In the most expensive cities in the country, you need to make over $250,000 to live comfortably. yhelfman/Getty Images A study shows that the amount of money needed to own a home is increasing. A handful of cities require more than a quarter-million in salary to afford a home comfortably. In other cities, you can afford a home with less than the US median salary. Americans searching for homes today are facing some of the harshest conditions yet. Some people are opting for extreme measures, like living in tiny homes in expensive neighborhoods, moving in with family members, or, sometimes, a combination of both. A number of prospective homeowners have uprooted their lives and moved to different parts of the country — or even the world — in search of a more affordable lifestyle. The South, in particular, saw a large influx of Northerners seeking lower home prices and a lower overall cost of living. The Midwest, too, has become a hot destination due to its growing affordability. How much money you make plays a major role in where you can afford to live. A report from Consumer Affairs shows that the amount you need to make in order to buy a home doesn't generally align with how much people are making. The median household income in the US was $83,730 in 2024, according to the US Census Bureau. The Consumer Affairs report found that an annual income of $120,796 is needed for homeownership, assuming a 10% down payment. That number varies depending on where you live. The report found that California is home to the most cities that require a handsome salary, with nine out of the 10 cities in the top 10 being in the Golden State. Meanwhile, the cities that support salaries on the lower end are scattered throughout the South and Midwest. See what cities require the highest and lowest salaries to afford a home. The 10 cities that require the least income to afford a home Youngstown, Ohio. Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto 10. Macon, Georgia Macon, Georgia. Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto Income: $67,832 Median home-sale price: $197,500 Population: 157,056 (Macon-Bibb County) 9. Fort Smith, Arkansas Sebastian County, Arkansas, home to Fort Smith. Brad McGinley Photography/Getty Images Income: $67,064 Median home-sale price: $196,000 Population: 90,507 8. Columbus, Georgia Columbus, Georgia. Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images Income: $66,245 Median home-sale price: $210,000 Population: 201,830 7. Mobile, Alabama Mobile, Alabama. Cavan Images / George Dodd/Getty Images/Cavan Images RF Income: $66,241 Median home-sale price: $232,250 Population: 201,367 6. Binghamton, New York Binghamton, New York ChrisBoswell/Getty Images/iStockphoto Income: $65,989 Median home-sale price: $175,000 Population: 46,773 5. Peoria, Illinois Peoria, Illinois. Sean Pavone/Getty Images Income: $65,486 Median home-sale price: $145,900 Population: 111,696 4. Flint, Michigan Flint, Michigan. Brand Diverse Solutions Steven Barber/Getty Images/iStockphoto Income: $63,535 Median home-sale price: $50,000 Population: 79,735 3. Shreveport, Louisiana Shreveport, Louisiana. Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto Income: $63,030 Median home-sale price: $185,000 Population: 176,578 2. Youngstown, Ohio Youngstown, Ohio InfiniteImpactStudios/Getty Images/iStockphoto Income: $59,433 Median home-sale price: $90,000 Population: 59,123 1. Huntington, West Virginia Huntington, West Virginia. Posnov/Getty Images Income: $53,650 Median home-sale price: $144,450 Population: $44,942 The 10 cities that require the most income to afford a home San Jose, California. Steve Proehl/Getty Images 10. Honolulu, HI Honolulu, Hawaii. SCStock/Getty Images Income needed: $255,280 Median sales price: $605,000 Population: 344,967 9. Salinas, CA Salinas, California. 4kodiak/Getty Images Income needed: $262,403 Median sales price: $699,000 Population: 160,783 8. Oxnard, CA Oxnard, California. benedek/Getty Images Income needed: $276,805 Median sales price: $797,500 Population: 200,616 7. San Luis Obispo, CA San Luis Obispo, California. MattGush/Getty Images Income needed: $280,591 Median sales price: $1,102,500 Population: 49,729 6. San Diego, CA San Diego, California. Brandon Colbert Photography/Getty Images Income needed: $293,618 Median sales price: $950,000 Population: 1,404,452 5. Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles. frankpeters/Getty Images Income needed: $301,221 Median sales price: $1,025,000 Population: 3,878,704 4. Santa Maria, CA Santa Maria, California. MattGush/Getty Images Income needed: $305,535 Median sales price: $617,500 Population: 111,346 3. Santa Cruz, CA Santa Cruz, California. Pgiam/Getty Images Income needed: $354,973 Median sales price: $1,352,000 Population: 62,581 2. San Francisco, CA San Francisco. frankpeters/Getty Images Income needed: $358,090 Median sales price: $1,687,500 Population: 827,526 1. San Jose, CA San Jose, California. Steve Proehl/Getty Images Income needed: $501,012 Median sales price: $1,489,000 Population: 997,368 Read the original article on Business Insider