Housing affordability varies widely across United States cities and states

Buying a home in the United States costs very different amounts depending on where you live. New research shows that San Jose, California is the least affordable city in the country. A buyer there needs to earn around $274,000 a year to afford a typical home. San Francisco and Los Angeles are also very expensive, both requiring over $200,000 in annual income. Hawaii is the least affordable state overall, with a housing cost index more than three times the national average. Massachusetts ranks second, and California fourth. Cities on the coasts are generally much harder to buy in than cities further inland. Boston and New York City also have median home prices above $800,000.