Ranked: Housing Costs in Every U.S. State (Q1 2026)

# What this ranking measures

# Biggest gaps in housing costs

Hawaii stands out as an extreme outlier at 302.4. That figure means housing costs there are roughly three times the national benchmark. The next most expensive state, Massachusetts, has an index of 217.5—still far below Hawaii but more than double the U.S. average.

The top five states and districts by housing cost index are:

• Hawaii: 302.4
• Massachusetts: 217.5
• District of Columbia: 190.4
• California: 189.5
• New York: 172.3

These high-cost markets are concentrated on coasts and in dense metropolitan centers.

# Where housing is cheapest

At the other end of the scale, Oklahoma reports the lowest housing cost index at 66.9, which is 33.1% below the national benchmark. Alabama (67.7) and Mississippi (71.0) are also among the least expensive.

The bottom five states by index are:

• Oklahoma: 66.9
• Alabama: 67.7
• Mississippi: 71.0
• West Virginia: 71.3
• Indiana: 73.0

Lower-index states cluster in parts of the South and Midwest, where land and development costs tend to be lower.

# Notable state comparisons

Several large, fast-growing states are below the national housing-cost benchmark. Texas posts an index of 77.7 (22.3% below the U.S. average), and Georgia is nearly identical at 77.6. North Carolina sits at 91.7, while Florida is effectively at the national average with 101.1. These differences show that population growth and housing costs do not move in lockstep.

Other mid-range and higher-cost states include Maryland (149.1), New Jersey (144.3), and Maine (134.8). States like Colorado (107.4) and Arizona (119.0) fall into the moderately expensive range.

# What drives the differences

# Practical takeaways for readers

• If you're comparing housing markets for relocation or investment, index values give a direct, comparable measure of housing-price pressure relative to the national average.

• Large states with fast growth can still have below-average housing costs, so regional size alone doesn't determine affordability.

# Full ranking highlights (selected)

Highest indexes: Hawaii (302.4), Massachusetts (217.5), D.C. (190.4), California (189.5), New York (172.3).

Lowest indexes: Oklahoma (66.9), Alabama (67.7), Mississippi (71.0), West Virginia (71.3), Indiana (73.0).

This state-by-state housing index provides a snapshot of relative housing costs across the United States in Q1 2026, useful for household decisions, relocation planning, and regional comparisons.