Zillow Ranks Jacksonville No. 1 for First-Time Buyers with 47.8% Affordable Listings
Zillow analysis shows Jacksonville leads first-time buyer markets with 47.8% of listings affordable to median-income households and 5.9 listings per 100 renter households. Six of the top ten markets are in the Sun Belt, where rent burdens average around 22% and inventory improvements ease competition for new buyers.
1. Zillow First-Time Buyer Analysis
Zillow compiled data from the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas using measures of rent burden, listing affordability, competition ratios and the share of households ages 29–43 to assess accessibility for first-time buyers. This analysis identifies markets where new buyers have the clearest path to homeownership in 2026.
2. Jacksonville Leads with Affordability and Inventory
Jacksonville tops the list with 47.8% of listings affordable to median-income households and 5.9 listings per 100 renter households. Rent burden in the city stands at 23.1% of median income, enabling buyers to negotiate more effectively due to reduced competition.
3. Sun Belt and Midwest Drive Market Accessibility
Six of the top ten markets are located in the Sun Belt, where rent burdens average approximately 22% and inventory recovery has eased competition. Midwestern cities like Detroit and St. Louis also rank highly, benefiting from lower price levels that favor entry-level buyers.