Key facts
- Starter homes are becoming harder to find nationally due to rising prices and dwindling inventory.
- Realtor.com defines starter homes as properties at or below 80% of a metro's median list price.
- Twenty major US metro areas have seen an increase in their share of starter homes.
- Las Vegas, NV, has a 2026 starter home share of 29.6%, with a price of $374,080.
- Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA, has a 2026 starter home share of 36.7%, with a price of $840,000.
- Worcester, MA, has a 2026 starter home share of 30.9%, with a price of $447,920.
Starter homes are becoming increasingly difficult to find across the U.S. as mortgage rates climb and prices rise. Nationally, the share of starter homes has decreased, with Realtor.com data showing a drop from 38.1% in August 2019 to 36.2% in 2026. During the same period, the median price for these entry-level properties increased by 30.8%, from approximately $260,000 to $340,000.
Realtor.com defines starter homes as those listed at or below 80% of the median list price within a given metropolitan area. A recent analysis of 8,300 ZIP codes in the 100 largest metros revealed that only 18.3% of these areas are considered starter-home dominant.
Despite the national trend, 20 out of the 100 largest metro areas are bucking this trend by increasing their share of starter homes. These cities offer more opportunities for first-time homebuyers seeking affordable options. Among these are Las Vegas, NV, with a 2026 starter home share of 29.6% and a price of $374,080; Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA, with a 36.7% share and a price of $840,000; and Worcester, MA, with a 30.9% share and a price of $447,920.