The ZIP Codes Where Renters Can Afford to Buy and Move Into Their Own Homes

DanielC Written By Daniel Cobb
  • Updated: February 4, 2026
  • Published on January 5, 2026

    • Purchasing a house is a dream shared by many Americans, but it has become increasingly difficult to achieve in recent decades. In 2025, the average age of a first-time home buyer hit a record high of 40, a sharp increase from 33 just five years earlier. The gap is also widening quickly; in 1980, the average age of first-time homebuyers was around 29.

    The high cost of housing is the most prohibitive factor for those who have no option but to rent instead of buy. While real estate prices have fluctuated over the years, median home prices in the U.S. have ballooned by nearly 160% since 2000. Looking further back, the increase in home prices is even more staggering. In 1965, the average home price was approximately $20,000. Sixty years later, in 2025, the average price has soared to around $410,000—a colossal increase of nearly 2,000%.

    Although these statistics may seem discouraging for those wanting to buy and move into a new home of their own, affordable homes are still available. To help aspiring homeowners find the most budget-friendly areas, the team at MovingPlace conducted a study to identify the most affordable ZIP codes to move to, with renters in mind. You can see our findings below.

    Author

    Daniel Cobb

    Daniel Cobb is the Senior Editor at MovingPlace, where he brings nearly a decade of writing and editorial expertise to help demystify the moving process for people across the country. With firsthand experience from multiple cross-country relocations, Daniel understands just how complex and stressful moving can be. He now applies that insight to create clear, helpful content that empowers customers to move with confidence—supported by vetted professionals and smart, streamlined solutions.

    ZIP Code Affordability Infographic

    With the changes in the housing market shifting so much in the U.S., it can be hard to see the whole picture at times. Below, you can read an infographic that outlines what regional markets are doing, and where you’re most and least likely to be able to afford a home.

    The Most Affordable ZIP Code to Move To

    The ZIP code with the lowest mortgage-to-income ratio is 30349, located in Fulton County, Georgia. Fulton County is home to 15 cities, including Atlanta, the state’s capital and largest city by population. With a median home value of $257,899 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.1%, Fulton County comfortably meets the 28/36 rule (more on that below).

    WalletHub ranks Atlanta as the 12th most affordable large city for home buyers, making it ideal for those seeking city living at a more budget-friendly price. Is Atlanta affordable overall? According to an analysis by Motley Fool Money, when comparing the cost of living to median household income, Atlanta ranks 9th in affordability. The article describes Atlanta as “a desirable destination thanks to its robust economy and multi-faceted cultural scene.”

    If you prefer a suburban lifestyle, Johns Creek is another Fulton County gem worth exploring. This Atlanta suburb was ranked 1st in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Places to Live in the U.S. for 2025–2026, offering “a higher value of living compared to similarly sized cities.”

    The Least Affordable ZIP Code to Move To

    The least affordable ZIP code to move to is 11204, located in Kings County, New York. Kings County is home to Brooklyn, one of the five boroughs of the Big Apple. With a median home value of $1,198,458, you could buy nearly five homes in Fulton County, Georgia, for the price of one in Brooklyn. The average mortgage payment in Brooklyn is $7,617, which means you would need to spend an unrealistic 135% of your monthly income to afford a mortgage there.

    Renting in Kings County presents its own challenges; the average rent in Brooklyn is $2,622, which amounts to 46.5% of a renter’s average monthly income ($5,643). As surprising as that statistic is, Brooklyn’s rent-to-income ratio is still reasonable compared to many other highly unaffordable ZIP codes.

    The 28/36 Rule

    Our analysis uncovered a concerning fact: only 3 of the 150 ZIP codes we examined had a mortgage-to-income ratio below 28%. As mentioned in the infographic, banks and other lenders generally follow the 28/36 rule, which indicates that you should spend no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on housing costs and no more than 36% on total debt payments, including housing expenses. With only 3 of the 150 most populous ZIP codes meeting this standard, the U.S. housing market shows little affordability.

    Selecting the best place to move is a personal decision that depends on you and your loved ones. We gathered and analyzed this information from Zillow, the U.S. Census Bureau, WalletHub, and Bankrate in the hopes that it helps you make a more informed decision if you plan to move to affordable housing.

    How MovingPlace Can Help

    If you’re looking to buy a home to escape the cycle of renting, you’re not alone. In fact, 35.61% of people move for reasons related to housing, such as seeking new or better accommodations, more affordable housing, or transitioning from renting to home ownership. Choosing where to live can be challenging, but once you decide, our moving marketplace makes moving simple. With a network of over 1,700 top-rated, vetted movers and more than one million successful moves, we’re honored to help transfer the heart of your old home to the hope of your new one.

    In the meantime, we have released several other studies that may provide actionable insights while you plan a move. This analysis can help you avoid buying a “lemon home,” and this study reveals why people move in the first place.

    Where Renters Can Afford to Buy and Move Into Their Own Homes

    Methodology

    The 150 most populous ZIP codes in the U.S. were analyzed to determine which are the most affordable for renters to buy and move into their own homes, and which are not. This analysis compared the average monthly mortgage payment per ZIP code to the average renter’s income to calculate the mortgage-to-income ratio. ZIP codes with a lower mortgage-to-income ratio were deemed the most affordable for renters to buy and move into their own homes.

    Data Included in Analysis

    • Median Home Value: The average value of homes by ZIP code (October 2025).
    • Mortgage Rate: The average mortgage rate by state (Q2 2025).
    • Mortgage Payment: Based on a 30-year loan with a 20% down payment; includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowners insurance.
    • Renter Income: The average annual renter income by county (2024).
    • Mortgage-to-Income Ratio: Calculated percentage of monthly income allocated to mortgage.

    Additional Data for Comparing Rent Affordability

    • Average Cost of Rent: The average monthly rent by ZIP code (October 2025).
    • Rent-to-Income Ratio: Calculated percentage of monthly income allocated to rent.

    The guideline for home affordability is to spend no more than 28% of monthly income on housing. Our analysis revealed that only 3 out of 150 ZIP codes had a mortgage-to-income ratio below the 28% threshold.

    The 20 ZIP Codes Where Renters Can Afford to Buy and Move Into Their Own Homes

    The 20 Zip Codes Where Renters Cannot Afford to Buy and Move Into Their Own Homes

    The boroughs of New York City have been some of the most expensive places to live and own a home in the U.S. for decades. Because of this, our analysis of ZIP codes where renters cannot afford to move into their own homes was overwhelmed by ZIP codes from this area. To expand the analysis and include other U.S. ZIP codes where homes are least affordable for renters, we included only the least affordable ZIP codes in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and NYC. The ZIP codes not included in the analysis, along with their mortgage-to-income ratio, are listed below:

    Brooklyn, NY: 11219 (130.3%), 11221 (121.3%), 11223 (119.5%), 11206 (117.7%), 11233 (116.3%), 11220 (105.3%), 11230 (101.0%), 11226 (89.0%), 11234 (86.8%), 11229 (85.8%), 11214 (85.6%), 11208 (82.5%), 11203 (81.6%), 11236 (76.7%), 11212 (74.4%), 11207 (72.3%), 11235 (67.7%).

    Bronx, NY: 10457 (99.8%), 10456 (91.6%), 10458 (87.2%), 10467 (85.2%), 10452 (69.8%).

    New York, NY: 10002 (83.6%).

    Sources:

    • Median Home Values https://www.zillow.com/home-values/102001/united-states/
    • Mortgage Rates https://wallethub.com/edu/states-mortgage-interest-rates-change/141339
    • Monthly Rent https://www.zillow.com/rental-manager/market-trends/
    • Renter Income https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs.html
    • Mortgage Calculator https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/mortgage-calculator/

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