Pittsburgh, Chambersburg Named as Most Affordable for Homebuyers

Finding an affordable home may seem like a challenging task for some consumers.

In addition to limited inventory, rising costs of homeownership, along with rising costs of rent, is making homeownership an obstacle for some would-be buyers. But two Pennsylvania cities offer affordable options, according to a recent report from Rocket Homes. Using the 30% rule (meaning housing costs should not exceed 30% of one’s income), the highest amount a household salary of $65,000 should spend is $1,625 a month on a mortgage. Pittsburgh landed in seventh place, while Chambersburg landed in eighth. The site ranked the health index, unemployment rank, median household income, state income tax, sales tax and climate hazard index to determine what cities would be in the top 10 list of best places to buy a home on a $65,000 household budget.

Pittsburgh, with more than 2.3 million residents, was by far the largest city on the list. Often applauded for its affordability, the Steel City has a median home price of $208,446. With such low home prices, households on a $65,000 a year salary could afford the median monthly mortgage payment of $1,334, leaving some room for other associated homeowner costs. Pittsburgh also offers a wide variety of entertainment, culture and work opportunities.

Following Pittsburgh on the list was Chambersburg in eighth. With a population of just 155,027, the median home price is $252,282. An estimated monthly mortgage cost would be $1,537, still under the 30% mark for those earning $65,000. Additionally, Chambersburg is in the top 10% in the U.S. for low crime rates.

“We still have low inventory, we have more buyers than homes,” said Nancy Allison, a real estate agent in Chambersburg. “Our home prices are still staying on the higher end,” she said. “We have a lot of people moving into our area from greater Washington D.C. area. We have warehouses coming in, new medical facilities, lower interest rates for businesses, we are just drawing everyone in.”