You Can Buy a Home in This College Town for $88,000
College towns are some of the most vibrant places on the planet. You'll often find nightlife and great restaurants. And let's not overlook the college sporting events! If you're looking to immerse yourself in a bustling community, or perhaps you are leaning towards buying a home to rent out to a college co-ed, here are some of the most affordable college towns in the United States.
To determine the most affordable college towns, Moms Who Think reviewed five-year data on median household value and median household income from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey. Cities, towns, and Census-designated places were ranked based on the ratio of median home value to median household income. Only places with at least 10,000 residents where at least 15% of the population is enrolled in college or graduate school were considered.
This post was updated in July 2026 to include updated information about each college town, including the Niche grade for each location.
50. Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Median home value: $177,500 (3.4 times income)
Median household income: $51,671
Total population: 39,795
Overall Niche grade: B+
Major college: Southeast Missouri State University
49. Middletown, Connecticut
Median home value: $257,800 (3.4 times income)
Median household income: $75,120
Total population: 48,152
Overall Niche grade: B+
Major college: Wesleyan University
48. Waterville, Maine
Median home value: $154,400 (3.4 times income)
Median household income: $45,208
Total population: 15,785
Overall Niche grade: B
Major college: Colby College
47. Moorhead, Minnesota
Median home value: $234,300 (3.4 times income)
Median household income: $68,680
Total population: 44,443
Overall Niche grade: A-
Major college: Minnesota State University Moorhead
46. Winona, Minnesota
Median home value: $176,600 (3.4 times income)
Median household income: $52,500
Total population: 26,083
Overall Niche grade: B+
Major college: Winona State University
45. Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Median home value: $220,100 (3.3 times income)
Median household income: $66,640
Total population: 11,805
Overall Niche grade: A-
Major college: Elizabethtown College
44. Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Median home value: $163,300 (3.3 times income)
Median household income: $49,444
Total population: 16,389
Overall Niche grade: A-
Major college: Northeastern State University
43. Duluth, Minnesota
Median home value: $209,800 (3.3 times income)
Median household income: $63,545
Total population: 86,772
Overall Niche grade: A-
Major college: University of Minnesota Duluth
42. Maryville, Missouri
Median home value: $162,100 (3.3 times income)
Median household income: $49,144
Total population: 10,691
Overall Niche grade: B+
Major college: Northwest Missouri State University
41. Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Median home value: $176,400 (3.3 times income)
Median household income: $53,611
Total population: 25,549
Overall Niche grade: A
Major college: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
40. Champaign, Illinois
Median home value: $191,200 (3.3 times income)
Median household income: $58,273
Total population: 88,628
Overall Niche grade: A
Major college: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
39. Glassboro, New Jersey
Median home value: $256,900 (3.3 times income)
Median household income: $78,518
Total population: 23,014
Overall Niche grade: A-
Major college: Rowan University
38. Kirksville, Missouri
Median home value: $133,100 (3.2 times income)
Median household income: $41,089
Total population: 17,533
Overall Niche grade: B+
Major college: Truman State University
37. St. Peter, Minnesota
Median home value: $217,400 (3.2 times income)
Median household income: $67,255
Total population: 12,039
Overall Niche grade: A-
Major college: Gustavus Adolphus College
36. Troy, New York
Median home value: $177,100 (3.2 times income)
Median household income: $54,837
Total population: 51,268
Overall Niche grade: A-
Major college: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
35. Keene, New Hampshire
Median home value: $221,400 (3.2 times income)
Median household income: $69,381
Total population: 22,907
Overall Niche grade: B+
Major college: Keene State College
34. Edwardsville, Illinois
Median home value: $277,000 (3.2 times income)
Median household income: $87,094
Total population: 26,622
Overall Niche grade: A
Major college: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
33. Plattsburgh, New York
Median home value: $172,900 (3.1 times income)
Median household income: $55,049
Total population: 19,907
Overall Niche grade: B+
Major college: State University of New York at Plattsburgh
32. Kalamazoo, Michigan
Median home value: $152,700 (3.1 times income)
Median household income: $48,649
Total population: 73,342
Overall Niche grade: B+
Major college: Western Michigan University
31. Indiana, Pennsylvania
Median home value: $124,100 (3.1 times income)
Median household income: $40,013
Total population: 14,082
Overall Niche grade: A-
Major college: Indiana University of Pennsylvania
30. Lubbock, Texas
Median home value: $181,600 (3.1 times income)
Median household income: $58,734
Total population: 258,190
Overall Niche grade: A-
Major college: Texas Tech University
29. Berea, Kentucky
Median home value: $167,200 (3.1 times income)
Median household income: $54,481
Total population: 15,404
Overall Niche grade: A-
Major college: Berea College
28. Bourbonnais, Illinois
Median home value: $238,000 (3.1 times income)
Median household income: $77,738
Total population: 18,125
Overall Niche grade: B+
Major college: Olivet Nazarene University
27. Normal, Illinois
Median home value: $194,400 (3.0 times income)
Median household income: $63,965
Total population: 52,920
Overall Niche grade: A+
Major college: Illinois State University
26. Macomb, Illinois
Median home value: $103,800 (3.0 times income)
Median household income: $35,064
Total population: 15,207
Overall Niche grade: B+
Major college: Western Illinois University
25. Meadville, Pennsylvania
Median home value: $136,200 (3.0 times income)
Median household income: $46,157
Total population: 12,929
Overall Niche grade: B-
Major college: Allegheny College
24. Huntington, West Virginia
Median home value: $114,800 (2.9 times income)
Median household income: $39,066
Total population: 46,637
Overall Niche grade: B+
Major college: Marshall University
23. Canyon, Texas
Median home value: $198,600 (2.9 times income)
Median household income: $67,631
Total population: 15,089
Overall Niche grade: A
Major college: West Texas A&M University
22. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Median home value: $171,800 (2.9 times income)
Median household income: $60,187
Total population: 303,843
Overall Niche grade: A
Major college: Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh
21. Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Median home value: $136,400 (2.8 times income)
Median household income: $48,388
Total population: 27,755
Overall Niche grade: B+
Major college: Pennsylvania College of Technology
20. Binghamton, New York
Median home value: $117,400 (2.8 times income)
Median household income: $42,031
Total population: 47,617
Overall Niche grade: B
Major college: Binghamton University
19. Pella, Iowa
Median home value: $240,100 (2.8 times income)
Median household income: $86,025
Total population: 10,556
Overall Niche grade: A
Major college: Central College
18. Oneonta, New York
Median home value: $170,900 (2.7 times income)
Median household income: $62,188
Total population: 14,097
Overall Niche grade: A-
Major college: State University of New York at Oneonta
