REPORT: Austin tops US in housing affordability gains
Jan 08, 2025
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin saw the most improvements in housing affordability last year among the country's largest metros, according to a new analysis released by Redfin on Monday.
The median income in Austin in 2024 was $103,717, according to Redfin's report. Under that income level, homeowners would have to spend 39.6% of their salary on monthly housing costs for a median-priced home — down from 42.8% in 2023. Compared to the U.S.' Top 50 metros, Austin had the largest affordability improvement.
Experts said these advancements are likely linked to an increase in housing production in the Lone Star State in recent years, particularly during the pandemic.
"With inventory up and demand easing, prices are now starting to fall, leading to improvements in affordability," Redfin analysts wrote.
Zillow economist calls Austin’s housing market ‘healthy’ going into 2025
Austin wasn't the only Texas metro reporting improved affordability levels in 2024. The Top 5 metros were:
Austin, Texas: down 3.2 percentage points, dropping to 39.6% of household income
San Antonio, Texas: down 2.3 percentage points, dropping to 35.4% of household income
Dallas, Texas: down 2 percentage points, dropping to 38.9% of household income
Fort Worth, Texas: down 1.6 percentage points, dropping to 36.7% of household income
Portland, Oregon: down 1.4 percentage points, dropping to 45% of household income
On the flip side, the metros that saw the least improvements in affordability levels last year were:
Anaheim, California: up 4.1 percentage points, rising to 75.9% of household income
Chicago, Illinois: up 2 percentage points; rising to 34.7% of household income
Miami, Florida: up 1.7 percentage points, rising to 63.1% of household income
Newark, New Jersey: up 1.6 percentage points, rising to 48.8% of household income
San Jose, California: up 1.5 percentage points, rising to 73.9% of household income
From a sheer cost allocations standpoint, the Top 5 least affordable metros were all in California.
Los Angeles, California: 77.6% of household income spent on monthly housing costs for median-priced home
San Francisco, California: 76.% of household income spent on monthly housing costs for median-priced home
Anaheim, California: 75.9% of household income spent on monthly housing costs for median-priced home
San Jose, California: 73.9% of household income spent on monthly housing costs for median-priced home
San Diego, California: 67.3% of household income spent on monthly housing costs for median-priced home
When evaluating the country as a whole, 2024 marked the first year in over a decade where the share of income needed to afford a median-priced home dropped, down from an estimated 42.2% income share in 2023. For comparison, data from 2012 found a 23.2% share of a median household income was needed for monthly housing costs for a median-priced home.
The full report is available online.