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- There are 10 cities that look like good options for those buying a home for the first time, Realtor.com said.
- The firm ranked cities for first-time homebuyers based on factors like affordability and commute times.
- Rochester, New York, topped the list for 2026.
High home prices and elevated mortgage rates mean first-time homebuyers could be in for a slog when they hit the market to look for a home.
But there are a handful of cities across the US where first-time buyers might have the most luck scoring a deal, according to a new ranking from Realtor.com.
In a report on Wednesday, the real estate listings site said it compiled a list of 10 housing markets in the US it considered to be the most suitable for those buying a house for the first time.
In its analysis, the firm said it screened more than 10,000 Census-designated places in the largest 100 metro areas of the country, and chose from cities that had at least 500 active home listings in the last year. Its ranking also considered factors like housing availability, whether the city had a community of young people, the average estimated commute time, and affordability, which was weighted as one of the most important factors in Realtor.com's analysis.
Affordability remains one of the largest barriers to Americans trying to break into the housing market for the first time.
The 30-year mortgage rate clocked in at around 6.15% in the last week of 2025, according to data from Freddie Mac — still elevated compared to levels over the last decade, particularly during the pandemic, when many home loans were going for under 3%.
The median sales price of a US home, meanwhile, hovered around $410,800 in the second quarter of last year, according to US Census data, close to a record high.
Here are the cities where Realtor.com thinks first-time buyers could catch a break.
1. Rochester, NY
Median listing price: $139,900
Est. share of households with young homeowners (ages 25 to 34): 21.3%
Est. average commute to work: 21 minutes
Available inventory for every 1,000 households: 23
2. Harrisburg, PA
Median listing price: $151,999
Est. share of households with young homeowners (ages 25 to 34): 19.9%
Est. average commute to work: 23 minutes
Available inventory for every 1,000 households: 37.9
3. Granite City, IL
Median listing price: $119,000
Est. share of households with young homeowners (ages 25 to 34): 13.0%
Est. average commute to work: 25 minutes
Available inventory for every 1,000 households: 47.8
4. Birmingham, AL
Median listing price: $148,950
Est. share of households with young homeowners (ages 25 to 34): 18.9%
Est. average commute to work: 24 minutes
Available inventory for every 1,000 households: 43.5
5. North Little Rock, AR
Median listing price: $170,000
Est. share of households with young homeowners (ages 25 to 34): 17.4%
Est. average commute to work: 23 minutes
Available inventory for every 1,000 households: 39.2
6. Syracuse, NY
Median listing price: $169,900
Est. share of households with young homeowners (ages 25 to 34): 20.4%
Est. average commute to work: 20 minutes
Available inventory for every 1,000 households: 21.0
7. Baltimore, MD
Median listing price: $223,900
Est. share of households with young homeowners (ages 25 to 34): 19.1%
Est. average commute to work: 31 minutes
Available inventory for every 1,000 households: 52.6
8. St. Louis Park, MN
Median listing price: $375,000
Est. share of households with young homeowners (ages 25 to 34): 25.2%
Est. average commute to work: 22 minutes
Available inventory for every 1,000 households: 42.4
9. Pittsburgh, PA
Median listing price: $249,000
Est. share of households with young homeowners (ages 25 to 34): 23.5%
Est. average commute to work: 25 minutes
Available inventory for every 1,000 households: 33.7
10. Garfield Heights, OH
Median listing price: $140,000
Est. share of households with young homeowners (ages 25 to 34): 12.4%
Est. average commute to work: 24 minutes
Available inventory for every 1,000 households: 50.2
