West Virginia Holds Cheapest U.S. Listing Price at $259,997 in September Data

West Virginia carried the lowest median home asking price in the country in September 2026 at $259,997, according to Realtor.com data published through the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The figure covers homes advertised for sale rather than completed transactions, so it does not reflect what buyers ultimately paid.

Louisiana followed at $270,000, with Ohio at $284,000. Iowa came in fourth at $284,900 and Mississippi fifth at $292,250. The spread between first place and 12th place, held by Pennsylvania at $309,000, is roughly $49,000.

States in the Midwest and South account for the lowest asking prices in the dataset. Kansas posted $296,000, Oklahoma $296,643, Indiana $299,000, Michigan $299,900, Missouri $300,000 and Kentucky $307,775. Within-state differences run wider than the gaps separating those rankings. A suburb can price far above a statewide median, while rural listings sit below it, and a market with more small or older houses will report a lower figure.

West Virginia's position rests on its $259,997 median. Charleston, Huntington and smaller communities across the state carry listings at that level. The state's housing stock skews older, and rural parcels may sit on steep terrain or lack broadband service, which raises maintenance costs and narrows the buyer pool. Employment options outside the larger towns remain limited.

Louisiana's $270,000 median sits about $26,000 under Oklahoma's. Baton Rouge and Shrawport list homes well below New Orleans neighborhoods. Insurance drives the state's cost picture: flood exposure, hurricane risk and property-specific coverage requirements can push monthly expenses higher than the sticker price suggests. A house listed under $200,000 still requires an insurance quote before an offer.

Ohio's $284,000 median places it near Iowa's $284,900. Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus each run their own price levels, with Columbus-area demand lifting figures above those in older industrial cities. Property taxes and the condition of aging houses can erase a low asking price once a buyer adds roofing, heating or foundation work.

Purchase price does not settle the monthly budget. A $280,000 home with 20% down produces a $224,000 mortgage before closing costs. At an illustrative 6.5% fixed rate over 30 years, principal and interest come to about $1,416 a month. Property taxes, homeowners insurance, flood coverage, utilities, maintenance, homeowners association fees, transportation and closing costs stack on top of that figure.