U.S. Real Estate Shock: These Luxury Towns Have Starter Home Prices

Throughout the United States, upscale towns and gated communities often seem financially impossible for most of us. These places are areas that have a luxurious allure or an air of exclusivity that can make them feel inaccessible or unattainable. This might be a fair assumption for the most part, but sometimes there are upscale towns with surprisingly affordable real estate that may surprise you.

These hidden little gems may not come along too often, and they aren't found everywhere, but we've managed to find a list of 25 cities in the United States that are considered upscale or luxury towns that still have shockingly affordable real estate available. If you've wanted to buy a home but couldn't find the perfect location, perhaps one of these is just what you've been searching for.

To determine the luxury towns where you can still afford a home, 24/7 Tempo reviewed five-year data on median household value and median household income from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2022 American Community Survey. Cities, towns, and Census-designated places where the median home value is $1,000,000 or greater were ranked based on the percentage of owner-occupied housing units valued at less than $250,000. Only cities with at least 1,000 residents were considered.

This post was updated on July 26th, 2025, to reflect additional information.

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 6.7%
• Median home value: $1,006,600
• Median household income: $138,013
• Total population: 69,502

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 6.9%
• Median home value: $1,168,200
• Median household income: $153,125
• Total population: 6,380

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 7.2%
• Median home value: $1,572,000
• Median household income: $156,833
• Total population: 2,135

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 7.3%
• Median home value: $1,763,300
• Median household income: $126,406
• Total population: 3,239

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 7.5%
• Median home value: $1,129,900
• Median household income: $178,095
• Total population: 18,279

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 7.6%
• Median home value: $1,182,100
• Median household income: $131,736
• Total population: 10,479

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 7.8%
• Median home value: $1,029,800
• Median household income: $250,000
• Total population: 5,682

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 8.1%
• Median home value: $1,033,300
• Median household income: $128,750
• Total population: 1,083

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 8.6%
• Median home value: $1,570,600
• Median household income: $159,737
• Total population: 1,684

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 8.8%
• Median home value: $1,102,600
• Median household income: $218,073
• Total population: 6,051

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 9.0%
• Median home value: $1,188,500
• Median household income: $99,180
• Total population: 5,130

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 9.4%
• Median home value: $1,680,700
• Median household income: $174,506
• Total population: 154,573

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 11.2%
• Median home value: $1,172,700
• Median household income: $114,925
• Total population: 13,718

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 11.3%
• Median home value: $2,000,000
• Median household income: $250,000
• Total population: 3,108

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 11.4%
• Median home value: $1,038,000
• Median household income: $166,117
• Total population: 4,642

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 12.0%
• Median home value: $1,553,600
• Median household income: $202,500
• Total population: 2,320

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 12.8%
• Median home value: $1,138,800
• Median household income: $143,295
• Total population: 3,252

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 13.4%
• Median home value: $1,055,100
• Median household income: $107,813
• Total population: 1,712

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 18.1%
• Median home value: $2,000,000
• Median household income: $105,673
• Total population: 1,143

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 21.0%
• Median home value: $1,154,000
• Median household income: $117,551
• Total population: 5,909

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 22.2%
• Median home value: $2,000,000
• Median household income: $62,266
• Total population: 1,173

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 23.3%
• Median home value: $1,769,700
• Median household income: N/A
• Total population: 1,271

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 24.4%
• Median home value: $1,125,000
• Median household income: $136,436
• Total population: 1,874

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 24.6%
• Median home value: $1,155,600
• Median household income: $132,875
• Total population: 1,236

• Homes worth less than $250,000: 29.1%
• Median home value: $1,080,400
• Median household income: $116,950
• Total population: 3,165