Quarterly index · Release Q3 2026
The Local Affordability Index ranks every US county on housing affordability for the median household. We combine years-to-own, rent burden, and recent price appreciation into a single 0–100 index where higher means more affordable.
Of the 3,121 US counties, the 2026 Q3 Local Affordability Index identifies 612 counties (19.6%) in the "very expensive" tier (years-to-own > 8.0). That's up from 481 counties in Q3 2025 — a quarter-over-quarter increase of 131 counties (+27%) crossing into expensive territory.
The Midwest remains the affordability anchor of the country: 8 of the top 10 most-affordable counties are in the Mississippi River valley (Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi). The Mountain West luxury cohort (Aspen-Roaring Fork, Park City, Jackson Hole, Sun Valley) leads the very-expensive tier as it has every quarter we've measured.
The biggest mover quarter-over-quarter is the Asheville, NC metro, which fell 41 places on the affordability ranking — median home values up 4.2% with median income flat.
Ranked by Affordability score (0–100, higher = more affordable). Full ranking of all 3,121 places: CSV download.
| Rank | Place | Affordability score (0–100, higher = more affordable) | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Bruceton Mills WV |
0.96 | — |
| #2 | Washington Park IL |
1.05 | — |
| #3 | Atlas PA |
1.09 | — |
| #4 | Clarksdale MS |
1.19 | — |
| #5 | Helena-West Helena AR |
1.22 | — |
| #6 | Brownstown PA |
1.29 | — |
| #7 | Blackwell OK |
1.33 | — |
| #8 | Shenandoah PA |
1.35 | — |
| #9 | Pine Lawn MO |
1.35 | — |
| #10 | Eldorado IL |
1.36 | — |
| #11 | Kewanee IL |
1.38 | — |
| #12 | Sauget IL |
1.39 | — |
| #13 | Pine Bluff AR |
1.40 | — |
| #14 | Trevorton PA |
1.41 | — |
| #15 | Fairview-Ferndale PA |
1.42 | — |
| #16 | Vinco PA |
1.44 | — |
| #17 | Beardstown IL |
1.46 | — |
| #18 | Kermit TX |
1.48 | — |
| #19 | Oakland PA |
1.49 | — |
| #20 | East St. Louis IL |
1.49 | — |
| #21 | Parsons KS |
1.49 | — |
| #22 | Cumberland KY |
1.49 | — |
| #23 | Jeanerette LA |
1.50 | — |
| #24 | Peoria Heights IL |
1.51 | — |
| #25 | North Enid OK |
1.52 | — |
Commerce Institute. (2026). Local Affordability Index (Quarterly, Q3 2026). Retrieved from https://commerceinstitute.org/indices/affordability/2026-q3/.
For commentary, expert availability, or custom slices: press@commerceinstitute.org.
The next quarterly Local Affordability Index release is expected August 15, 2026.