

-25.5%

18.9%

44.7

50

Raleigh-Cary, NC

82.6%

$12,844

$2,367

24.0%

-10.4%

10.6%

43.0

51

Barnstable Town, MA

74.4%

$18,353

$3,585

18.4%

-16.6%

1.9%

57.2

52

Vallejo, CA (Tie)

59.5%

$14,241

$3,181

8.3%

-23.2%

25.9%

48.2

52

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (Tie)

77.8%

$10,819

$2,060

20.8%

-15.6%

8.4%

44.3

52

Rapid City, SD (Tie)

77.8%

$9,524

$1,814

20.7%

-22.6%

-1.7%

51.6

55

Bakersfield, CA

72.9%

$9,171

$1,813

17.4%

-19.2%

8.6%

50.4

56

Kennewick-Richland, WA

69.3%

$11,220

$2,284

15.0%

-18.5%

13.4%

49.2

57

Modesto, CA (Tie)

64.0%

$11,337

$2,421

11.4%

-23.5%

19.2%

47.1

57

Merced, CA (Tie)

68.2%

$10,533

$2,165

14.2%

-18.2%

21.0%

53.3

59

Napa, CA

59.6%

$21,707

$4,843

8.4%

-29.1%

7.4%

45.8

60

Salem, OR

65.7%

$11,181

$2,350

12.5%

-22.5%

16.7%

50.1

61

Provo-Orem, UT

67.4%

$14,182

$2,936

13.7%

-14.2%

50.8%

50.1

62

Fort Collins, CO

66.3%

$14,378

$3,004

13.0%

-17.0%

24.5%

50.8

63

Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC

89.7%

$10,059

$1,773

28.8%

-12.2%

6.4%

55.2

64

Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX

72.5%

$13,890

$2,755

17.1%

-7.0%

56.5%

65.1

65

Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL

83.6%

$10,238

$1,874

24.7%

-9.8%

14.7%

56.6

66

Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL

81.9%

$10,473

$1,939

23.5%

-10.7%

13.1%

51.0

67

Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR

84.6%

$9,312

$1,694

25.3%

-14.6%

4.9%

47.8

68

Boulder, CO

64.3%

$19,329

$4,117

11.6%

-16.3%

33.1%

51.9

69

Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL

94.7%

$12,304

$2,108

32.2%

-6.8%

6.2%

55.5

70

Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

82.1%

$11,782

$2,178

23.7%

-8.9%

7.8%

41.6

71

Ocala, FL

94.1%

$8,798

$1,512

31.8%

-10.1%

10.2%

56.5

72

Dover, DE

71.4%

$8,947

$1,790

16.4%

-23.6%

0.2%

54.8

73

Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA (Tie)

62.3%

$13,774

$2,989

10.2%

-20.3%

18.7%

44.0

73

Madera, CA (Tie)

70.4%

$10,528

$2,124

15.7%

-18.0%

7.9%

55.5

75

Albuquerque, NM

74.0%

$8,615

$1,689

18.1%

-23.6%

-2.7%

42.5

76

Reno, NV (Tie)

64.6%

$13,724

$2,914

11.8%

-15.4%

42.8%

57.7

76

Panama City, FL (Tie)

89.2%

$10,908

$1,928

28.5%

16.5%

14.7%

64.6

76

Medford, OR (Tie)

60.5%

$10,656

$2,356

9.0%

-23.4%

20.0%

56.6

79

Twin Falls, ID

71.6%

$9,803

$1,958

16.5%

-10.5%

32.8%

54.0

80

Winchester, VA-WV

68.1%

$9,004

$1,853

14.1%

-20.5%

8.4%

48.5

81

Auburn-Opelika, AL

68.1%

$7,268

$1,495

14.2%

-28.4%

6.0%

45.8

82

Boise City, ID

55.0%

$11,165

$2,623

5.2%

-20.7%

48.9%

54.4

83

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

59.2%

$13,040

$2,923

8.1%

-30.9%

4.4%

45.3

84

Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

86.9%

$9,450

$1,694

26.9%

1.9%

17.6%

56.3

85

East Stroudsburg, PA

79.4%

$8,347

$1,571

21.9%

-15.1%

5.3%

64.5

86

Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL (Tie)

91.4%

$11,510

$2,008

30.0%

-4.4%

3.9%

55.4

86

Springfield, MO (Tie)

80.3%

$7,053

$1,319

22.5%

-19.0%

2.3%

44.9

88

Logan, UT-ID

71.0%

$12,014

$2,412

16.1%

-2.6%

50.6%

55.3

89

Ogden-Clearfield, UT (Tie)

68.9%

$13,050

$2,665

14.7%

-7.0%

44.1%

47.6

89

Knoxville, TN (Tie)

83.1%

$9,095

$1,670

24.3%

-14.8%

-1.3%

43.0

91

Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA

67.5%

$10,919

$2,258

13.7%

-13.1%

25.7%

49.3

92

Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA

58.6%

$18,966

$4,278

7.7%

-33.5%

-1.6%

40.4

93

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO

63.1%

$14,996

$3,231

10.7%

-16.5%

17.7%

43.8

94

Albany-Lebanon, OR (Tie)

65.9%

$10,203

$2,141

12.6%

-21.3%

6.5%

49.5

94

Lewiston, ID-WA (Tie)

70.2%

$9,114

$1,842

15.6%

-12.8%

24.4%

60.6

96

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX

75.2%

$8,562

$1,662

19.0%

-13.6%

10.1%

49.0

97

Trenton-Princeton, NJ

70.4%

$9,281

$1,872

15.7%

-28.4%

-6.8%

69.6

98

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT

67.4%

$14,533

$3,007

13.7%

-29.9%

-9.0%

60.9

99

Rome, GA

78.0%

$5,623

$1,069

20.9%

-19.8%

7.2%

44.6

100

Fresno, CA

70.6%

$10,247

$2,063

15.9%

-17.1%

3.6%

45.3

101

Portland-South Portland, ME (Tie)

72.2%

$12,965

$2,578

16.9%

-21.2%

-8.3%

47.1

101

Grand Junction, CO (Tie)

67.2%

$9,883

$2,049

13.5%

-14.4%

24.9%

54.0

103

Missoula, MT (Tie)

70.9%

$14,446

$2,902

16.1%

-9.3%

7.9%

49.0

103

St. George, UT (Tie)

67.7%

$13,925

$2,874

13.9%

-4.1%

51.3%

57.8

105

Providence-Warwick, RI-MA

67.0%

$11,401

$2,368

13.4%

-24.4%

-4.0%

52.2

106

Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL

80.4%

$8,634

$1,614

22.5%

-11.1%

5.6%

51.8

107

Greenville, NC

79.0%

$6,414

$1,211

21.5%

-25.4%

-5.0%

40.9

108

Eugene-Springfield, OR (Tie)

65.6%

$11,612

$2,443

12.5%

-18.4%

6.4%

43.3

108

Chico, CA (Tie)

57.7%

$9,695

$2,208

7.1%

-20.5%

24.4%

51.8

110

Gainesville, FL

76.2%

$8,096

$1,560

19.7%

-16.5%

0.2%

53.0

111

Richmond, VA (Tie)

71.2%

$9,304

$1,864

16.3%

-23.5%

-7.1%

40.6

111

San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX (Tie)

75.7%

$8,295

$1,604

19.3%

-6.9%

21.1%

49.8

113

Homosassa Springs, FL

88.1%

$8,551

$1,521

27.7%

0.9%

10.4%

56.8

114

Greeley, CO

66.3%

$12,897

$2,695

12.9%

-11.8%

18.1%

47.5

115

Charlottesville, VA (Tie)

69.2%

$11,001

$2,242

14.9%

-23.1%

-7.3%

47.9

115

Clarksville, TN-KY (Tie)

81.6%

$7,588

$1,407

23.3%

-6.3%

15.9%

49.2

117

Las Cruces, NM

79.3%

$7,641

$1,439

21.8%

-17.8%

-3.5%

45.7

118

Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC

75.5%

$5,993

$1,161

19.2%

-17.2%

7.5%

46.3

119

Grants Pass, OR

59.2%

$10,048

$2,251

8.1%

-18.2%

24.4%

65.0

120

Jacksonville, NC

82.1%

$7,390

$1,366

23.7%

-17.5%

-4.9%

39.0

121

Pittsfield, MA

74.5%

$9,318

$1,819

18.5%

-21.4%

-10.8%

65.3

122

Colorado Springs, CO (Tie)

63.3%

$11,809

$2,539

10.9%

-11.5%

29.7%

50.4

122

Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ (Tie)

70.0%

$7,998

$1,619

15.4%

-21.6%

-3.3%

53.8

124

Killeen-Temple, TX

86.6%

$7,617

$1,368

26.7%

5.5%

12.7%

47.7

125

New Bern, NC

79.5%

$6,568

$1,236

21.9%

-25.4%

-8.8%

42.3

126

Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ

73.9%

$6,414

$1,258

18.1%

-17.5%

3.8%

62.1

127

Hinesville, GA

87.5%

$6,458

$1,153

27.3%

-9.7%

7.1%

45.5

128

Greenville-Anderson, SC

79.4%

$7,907

$1,489

21.8%

-11.0%

2.6%

45.8

129

Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA (Tie)

64.6%

$13,873

$2,947

11.7%

-11.5%

14.1%

44.3

129

Tallahassee, FL (Tie)

72.6%

$7,032

$1,394

17.2%

-22.6%

-4.6%

46.3

131

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

59.9%

$9,012

$2,005

8.6%

-25.2%

3.8%

55.2

132

Manchester-Nashua, NH (Tie)

66.9%

$11,683

$2,429

13.3%

-20.0%

-5.3%

44.9

132

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC (Tie)

65.3%

$8,347

$1,762

12.2%

-26.3%

-2.3%

46.7

134

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA

63.1%

$14,740

$3,174

10.8%

-25.6%

-7.7%

95.3

135

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (Tie)

62.3%

$15,939

$3,460

10.2%

-20.4%

-2.8%

51.8

135

Waco, TX (Tie)

80.9%

$7,327

$1,365

22.8%

6.2%

16.2%

51.9

137

Kingston, NY

72.5%

$10,327

$2,047

17.2%

-19.5%

-9.0%

99.3

138

Great Falls, MT

74.6%

$8,075

$1,575

18.6%

-19.4%

-7.8%

41.6

139

Cleveland, TN

78.6%

$7,278

$1,378

21.3%

-1.6%

16.7%

52.9

140

Winston-Salem, NC

78.7%

$6,932

$1,311

21.4%

-15.5%

-1.2%

41.8

141

Bangor, ME

77.0%

$6,836

$1,309

20.2%

-21.9%

-7.9%

54.5

142

Longview, WA

64.1%

$10,121

$2,159

11.4%

-13.1%

19.0%

49.7

143

Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV (Tie)

68.3%

$7,386

$1,517

14.3%

-22.8%

-3.3%

48.8

143

Johnson City, TN (Tie)

79.4%

$6,321

$1,190

21.8%

-19.7%

-5.9%

43.5

145

Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT

67.4%

$8,433

$1,745

13.7%

-27.7%

-8.5%

49.1

146

Visalia, CA (Tie)

70.4%

$8,829

$1,780

15.7%

-15.1%

-0.9%

45.1

146

Lancaster, PA (Tie)

69.2%

$8,540

$1,740

14.9%

-22.9%

-8.2%

46.0

148

Lynchburg, VA

70.8%

$6,636

$1,334

16.0%

-25.6%

-7.5%

44.2

149

Yuba City, CA

62.0%

$10,444

$2,274

10.0%

-11.5%

27.8%

51.4

150

Sherman-Denison, TX

80.2%

$7,715

$1,445

22.3%

-2.3%

5.5%

49.5

151

California-Lexington Park, MD (Tie)

58.8%

$9,034

$2,033

7.8%

-25.8%

-1.7%

56.3

151

Morristown, TN (Tie)

80.4%

$6,637

$1,241

22.5%

-8.4%

6.0%

54.3

153

Huntsville, AL

75.8%

$8,161

$1,577

19.4%

-6.8%

4.5%

44.3

154

New Haven-Milford, CT (Tie)

68.1%

$8,758

$1,801

14.2%

-23.8%

-8.8%

53.4

154

Lewiston-Auburn, ME (Tie)

73.8%

$8,028

$1,576

18.0%

-20.4%

-9.3%

46.1

156

Dalton, GA

75.3%

$5,683

$1,102

19.0%

-5.5%

28.8%

58.8

157

St. Cloud, MN

66.0%

$7,305

$1,532

12.7%

-26.3%

-3.9%

58.8

158

Kansas City, MO-KS

68.8%

$7,622

$1,558

14.6%

-18.7%

-2.7%

38.5

159

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

60.8%

$8,740

$1,925

9.2%

-27.2%

-3.1%

55.1

160

Spartanburg, SC

78.9%

$7,201

$1,361

21.5%

-7.1%

4.3%

48.4

161

Sebring-Avon Park, FL

88.3%

$7,121

$1,265

27.9%

-1.3%

3.1%

55.3

162

Greensboro-High Point, NC

74.5%

$6,368

$1,243

18.5%

-14.5%

1.2%

42.5

163

Chattanooga, TN-GA

75.9%

$7,583

$1,464

19.5%

-0.2%

8.5%

45.9

164

Lexington-Fayette, KY (Tie)

71.2%

$7,225

$1,448

16.3%

-19.4%

-6.4%

45.4

164

Kalamazoo-Portage, MI (Tie)

66.6%

$6,364

$1,327

13.1%

-22.9%

0.3%

57.6

166

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN

73.6%

$7,443

$1,463

17.9%

-10.5%

2.4%

46.3

167

Pueblo, CO (Tie)

67.6%

$7,712

$1,593

13.8%

-2.7%

31.1%

57.3

167

Columbia, SC (Tie)

79.9%

$6,670

$1,252

22.2%

-13.8%

-3.6%

46.4

169

Burlington, NC

82.6%

$7,891

$1,453

24.0%

-1.0%

-1.2%

41.2

170

Worcester, MA-CT

65.7%

$10,643

$2,236

12.5%

-18.3%

-5.2%

51.2

171

Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI

70.9%

$8,196

$1,646

16.1%

-15.1%

-4.3%

42.7

172

Fayetteville, NC

82.2%

$6,174

$1,141

23.7%

-17.0%

-8.4%

40.1

173

Cheyenne, WY

56.2%

$8,234

$1,906

6.1%

-15.3%

18.3%

52.3

174

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (Tie)

66.8%

$8,612

$1,792

13.3%

-23.5%

-10.2%

58.5

174

Yakima, WA (Tie)

62.0%

$8,168

$1,779

10.0%

-17.8%

5.1%

53.2

176

Norwich-New London, CT

66.8%

$8,813

$1,834

13.3%

-24.1%

-13.3%

50.2

177

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

78.8%

$6,847

$1,295

21.4%

-3.7%

3.8%

48.2

178

Rocky Mount, NC

83.0%

$5,458

$1,002

24.3%

-11.7%

-2.7%

48.4

179

Birmingham-Hoover, AL

72.5%

$6,579

$1,305

17.1%

-12.0%

0.4%

43.5

180

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

66.6%

$6,859

$1,429

13.2%

-18.4%

-1.7%

54.3

181

Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA

66.6%

$7,156

$1,492

13.1%

-19.2%

-3.7%

40.8

182

Bloomington, IN

68.7%

$7,308

$1,496

14.5%

-8.8%

7.2%

52.3

183

Wichita Falls, TX

76.0%

$4,321

$834

19.5%

-0.7%

24.0%

63.2

184

Madison, WI

62.7%

$9,442

$2,041

10.5%

-25.6%

-12.3%

45.6

185

Hanford-Corcoran, CA

68.6%

$8,640

$1,769

14.5%

3.6%

6.8%

49.8

186

Springfield, MA (Tie)

64.1%

$8,146

$1,738

11.4%

-18.0%

-2.7%

54.0

186

Gulfport-Biloxi, MS (Tie)

72.0%

$5,347

$1,064

16.8%

-9.1%

10.5%

49.2

188

Tyler, TX (Tie)

77.8%

$7,330

$1,396

20.7%

-3.0%

-2.1%

50.9

188

Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA (Tie)

79.3%

$5,562

$1,048

21.8%

-16.1%

-7.6%

45.8

190

Jackson, TN

73.8%

$4,607

$904

18.0%

-5.4%

16.7%

51.5

191

Reading, PA

71.5%

$7,047

$1,408

16.5%

-19.4%

-13.5%

50.5

192

Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY

70.4%

$5,620

$1,133

15.7%

-7.6%

14.1%

55.8

193

Mankato, MN

63.7%

$7,134

$1,528

11.2%

-14.0%

8.8%

56.8

194

Mobile, AL

70.9%

$4,657

$935

16.1%

-15.5%

2.2%

50.6

195

Staunton, VA

66.7%

$7,401

$1,541

13.2%

-22.8%

-10.6%

44.5

196

Rochester, MN (Tie)

65.8%

$7,883

$1,655

12.6%

-16.4%

-3.3%

59.2

196

York-Hanover, PA (Tie)

66.9%

$6,807

$1,415

13.4%

-20.7%

-7.7%

47.9

198

Harrisonburg, VA

66.6%

$7,657

$1,596

13.1%

-23.1%

-13.0%

45.3

199

Utica-Rome, NY

69.8%

$4,952

$1,004

15.3%

-21.1%

-6.5%

82.9

200

Lebanon, PA

69.4%

$7,037

$1,431

15.1%

-18.3%

-8.6%

47.0

201

Memphis, TN-MS-AR

76.5%

$6,542

$1,257

19.9%

-6.9%

-2.2%

49.2

202

Joplin, MO

81.1%

$5,693

$1,059

23.0%

-9.9%

-4.6%

47.1

203

Roanoke, VA (Tie)

68.8%

$6,710

$1,372

14.7%

-18.9%

-8.5%

42.8

203

Columbus, IN (Tie)

69.4%

$6,396

$1,301

15.0%

-10.4%

3.0%

45.4

205

Dothan, AL

71.5%

$4,442

$888

16.5%

-15.7%

-0.2%

54.7

206

Green Bay, WI

65.9%

$6,862

$1,439

12.7%

-22.7%

-8.4%

51.8

207

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

63.3%

$7,440

$1,600

10.9%

-28.0%

-11.4%

58.8

208

Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY (Tie)

63.4%

$7,440

$1,599

10.9%

-19.7%

-5.1%

74.0

208

Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ (Tie)

74.1%

$5,704

$1,117

18.2%

-16.5%

-8.4%

64.8

210

Montgomery, AL

71.3%

$4,787

$958

16.3%

-18.4%

-6.5%

44.3

211

Columbus, OH

71.0%

$8,034

$1,613

16.1%

-15.6%

-14.6%

41.9

212

Tulsa, OK (Tie)

73.8%

$6,008

$1,179

18.0%

-11.3%

-3.8%

46.2

212

Michigan City-La Porte, IN (Tie)

70.8%

$5,925

$1,191

16.0%

-13.7%

-3.1%

52.2

214

Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA

68.9%

$6,892

$1,407

14.7%

-17.5%

-8.7%

47.2

215

Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

66.7%

$5,023

$1,047

13.2%

-20.7%

-4.0%

76.5

216

Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA

65.4%

$6,261

$1,320

12.3%

-21.7%

-7.7%

50.2

217

Columbus, GA-AL

68.7%

$4,569

$935

14.5%

-13.5%

4.3%

44.6

218

Warner Robins, GA

80.0%

$6,292

$1,180

22.2%

-7.3%

-7.2%

42.8

219

Janesville-Beloit, WI

65.6%

$5,938

$1,250

12.4%

-24.1%

-8.8%

45.9

220

Ann Arbor, MI

62.4%

$9,339

$2,025

10.3%

-20.7%

-16.0%

47.3

221

Lincoln, NE (Tie)

65.1%

$7,074

$1,495

12.1%

-14.0%

-0.2%

42.7

221

Wichita, KS (Tie)

72.8%

$5,452

$1,079

17.3%

-17.3%

-9.3%

39.3

223

Bloomington, IL

73.8%

$5,704

$1,120

18.0%

-17.7%

-18.0%

48.6

224

Fort Smith, AR-OK

72.4%

$4,392

$871

17.1%

-10.3%

2.9%

50.5

225

Macon-Bibb County, GA

80.8%

$4,766

$889

22.8%

1.4%

0.0%

46.9

226

Lubbock, TX (Tie)

72.8%

$5,556

$1,099

17.4%

2.8%

4.2%

43.3

226

Cedar Rapids, IA (Tie)

66.7%

$5,454

$1,136

13.2%

-10.1%

8.3%

54.5

228

Hot Springs, AR (Tie)

80.6%

$6,676

$1,247

22.6%

-7.0%

-8.8%

47.4

228

Jonesboro, AR (Tie)

69.8%

$4,627

$938

15.3%

-4.1%

13.8%

56.4

230

Cape Girardeau, MO-IL

72.5%

$5,351

$1,061

17.1%

-4.6%

3.1%

49.3

231

Jefferson City, MO

71.8%

$6,101

$1,216

16.7%

-9.0%

-3.1%

45.6

232

Amarillo, TX (Tie)

74.5%

$5,565

$1,086

18.5%

-10.0%

-5.0%

41.2

232

Saginaw, MI (Tie)

73.3%

$3,975

$783

17.7%

-12.5%

-1.8%

49.6

234

Oklahoma City, OK

74.2%

$6,177

$1,208

18.3%

-8.1%

-5.6%

44.8

235

Tuscaloosa, AL

66.6%

$5,333

$1,112

13.1%

-18.3%

-4.1%

50.9

236

Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN

67.3%

$6,875

$1,425

13.6%

-16.9%

-8.8%

44.8

237

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX

79.4%

$4,910

$924

21.9%

17.1%

-0.4%

59.2

238

Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

59.8%

$7,517

$1,673

8.5%

-19.7%

-8.0%

49.0

239

Fort Wayne, IN

68.9%

$5,852

$1,196

14.7%

-10.4%

-2.6%

37.9

240

Muskegon, MI

72.2%

$5,772

$1,147

16.9%

-10.7%

-6.6%

46.2

241

Goldsboro, NC

70.7%

$4,067

$818

15.9%

-16.4%

-5.9%

42.9

242

Niles, MI

69.9%

$6,377

$1,291

15.4%

-16.1%

-12.9%

52.3

243

Rockford, IL

68.1%

$4,515

$929

14.2%

-19.3%

-8.6%

45.3

244

Racine, WI (Tie)

65.1%

$6,336

$1,339

12.1%

-16.3%

-5.6%

51.9

244

Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN (Tie)

67.3%

$6,171

$1,278

13.6%

-13.6%

-5.6%

40.4

246

La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN

67.0%

$6,811

$1,415

13.4%

-12.8%

-7.1%

46.3

247

Corpus Christi, TX

63.6%

$5,358

$1,148

11.1%

-9.2%

12.4%

57.6

248

Gettysburg, PA

63.6%

$7,178

$1,539

11.1%

-15.5%

-6.6%

53.1

249

Syracuse, NY

67.1%

$5,240

$1,087

13.5%

-18.9%

-8.9%

69.3

250

Rochester, NY

67.6%

$5,903

$1,220

13.8%

-16.6%

-9.4%

57.3

251

Elkhart-Goshen, IN (Tie)

67.9%

$6,126

$1,262

14.0%

-7.5%

-2.4%

44.8

251

Longview, TX (Tie)

74.8%

$5,418

$1,055

18.7%

-11.8%

-10.2%

54.3

251

Sumter, SC (Tie)

62.9%

$4,089

$882

10.7%

-14.8%

7.4%

53.4

254

Evansville, IN-KY

67.8%

$5,095

$1,051

14.0%

-12.9%

-3.8%

42.3

255

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

64.4%

$6,231

$1,326

11.6%

-16.6%

-7.2%

43.3

256

Florence, SC

72.4%

$4,444

$882

17.1%

-6.2%

-1.9%

50.4

257

South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI

70.6%

$5,243

$1,056

15.8%

-9.3%

-4.6%

44.8

258

Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY (Tie)

65.7%

$6,246

$1,313

12.5%

-12.6%

-4.2%

75.8

258

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (Tie)

64.5%

$6,057

$1,287

11.7%

-15.0%

-4.9%

49.9

260

St. Louis, MO-IL

66.8%

$6,083

$1,266

13.3%

-16.9%

-11.2%

43.1

261

Cumberland, MD-WV

65.3%

$3,563

$752

12.2%

-14.0%

3.5%

71.8

262

Baton Rouge, LA (Tie)

61.2%

$5,421

$1,191

9.4%

-21.1%

-8.1%

47.6

262

Anniston-Oxford, AL (Tie)

65.1%

$3,421

$723

12.1%

-11.9%

6.3%

52.3

264

Monroe, MI

61.7%

$5,746

$1,255

9.8%

-18.8%

-7.7%

51.8

265

Jackson, MI

62.8%

$4,959

$1,071

10.6%

-21.3%

-8.6%

51.5

266

Victoria, TX

67.6%

$5,413

$1,118

13.8%

-0.3%

0.9%

56.0

267

Abilene, TX

68.0%

$4,735

$974

14.1%

-9.7%

-3.0%

47.8

268

Cleveland-Elyria, OH

66.2%

$5,453

$1,140

12.9%

-15.1%

-7.9%

44.8

269

Champaign-Urbana, IL

66.3%

$5,032

$1,051

13.0%

-16.0%

-8.0%

56.2

270

Bay City, MI

64.0%

$3,680

$786

11.4%

-21.3%

-8.6%

46.7

271

El Paso, TX

78.4%

$5,663

$1,074

21.1%

-2.9%

-15.1%

47.4

272

Jackson, MS (Tie)

67.5%

$4,831

$999

13.7%

-8.0%

-3.1%

44.8

272

Pittsburgh, PA (Tie)

58.8%

$4,823

$1,086

7.8%

-14.4%

0.7%

56.1

274

Flint, MI

63.6%

$4,175

$895

11.1%

-9.8%

4.9%

54.9

275

Terre Haute, IN

67.0%

$3,651

$758

13.4%

-10.0%

-1.6%

46.3

276

Erie, PA

66.4%

$4,643

$970

13.0%

-17.5%

-10.5%

50.3

277

State College, PA

62.3%

$7,795

$1,693

10.2%

-14.8%

-15.7%

49.1

278

College Station-Bryan, TX

69.4%

$7,281

$1,481

15.1%

-5.2%

-18.9%

46.6

279

New Orleans-Metairie, LA

56.8%

$5,694

$1,310

6.5%

0.1%

12.2%

56.9

280

Carbondale-Marion, IL

64.0%

$3,089

$659

11.4%

-12.9%

0.4%

63.7

281

Lima, OH

65.5%

$4,160

$876

12.4%

-14.2%

-4.8%

46.2

282

Shreveport-Bossier City, LA

57.1%

$3,474

$796

6.7%

-20.5%

-6.2%

49.0

283

Canton-Massillon, OH

64.3%

$4,654

$991

11.6%

-15.4%

-7.2%

41.8

284

Midland, TX

50.4%

$6,226

$1,549

2.1%

-18.7%

-11.5%

61.8

285

Wausau-Weston, WI (Tie)

57.3%

$4,732

$1,082

6.8%

-21.2%

-9.7%

57.3

285

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL (Tie)

61.4%

$4,061

$890

9.6%

-22.6%

-11.4%

46.5

287

Lansing-East Lansing, MI

63.2%

$5,259

$1,131

10.8%

-14.5%

-6.7%

50.9

288

Grand Forks, ND-MN (Tie)

62.4%

$5,805

$1,259

10.3%

-5.9%

0.0%

73.3

288

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR (Tie)

67.3%

$5,123

$1,062

13.6%

-13.8%

-11.7%

46.7

290

Muncie, IN

72.8%

$3,828

$757

17.4%

7.6%

-5.8%

46.0

291

Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

66.3%

$4,424

$925

12.9%

-12.6%

-6.9%

62.3

292

Battle Creek, MI

67.2%

$4,056

$841

13.5%

-8.1%

-3.8%

55.3

293

Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA

69.1%

$3,723

$759

14.9%

-12.4%

-9.0%

47.3

294

Hammond, LA

62.0%

$4,743

$1,033

10.0%

-4.8%

3.8%

54.9

295

Duluth, MN-WI (Tie)

66.4%

$5,651

$1,180

13.0%

-10.7%

-10.0%

53.0

295

Springfield, OH (Tie)

67.8%

$4,404

$908

13.9%

-8.7%

-7.6%

48.7

297

Kankakee, IL (Tie)

62.0%

$4,468

$973

10.0%

-7.0%

1.1%

55.5

297

Peoria, IL (Tie)

65.5%

$3,566

$751

12.4%

-18.1%

-17.7%

47.7

299

Kokomo, IN

62.8%

$3,969

$858

10.5%

-7.1%

0.7%

38.0

300

Springfield, IL

61.3%

$3,885

$852

9.5%

-19.9%

-17.5%

45.8

301

Akron, OH

64.2%

$5,132

$1,094

11.5%

-10.4%

-7.9%

41.9

302

Binghamton, NY (Tie)

63.8%

$4,036

$864

11.2%

-14.4%

-9.8%

70.8

302

St. Joseph, MO-KS (Tie)

63.8%

$4,031

$862

11.2%

-12.4%

-8.2%

42.8

304

Midland, MI

65.6%

$5,045

$1,062

12.4%

-10.4%

-13.0%

40.8

305

Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH

64.4%

$3,061

$651

11.7%

1.3%

-1.8%

62.3

306

Toledo, OH

59.8%

$4,224

$941

8.5%

-11.2%

-7.0%

44.5

307

Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX

55.6%

$3,567

$832

5.7%

1.7%

-0.3%

57.5

308

Decatur, IL

57.0%

$2,278

$523

6.6%

-13.3%

-10.6%

51.3

309

Danville, IL

64.6%

$1,898

$403

11.8%

-8.9%

-14.8%

55.8

310

Alexandria, LA

52.8%

$3,340

$805

3.8%

-1.0%

-5.8%

54.3

311

Parkersburg-Vienna, WV

63.9%

$3,883

$830

11.3%

-3.6%

-16.5%

50.6

312

Wheeling, WV-OH

55.5%

$3,025

$706

5.6%

-8.5%

-22.2%

62.0

About Anja Solum


Anja Solum headshot

Anja Solum is passionate about storytelling and empowering readers through data. Before MoneyGeek, she attended Florida International University where she received a B.A in Communication Arts. After a short stint as a flight attendant and living abroad in Denmark, she moved back to the U.S. and began her fascination with data-driven content. She has produced studies for both agency and in-house teams over the years across multiple verticals such as personal finance, home and health. Anja geeks out on anime, crocheting and tending to her small but charming garden, all of which she'll typically enjoy with a cup of tea.


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