Almost all of the top markets for first-time homebuyers are located in the eastern half of the United States, a new report from Realtor.com found.
Rochester, New York, topped the list based on factors including affordability, inventory and local amenities. Rochester
The median home price in Rochester from November 2024 to November 2025 was $139,000, and Realtor.com forecasted 21.3% of homes going to 25- to 34-year-olds in 2026. Less than 20% of median income for 25- to 34-year-olds went toward mortgage payments in Rochester and Harrisburg as well, based on a 6.25% mortgage rate, 10% down and a 30-year fixed loan, the report found.
"Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial and lifestyle decisions you'll make, and where you buy can not only influence how soon you can take that step, it can shape the tradeoffs that homebuying requires," said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, in a press release Wednesday.
North Little Rock, Arkansas, and Baltimore came in at fifth and seventh, respectively, and were the only other markets to make the list in consecutive years. A little more than 21% of income was spent on mortgage payments in North Little Rock, while 52.6 homes were available to buy per 1,000 houses from November 2024 to November 2025 in Baltimore, the most among any market in the top 10.
Meanwhile, three Florida markets made the top five last year, while none were ranked in the top 10 this year, reflecting softer metro-level price and sales projections in the annual forecast, the report said. Six Florida markets made
Western markets did not make the list in either year, driven by home prices that aren't matched by local income.
"The markets that rise to the top in 2026 pair comparatively attainable forecasted home prices with strong local amenities and a supportive economic backdrop," Hale said. "For first-time buyers, that combination can mean a more manageable path to homeownership. All without giving up the neighborhood features that make a place feel like home."
Amenities and commute times hoisted six places that are the principal city of their metro into the top 10, as centrally located markets can outperform suburban peers by offering convenience, the report said.
But each of the 10 featured markets still had a median listing price below the national average, underscoring the importance of affordability.
"Truly affordable markets have become harder to find, especially for younger households," said Joel Berner, senior economist at Realtor.com, in the release. "The places that rise to the top in this ranking are notable precisely because they still offer a viable path to ownership for first-time buyers."
