The wild and red-hot housing market of the past couple years has continued to soar. While the median home price was $312,728 at the start of December, the housing site Zillow predicts that by the end of February 2023 the median price will be closer to $400,000. That means that if you have a half-million bucks to spend, you’re well above the homeowner in the middle of the pack.

                By                    Jordan Rosenfeld

If your budget tops out at $500,000 then you’ve still got plenty of options on where to put down roots. But that sum buys far more in some places than it does in others. Purchasing the right home in the right place is about a lot more than just the average price per square foot.

Look: In Less Than a Decade, You Won’t Be Able To Afford a Home in These CitiesMore: 10 Best Countries To Live on Just a Social Security Check

With those factors and others in mind, here’s a look at the 25 best places to buy a home for less than $500,000.

Virginia Beach, Virginia

  • Combined score: 1.07143
  • 2021 average home cost: $285,315
  • Livability: 79
  • Median household income: $78,136
  • Area unemployment rate:3.1%
  • % of people below poverty line: 7.2
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): .99
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.86
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,956.83
  • Annual health care cost: $5,632.8
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,037.42
  • Annual transportation cost: $4,938.22
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $19,565.04

Aurora, Illinois

  • Combined score: 1.37995
  • 2021 average home cost: $100,592
  • Livability: 77
  • Median household income: $74,659
  • Area unemployment rate: 4.5%
  • % of people below poverty line: 10.6
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): .3.64
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.86
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,754.20
  • Annual health care cost: $4,959.57
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,083.16
  • Annual transportation cost: $4,555.26
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $18,352.18

POLL: Have You Skipped Any of These Essential Expenses Due to Rising Prices?

Woodbridge, Virginia

  • Combined score: 1.39835
  • 2021 average home cost: $352,731
  • Livability: 83
  • Median household income: $76,846
  • Area unemployment rate: 3.6%
  • % of people below poverty line: 10.7
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 2.46
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.08
  • Annual grocery cost: $5,337.36
  • Annual health care cost: $5,285.72
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,145.53
  • Annual transportation cost: $5,875.47
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $20,644.08

Chesapeake, Virginia

  • Combined score: 1.43997
  • 2021 average home cost: $102,866
  • Livability: 71
  • Median household income: $81,261
  • Area unemployment rate: 3.1%
  • % of people below poverty line: 7.5
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 4.13
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 17.75
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,942
  • Annual health care cost: $5,617.05
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,049.89
  • Annual transportation cost: $5,099.47
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $19,708.41

Raleigh, North Carolina

  • Combined score: 1.54302
  • 2021 average home cost: $396,121
  • Livability: 74
  • Median household income: $69,720
  • Area unemployment rate: 2.9%
  • % of people below poverty line: 11.8
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 4.15
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 21.34
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,971.65
  • Annual health care cost: $4,824.96
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,120.58
  • Annual transportation cost: $4,464.55
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $18,381.75

Fort Wayne, Indiana

  • Combined score: 1.65334
  • 2021 average home cost: $313,319
  • Livability: 75
  • Median household income: $51,454
  • Area unemployment rate: 2.5%
  • % of people below poverty line: 15.5
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 4.26
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 23.18
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,516.99
  • Annual health care cost: $4,126.07
  • Annual utilities cost: $3,771.31
  • Annual transportation cost: $4,106.79
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $16,521.15

Spring, Texas

  • Combined score: 1.65600
  • 2021 average home cost: $125,009
  • Livability: 77
  • Median household income: $73,467
  • Area unemployment rate: 4.4%
  • % of people below poverty line: 10.7
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 1.68
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.63
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,749.26
  • Annual health care cost: $4,783.55
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,029.10
  • Annual transportation cost: $6,328.98
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $19,890.90

Madison, Wisconsin

  • Combined score: 1.68423
  • 2021 average home cost: $468,808
  • Livability: 74
  • Median household income: $67,565
  • Area unemployment rate: 2.4%
  • % of people below poverty line: 16.4
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 3.18
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 27.68
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,838.22
  • Annual health care cost: $4,467.75
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,469.85
  • Annual transportation cost: $4,323.46
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $18,926.35

Lincoln, Nebraska

  • Combined score: 1.69285
  • 2021 average home cost: $438,175
  • Livability: 78
  • Median household income: $60,063
  • Area unemployment rate: 2.1%
  • % of people below poverty line: 12.8
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 4.22
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 26.35
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,813.51
  • Annual health care cost: $6,445.37
  • Annual utilities cost: $3,837.83
  • Annual transportation cost: $3,829.64
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $18,926.35

Mesa, Arizona

  • Combined score: 1.72919
  • 2021 average home cost: $289,135
  • Livability: 77
  • Median household income: $61,640
  • Area unemployment rate: 2.4%
  • % of people below poverty line: 13.3
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 3.89
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 19.31
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,803.62
  • Annual health care cost: $4,773.19
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,162.16
  • Annual transportation cost: $5,744.46
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $19,483.44

Irving, Texas

  • Combined score: 1.77389
  • 2021 average home cost: $417,302
  • Livability: 78
  • Median household income: $66,567
  • Area unemployment rate: 3.4%
  • % of people below poverty line: 11.2
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 3.08
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 25.07
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,922.23
  • Annual health care cost: $4,866.38
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,166.32
  • Annual transportation cost: $5,603.37
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $19,558.30

Lexington, Kentucky

  • Combined score: 1.87171
  • 2021 average home cost: $174,039
  • Livability: 76
  • Median household income: $58,954
  • Area unemployment rate: 3.1%
  • % of people below poverty line: 15.8
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 3.28
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 30.46
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,843.16
  • Annual health care cost: $4,648.95
  • Annual utilities cost: $3,779.62
  • Annual transportation cost: $4,409.13
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $17,680.85

Huntsville, Alabama

  • Combined score: 1.97344
  • 2021 average home cost: $414,587
  • Livability: 79
  • Median household income: $56,758
  • Area unemployment rate: 2%
  • % of people below poverty line: 15.2
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 7.72
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 34.76
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,744.32
  • Annual health care cost: $5,441.03
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,000
  • Annual transportation cost: $4,061.43
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $18,246.78

Garland, Texas

  • Combined score: 2.01265
  • 2021 average home cost: $448,969
  • Livability: 74
  • Median household income: $63,192
  • Area unemployment rate: 3.4%
  • % of people below poverty line: 12.1
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 2.83
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 24.87
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,828.33
  • Annual health care cost: $4,866.38
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,158
  • Annual transportation cost: $5,996.41
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $19,849.12

Bradenton, Florida

  • Combined score: 2.09058
  • 2021 average home cost: $431,287
  • Livability: 75
  • Median household income: $48,369
  • Area unemployment rate: 2.4%
  • % of people below poverty line: 13.7
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 5.55
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 23.79
  • Annual grocery cost: $5,129.80
  • Annual health care cost: $4,793.90
  • Annual utilities cost: $3,929.31
  • Annual transportation cost: $5,039
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $18,892.01

Colorado Springs, Colorado

  • Combined score: 2.10199
  • 2021 average home cost: $368,422
  • Livability: 70
  • Median household income: $67,719
  • Area unemployment rate: 3.7%
  • % of people below poverty line: 11.3
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 6.05
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 34.32
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,862.93
  • Annual health care cost: $4,923.33
  • Annual utilities cost: $3,841.99
  • Annual transportation cost: $4,792.09
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $18,420.34

El Paso, Texas

  • Combined score: 2.15859
  • 2021 average home cost: $276,687
  • Livability: 74
  • Median household income: $48,866
  • Area unemployment rate: 4.3%
  • % of people below poverty line: 18.8
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 3.2
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.7
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,546.64
  • Annual health care cost: $4,488.46
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,037.42
  • Annual transportation cost: $4,630.80
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $17,703.36

Arlington, Texas

  • Combined score: 2.16037
  • 2021 average home cost: $317,122
  • Livability: 77
  • Median household income: $63,351
  • Area unemployment rate: 3.4%
  • % of people below poverty line: 14.2
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 5.45
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 26.31
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,848.10
  • Annual health care cost: $5,145.94
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,158
  • Annual transportation cost: $5,774.69
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $19,926.73

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

  • Combined score: 2.16137
  • 2021 average home cost: $259,865
  • Livability: 64
  • Median household income: $47,269
  • Area unemployment rate: 3.4%
  • % of people below poverty line: 19.2
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 1.3
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 6.5
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,704.78
  • Annual health care cost: $5,373.73
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,012.47
  • Annual transportation cost: $3,804.45
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $17,895.43

St. Petersburg, Florida 

  • Combined score: 2.16564
  • 2021 average home cost: $174,056
  • Livability: 70
  • Median household income: $60,798
  • Area unemployment rate: 2.5%
  • % of people below poverty line: 11.6
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 6.88
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 26.58
  • Annual grocery cost: $5,184.16
  • Annual health care cost: $5,249.48
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,336.79
  • Annual transportation cost: $4,948.30
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $19,718.73

Omaha, Nebraska

  • Combined score: 2.17079
  • 2021 average home cost: $257,176
  • Livability: 72
  • Median household income: $62,213
  • Area unemployment rate: 2.6%
  • % of people below poverty line: 12
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 6.24
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 31.37
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,773.97
  • Annual health care cost: $6745.63
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,099.79
  • Annual transportation cost: $4,116.86
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $19,736.25

Tampa, Florida

  • Combined score: 2.20393
  • 2021 average home cost: $142,070
  • Livability: 74
  • Median household income: $55,634
  • Area unemployment rate: 2.5%
  • % of people below poverty line: 17.5
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 5.57
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 16.34
  • Annual grocery cost: $5,194.04
  • Annual health care cost: $5,099.35
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,004.15
  • Annual transportation cost: $5,678.42
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $19,946.26

Greenville, South Carolina

  • Combined score: 2.23124
  • 2021 average home cost: $368,644
  • Livability: 73
  • Median household income: $58,259
  • Area unemployment rate: 2.9%
  • % of people below poverty line: 12.8
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 7.21
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 42.22
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,927.17
  • Annual health care cost: $5,249.48
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,029.10
  • Annual transportation cost: $3,839.72
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $18,045.47

Fort Worth, Texas

  • Combined score: 2.23646
  • 2021 average home cost: $98,221
  • Livability: 73
  • Median household income: $64,567
  • Area unemployment rate: 3.4%
  • % of people below poverty line: 13.6
  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 5.47
  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 27.68
  • Annual grocery cost: $4,828.33
  • Annual health care cost: $5,145.94
  • Annual utilities cost: $4,178.79
  • Annual transportation cost: $5,739.42
  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $19,892.48

Sarasota, Florida

  • Combined score: 2.24631

  • 2021 average home cost: $261,990

  • Livability: 71

  • Median household income: $261,990

  • Area unemployment rate: 2.4%

  • % of people below poverty line: 15.6

  • Violent crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 6.4

  • Property crime rate (per 1,000 residents): 30.07

  • Annual grocery cost: $5,263.23

  • Annual health care cost: $5,052.75

  • Annual utilities cost: $3,916.84

  • Annual transportation cost: $4,580.45

  • Total annual necessities minus housing: $18,813.27

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