Here’s the Average U.S. Starter Home (And Where to Find One in Pa.)

The average U.S. starter home was built in 1969 and costs $367,677, offering three bedrooms, two bathrooms, 1,250 square feet of living space and 6,591 square feet of yard space, according to an analysis by Five Star Painting.

The analysis used data from various listings across the 50 largest U.S. cities and included homes, townhouses and condos that measured 1,800 square feet or less, counting as “starter homes.” A starter home is the first home someone can typically afford to buy due to the home’s smaller size and more affordable price.

On the list of Top 10 U.S. Cities That Have the Best Deals on Starter Homes, Pittsburgh ranks No. 7. The average starter home in Pittsburgh costs $214,589 and measures 1,305 square feet. The median household income in the metro area is $54,306, and the median income needed to afford a starter home there is $53,600, leaving a $706 surplus.

Challenging housing markets and increased prices have made starter homes in many areas less affordable. The average household could only afford a starter home in their own city in 12 of the 50 cities analyzed. In addition to Pittsburgh, the cities where starter homes are most attainable are:

• Kansas City, Missouri
• Detroit, Michigan
• St. Louis, Missouri
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Louisville, Kentucky
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Baltimore, Maryland
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Columbus, Ohio

In comparison, starter homes in California may be the least attainable based on median income versus income needed to afford one. Seven of the 12 cities where it’s hardest to afford a starter home are located in California. Los Angeles has the least affordable starter homes, followed by New York City and San Francisco.

Philadelphia starter homes are, on average, built in 1950, with a price tag of $234,999 for three bedrooms, two bathrooms, 1,152 square feet of living space and 6,896 square feet of yard space.