REPORT: Austin tops US in housing affordability gains

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin saw the most improvements in housing affordability last year among the country's largest metros, according to a new analysis released by Redfin on Monday.

The median income in Austin in 2024 was $103,717, according to Redfin's report. Under that income level, homeowners would have to spend 39.6% of their salary on monthly housing costs for a median-priced home — down from 42.8% in 2023. Compared to the U.S.' Top 50 metros, Austin had the largest affordability improvement.

Experts said these advancements are likely linked to an increase in housing production in the Lone Star State in recent years, particularly during the pandemic.

"With inventory up and demand easing, prices are now starting to fall, leading to improvements in affordability," Redfin analysts wrote.

Austin wasn't the only Texas metro reporting improved affordability levels in 2024. The Top 5 metros were:

1. Austin, Texas: down 3.2 percentage points, dropping to 39.6% of household income
2. San Antonio, Texas: down 2.3 percentage points, dropping to 35.4% of household income
3. Dallas, Texas: down 2 percentage points, dropping to 38.9% of household income
4. Fort Worth, Texas: down 1.6 percentage points, dropping to 36.7% of household income
5. Portland, Oregon: down 1.4 percentage points, dropping to 45% of household income

On the flip side, the metros that saw the least improvements in affordability levels last year were:

1. Anaheim, California: up 4.1 percentage points, rising to 75.9% of household income
2. Chicago, Illinois: up 2 percentage points; rising to 34.7% of household income
3. Miami, Florida: up 1.7 percentage points, rising to 63.1% of household income
4. Newark, New Jersey: up 1.6 percentage points, rising to 48.8% of household income
5. San Jose, California: up 1.5 percentage points, rising to 73.9% of household income

From a sheer cost allocations standpoint, the Top 5 least affordable metros were all in California.

1. Los Angeles, California: 77.6% of household income spent on monthly housing costs for median-priced home
2. San Francisco, California: 76.% of household income spent on monthly housing costs for median-priced home
3. Anaheim, California: 75.9% of household income spent on monthly housing costs for median-priced home
4. San Jose, California: 73.9% of household income spent on monthly housing costs for median-priced home
5. San Diego, California: 67.3% of household income spent on monthly housing costs for median-priced home

When evaluating the country as a whole, 2024 marked the first year in over a decade where the share of income needed to afford a median-priced home dropped, down from an estimated 42.2% income share in 2023. For comparison, data from 2012 found a 23.2% share of a median household income was needed for monthly housing costs for a median-priced home.

The full report is available online.