National median new-home price: $196,100
(The builders listed below each offer a house at the median price of the particular market they are in.)
CITY: Las Vegas
Median new-home price: $210,795 Builder/Home price: Astoria Homes, $210,990 Features: 1,536 square feet; three bedrooms/two-and-a-half baths; two-story Median area income: $54,700 Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,368 Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $16.46 Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 128 CITY: Los Angeles/Long Beach, Calif.
Median new-home price: $315,300 Builder/Home price: Pardee Homes, $315,990 Features: 1,353 square feet; three bedroom/two bath condo unit with two-car garage Median area income: $50,300 Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,258 Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $19.63 Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 116 CITY: Chicago
Median new-home price: $216,300 Builder/Home price: Kennedy Homes, $216,000 Features: 3,160 square feet; three bedrooms/ two-and-a-half baths; two-car garage Median area income: $68,700 Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,718 Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $18.29 Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 142 CITY: Tampa/ St. Petersburg/ Clearwater, Fla.
Median new-home price: $178,700 Builder/Home price: Inland Homes, $178,900 Features: 2,053 square feet; three bedrooms/two baths; two-story Median area income: $49,700 Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,243 Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $15.02 Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 117 CITY: Minneapolis/ St. Paul
Median new-home price: $210,300 Builder/ Home price: Orrin Thompson Homes, $208,405 Features: 1,516 square feet; two bedrooms/ one bath; two-story Median area income: $75,300 Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,883 Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $18.29 Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 142 CITY: Boston
Median new-home price: $297,200 Builder/Home Price: DJG Construction, $305,000 Features: 1,345 square feet; two bedrooms/ two baths; active-adult community Median area income: $80,800 Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $2,020 Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $27.29 Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 162 CITY: Middlesex/ Somerset/Hunterdon, N.J., PMSA*
Median new-home price: $553,425 Builder/Home price: Kalian Cos., $528,712 Features: 2,650 square feet; four bedrooms/two-and-a-half baths; two-story Median area income: $86,900 Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $2,173 Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $22.38 Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 174
*Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area CITY: Atlanta
Median new-home price: $147,900 Builder/Home price: The Knight Group, $147,900 Features: 1,806 square feet; three bedrooms/ two-and-a-half baths; two-story Median area income: $68,800 Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,720 Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $18.15 Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 141 —Data compiled by J. Sturgeon and P. Curry
Sources: National Low Income Housing Coalition, U.S. Census Bureau, NAHB, National Association Of Realtors, and Local HBAS and Builders
Note: Minimum wage varies from state to state.
