Three Affordable Housing Markets Defy National Price Hikes

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Despite the national housing market showing signs of slowing down, three metro areas - Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Cumberland, Maryland; and Owensboro, Kentucky - have seen some of the fastest year-over-year price growth in the last quarter of 2025, with median home prices well below the national median. These areas fall far below the national median, making them more affordable for the average homebuyer.

Why it matters

As home prices continue to rise across much of the country, these three more affordable markets provide options for buyers looking to purchase a home without breaking the bank. The data highlights that while the overall housing market may be cooling, there are still pockets of relative affordability for those priced out of the nation's most expensive markets.

The details

In the last quarter of 2025, the national median home price rose 1.2% to $414,900, even as monthly mortgage payments on a single-family home decreased 5.7% to $2,057. However, three metro areas bucked this trend, seeing some of the fastest year-over-year price growth in the country. Cape Girardeau, Missouri saw prices jump 19.9% to a median of $275,000, while Cumberland, Maryland saw a 17.1% increase to a median of $174,900, and Owensboro, Kentucky rose 15% to a median of $264,000. These prices fall well below the national median, making them more affordable for the average homebuyer.

• In the last quarter of 2025, the national median home price rose 1.2% to $414,900.
• In the last quarter of 2025, monthly mortgage payments on a single-family home decreased 5.7% to $2,057.

What they’re saying

What’s next

With inventory still relatively constrained, continued price resilience is expected across much of the market despite slower overall sales activity. Meaningful, longer-term relief for new buyers is likely tied to increasing housing supply, particularly in starter-home segments.