Five US Counties where homeownership won’t break the bank

• According to Attom.com, nearly every US county is more affordable today than it was in the past.
• However, there are some places where a typical wage earner won’t have to spend his housing budget.
• These are five counties in which homeowners should have enough money to live comfortably, after housing.

You don’t have to live in your home forever to be a homeowner. 

Despite the fact the median-priced homes in 99% US counties are now more expensive than they were in the past, there are still beautiful places in the country where only 15% of a typical income can be used for housing payments. a new report from housing data company Attom.

These counties will be your natural environment, from the lakes and rivers of New York to the parks and forests of Illinois. But you’ll definitely have to buy a good winter coat — temperatures in all five of these counties drop below freezing between December and March. 

These Attom results are refreshing in a period when homeownership can feel impossible because of high mortgage rates and prices. The affordability crisis is particularly severe in areas like luxe Marin County in California, where the average home payment takes nearly 110% annuallyized weekly wages, and tropical Maui County in Hawaii, where the average worker would need to spend 104% of their income on housing costs, according to the data.

These numbers are shocking in comparison to the personal finance recommendations made by Insider. Its research shows that people should not spend more then 30% of their salary on housing costs.

However, for those who live and work in areas like Canton in upstate New York or Pottsville in Pennsylvania’s coal area, it should be possible to buy a home at an affordable price.

5. Cambria County, Pennsylvania

Percentage of income needed to buy a house: 14.1% 

Average annual wage: $44,746

Monthly mortgage payment average: $525

4. New York, St. Lawrence County

Percentage of income needed to buy a house: 13.6% 

Average annual wage: $55,172

Average monthly mortgage payment: $623

3. Peoria County, Illinois 

Percentage of income needed to buy a house: 13.5% 

Average annual wage: $69,238

Monthly mortgage payment average: $780

2. Schuylkill County Pennsylvania 

Percentage of income needed to buy a house: 12.8% 

Average annual wage: $50,336

Monthly mortgage payment average: $536

1. Macon County, Illinois 

Percentage of income needed to buy a house: 12%

Average annual wage: $62,686

Monthly mortgage payment average: $625