Austin has seen the largest boost in affordability levels for its starter home listings in the United States, according to a new report from Redfin released last week. Analyzing June 2026 data, Redfin found homebuyers in the Texas capital need to earn $92,607 to afford a median-priced home. That figure reflects a 6.1% decrease in costs compared to this time last year, Redfin’s analysis added.
Other measures used to analyze starter-home affordability include increases in the number of affordable listings available as well as a decline in the amount of one’s earnings spent on housing, Redfin experts detailed.
Austin wasn’t the only Texas city to earn praise for its more affordable entry price points. Elsewhere in the Lone Star State, the following metro areas also reported major upticks in starter-home affordability:
The odds of buying a starter home have improved more substantially than looking at the overall U.S. housing market. The average American household earns approximately $87,599 annually, landing them around $17,000 more than what’s needed to buy a median-priced starter home. Comparatively, Redfin’s research revealed the average American needs to earn almost $110,000 to afford the typical home for sale (not just a starter home), representing a minute dip of 0.5% compared to last year.