15 States Where Buying a Home Just Got Way More Expensive
Let’s talk housing prices. If you’ve been casually scrolling real estate listings and thinking, “Wait…wasn’t this $200k like two years ago?” you’re not imagining things. The sticker shock is real.
To break it down, we compared 2019 data from Yahoo Finance with the latest 2024 numbers reported by Bankrate. The comparison tells a clear story: prices climbed fast, and in some places, way faster than expected.
We’re about to look at 15 states where home prices have gone through the roof. You’ll see how much things have changed, which areas are leading the charge, and what that means for buyers trying to keep up.
Think your state made the list? Keep reading, this might save you a lot of guessing.
Table of Contents
Arizona
Arizona didn’t just get hot in the summer, its housing market caught fire too. In 2019, the median home price sat at a very manageable $134,000. Fast forward to 2024, and we’re looking at $462,000. That’s a 244% price jump, and no, that’s not a typo.
Cities like Phoenix and Tucson have exploded with demand, especially with remote work pulling people out of pricey coastal metros. The sunshine and space were a bonus, now they’re a premium.
The problem is, supply hasn’t caught up, and buyers are throwing elbows just to get in the game. For anyone hoping to get in now? It’s a lot tougher than it used to be.
12 Cheapest States to Live in America, According to Dave Ramsey
Texas
Texas used to be the land of cheap land and no state income tax. It still has the tax part, but the “cheap” label? That’s fading fast. In 2019, the median price hovered around $190,000. By 2024, it shot up to $349,000, an 83% increase.
Austin led the charge with tech bros and startups pushing prices to absurd heights, but Dallas, Houston, and even smaller towns aren’t far behind. People came for the space and affordability, and that demand squeezed the market dry.
Throw in high property taxes, and Texas isn’t quite the bargain it once was. If you’re not already in? It’s getting tougher to break through the gate.
🙋♂️If this is interesting so far, follow DadisFIRE on MSN, then hit like to see more articles on financial freedom, personal finance, and smart money moves.💪
Florida
Everyone’s dream of sipping piña coladas near the beach has a price, and that price just jumped 80%. Back in 2019, Florida homes cost around $240,000. Today? $433,000. That’s a huge leap, even for a state built on tourism and palm trees.
Cities like Miami, Tampa, and Orlando are booming, and so are their price tags. Add in retirees, remote workers, and investors scooping up rentals, and you’ve got serious competition.
Sure, the weather’s nice, but insurance premiums and storm prep costs remind you that paradise has a tab. That “affordable coastal life” image is looking more and more like a postcard from the past.
Tennessee
Tennessee used to be the budget-friendly Southern gem with live music and mountain views. In 2019, you could buy a house for $180,000. Now? Try $397,000. That’s a 120% increase, and Nashville is at the center of the storm.
With its growing healthcare and entertainment industries, the city attracted buyers in droves. But they didn’t stop in Nashvill, Chattanooga and Knoxville are in the mix now too. The state’s low taxes helped bring people in, but that rising demand is starting to price out locals.
For transplants with cash, it’s a good deal. For everyone else? It’s starting to sting.
Special Tax Benefits of Aging: 19 Great Tax Breaks You Can Claim After 50
Utah
Utah went from mountain escape to real estate rocket ship. In 2019, the median home price was already decent at $318,000. But 2024? Nearly $620,000.
That’s a 95% jump in just five years. Tech growth in Salt Lake and Provo brought high salaries and high expectations, which the market met, and then some. Suburbs expanded fast, but not fast enough to meet demand.
Utah’s outdoorsy charm still sells, but it now comes with a hefty mortgage. And with inventory running thin, even cash buyers are getting edged out. For young families or first-timers? The window is closing quickly.
Idaho
Once upon a time, Idaho was the budget pick for people leaving expensive cities. That dream got pricey, quick. Back in 2019, homes averaged around $148,000. Today? $491,000. That’s a jaw-dropping 231% increase.
Boise leads the charge, attracting everyone and their cousin from California. Now locals are getting boxed out, watching prices rise faster than wages. Rural areas aren’t safe either, people are buying up everything with a roof and flipping it for profit.
Idaho still has natural beauty, but affordable housing? That’s becoming a thing of the past. And yes, the frustration is real.
Pay Less Taxes: 21 States With the Best Tax Breaks
Georgia
Georgia’s been quietly heating up while everyone looked at Florida and Texas. In 2019, median home prices were around $188,000. Now they’re sitting at $388,000, a 106% climb. Atlanta’s strong economy brought in talent, and with it, rising prices.
But cities like Savannah and Augusta aren’t immune either. People are stretching their search radius just to find a halfway decent deal. Low taxes and good weather help sweeten the deal, but demand is outpacing supply across the board.
For buyers, the market’s starting to feel more like a bidding war than a shopping trip. Welcome to Georgia, bring your best offer.
New Jersey
New Jersey has never been cheap, but it’s sprinting into expensive territory at full speed. In 2019, the median home price sat at $291,000. Fast forward to 2024, and we’re staring at $542,000, an 86% jump.
Commuter towns like Hoboken and Jersey City have turned into bidding war zones as more people traded big-city rent for a slightly longer train ride. Even the outer suburbs aren’t safe anymore.
Demand for space, good schools, and easy access to NYC has squeezed prices higher and higher. The Garden State might still have perks, but buying in takes serious cash, and serious patience.
Related Video: Unpopular Opinion: 10 Reasons Why Housing Is Actually Affordable
South Carolina
South Carolina has always had charm, beaches, small towns, and that southern slow-down lifestyle. In 2019, homes cost around $179,000. Now it’s $402,000. That’s a 124% jump, and no, this isn’t just Charleston’s doing.
Myrtle Beach, Greenville, Columbia, they’ve all caught the housing bug. People showed up for the lifestyle, but now they’re dealing with higher prices, limited inventory, and competition that feels like Black Friday at Best Buy.
Even longtime locals are feeling the pressure. It’s still beautiful, still laid-back, but the cost of “relaxed living” is rising fast.
Alaska
Alaska doesn’t usually make national housing headlines, but maybe it should now. Back in 2019, the average home was $141,000. Five years later, it’s $396,000. That’s a massive 180% surge. Anchorage led the charge, but smaller towns are heating up too.
People looking for space and solitude are pushing demand in places that used to be off the radar. Prices climbed faster than anyone expected, and buyers who once looked north for affordability are now playing catch-up.
It’s still remote, still rugged, but definitely not as cheap as it used to be.
Retiring Soon? 21 Cities That Are Ideal for Your Golden Years
Hawaii
Everyone dreams of island living, until they see the price tag. In 2019, a typical home in Hawaii ran about $493,000. In 2024? $947,000. That’s a 92% increase and a whole lot of sticker shock. Sure, it’s paradise, but there’s not much land, and what’s available gets snatched up fast.
Oahu’s neighborhoods near the beach? Nearly untouchable now. Buyers come in strong, often with cash, and locals are left scrambling for options. If you’re not already in, getting a foothold feels like trying to surf a tsunami.
🙋♂️If you like what you are reading so far, subscribe to the DadisFIRE newsletter and follow DadisFIRE on YouTube.💪
Kansas
Kansas used to be the quiet achiever, flat land, low prices, and no big fuss. But it’s changed. In 2019, the median home price was just $147,000. In 2024, that number jumped to $288,000, nearly doubling in five years.
Wichita and Kansas City aren’t just flyover towns anymore. People chasing affordability looked here, and now inventory is tightening up. Smaller towns are catching overflow demand, too.
Kansas still wins on cost compared to coastal states, but the gap is closing. It’s no longer the secret deal it once was.
How Americans Are Changing the Way They Spend (And How You Can Too)
Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s been flying under the radar, but not anymore. In 2019, homes cost around $125,000. That number hit $247,000 in 2024, a 97% increase. Oklahoma City and Tulsa are leading the way, thanks to growing industries and steady job markets.
Prices are still lower than many states, but don’t let that fool you, competition is heating up. More buyers are moving in, and sellers know it. What used to be a market full of options now feels like musical chairs. If you want in, you’ll have to move quickly and bring a solid offer.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin might be best known for cheese and cold winters, but its housing market is warming up fast. In 2019, the average home price was $125,000. In 2024, it climbed to $326,000. That’s a 162% leap that caught a lot of people off guard.
Milwaukee saw the biggest wave, but Madison, Green Bay, and even smaller towns are part of the surge. Remote workers and retirees brought new demand, and the market responded with higher prices.
While it’s still cheaper than coastal hotspots, the affordability edge is shrinking. Wisconsin is getting noticed, and priced accordingly.
20 Basic Tax Rules Most People Still Don’t Understand
New York
New York isn’t new to high prices, but even upstate buyers are feeling the squeeze now. In 2019, the average home cost $199,000. In 2024? $522,000, that’s a 162% increase. NYC still grabs headlines, but places like Buffalo, Albany, and Rochester are seeing action too.
The pandemic pushed people out of crowded cities and into suburbs and smaller metros, and that wave hasn’t slowed down. The result? Inventory is tight, prices are high, and options are fewer. Owning a home in the Empire State is still possible, just not without a fight.
What This All Means
Let’s not sugarcoat it, housing costs in these states didn’t just creep up, they shot through the roof. Some doubled. A few nearly tripled. And unless your paycheck did the same, it’s getting harder to keep up.
For buyers, timing matters more than ever. For homeowners, congrats, your equity probably got a serious glow-up. For everyone else? Now’s the time to rethink your plan, adjust your strategy, and figure out how to get ahead before this train pulls even further out of reach.
🙋♂️If you like what you just read, subscribe to the DadisFIRE newsletter and follow DadisFIRE on YouTube. 💪 Also be sure to follow DadisFIRE on MSN💰
