Least Affordable Cities for Middle Class and Millennial Home Buyers -- Including Denver

Denver's typically on plenty of positive city lists -- but this one's not among them. Trulia has put together a report entitled "Where Is Homeownership Within Reach of the Middle Class and Millennials?," and according to data compiled by the site, Denver's among the least affordable in the country. Where...

By Michael Roberts

November 25, 2014

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Denver's typically on plenty of positive city lists -- but this one's not among them. Trulia has put together a report entitled "Where Is Homeownership Within Reach of the Middle Class and Millennials?," and according to data compiled by the site, Denver's among the least affordable in the country.

Where did it finish? Find out by counting down our photo-illustrated roster, featuring Trulia data. Also included is a document filled with info about lots of other places, too. For the original post, click here.

Number 1: San Francisco Percentage Affordable to Middle Class: 15 percent

Percentage Affordable to Millennials: 16 percent

Percentage Affordable to Middle Class, October 2013: 14 percent

Median Size of Home Affordable to Middle Class: 1,050

Median Household Income: $86,000

Median Household Income, Millennial Households Only: $90,000

Number 2: Los Angeles Percentage Affordable to Middle Class: 22 percent

Percentage Affordable to Millennials: 17 percent

Percentage Affordable to Middle Class, October 2013: 24 percent

Median Size of Home Affordable to Middle Class: 1,250

Median Household Income: $54,000

Median Household Income, Millennial Households Only: $48,000

Number 3: San Diego Percentage Affordable to Middle Class: 25 percent

Percentage Affordable to Millennials: 18 percent

Percentage Affordable to Middle Class, October 2013: 28 percent

Median Size of Home Affordable to Middle Class: 1,100

Median Household Income: $61,000

Median Household Income, Millennial Households Only: $52,000

Continue to see more of the least-affordable cities for middle-class and millennial home buyers. Number 4: New York, New York -- New Jersey Percentage Affordable to Middle Class: 25 percent

Percentage Affordable to Millennials: 28 percent

Percentage Affordable to Middle Class, October 2013: 25 percent

Median Size of Home Affordable to Middle Class: 1,050

Median Household Income: $57,000

Median Household Income, Millennial Households Only: $60,000

Number 5: Orange County, California Percentage Affordable to Middle Class: 26 percent

Percentage Affordable to Millennials: 17 percent

Percentage Affordable to Middle Class, October 2013: 23 percent

Median Size of Home Affordable to Middle Class: 1,100

Median Household Income: $76,000

Median Household Income, Millennial Households Only: $60,000

Number 6: San Jose, California Percentage Affordable to Middle Class: 30 percent

Percentage Affordable to Millennials: 27 percent

Percentage Affordable to Middle Class, October 2013: 31 percent

Median Size of Home Affordable to Middle Class: 1,200

Median Household Income: $91,000

Median Household Income, Millennial Households Only: $87,000

Continue to see more of the least-affordable cities for middle-class and millennial home buyers. Number 7: Ventura County, California Percentage Affordable to Middle Class: 33 percent

Percentage Affordable to Millennials: 20 percent

Percentage Affordable to Middle Class, October 2013: 32 percent

Median Size of Home Affordable to Middle Class: 1,250

Median Household Income: $78,000

Median Household Income, Millennial Households Only: $63,000

Number 8: Honolulu Percentage Affordable to Middle Class: 38 percent

Percentage Affordable to Millennials: 25 percent

Percentage Affordable to Middle Class, October 2013: 40 percent

Median Size of Home Affordable to Middle Class: 700

Median Household Income: $73,000

Median Household Income, Millennial Households Only: $56,000

Number 9: Austin, Texas Percentage Affordable to Middle Class: 40 percent

Percentage Affordable to Millennials: 22 percent

Percentage Affordable to Middle Class, October 2013: 50 percent

Median Size of Home Affordable to Middle Class: 1,800

Median Household Income: $62,000

Median Household Income, Millennial Households Only: $47,000

Continue to see more of the least-affordable cities for middle-class and millennial home buyers. Number 10: Miami Percentage Affordable to Middle Class: 41 percent

Percentage Affordable to Millennials: 40 percent

Percentage Affordable to Middle Class, October 2013: 51 percent

Median Size of Home Affordable to Middle Class: 1,150

Median Household Income: $41,000

Median Household Income, Millennial Households Only: $40,000

Number 11: Oakland, California Percentage Affordable to Middle Class: 41 percent

Percentage Affordable to Millennials: 27 percent

Percentage Affordable to Middle Class, October 2013: 42 percent

Median Size of Home Affordable to Middle Class: 1,150

Median Household Income: $76,000

Median Household Income, Millennial Households Only: $61,000

Number 12: Fairfield County, Connecticut Percentage Affordable to Middle Class: 43 percent

Percentage Affordable to Millennials: 33 percent

Percentage Affordable to Middle Class, October 2013: 36 percent

Median Size of Home Affordable to Middle Class: 1,350

Median Household Income: $81,000

Median Household Income, Millennial Households Only: $66,000

Continue to see more of the least-affordable cities for middle-class and millennial home buyers. Number 13: Riverside-San Bernardino, California Percentage Affordable to Middle Class: 44 percent

Percentage Affordable to Millennials: 34 percent

Percentage Affordable to Middle Class, October 2013: 49 percent

Median Size of Home Affordable to Middle Class: 1,400

Median Household Income: $53,000

Median Household Income, Millennial Households Only: $46,000

Number 14: Denver Percentage Affordable to Middle Class: 45 percent

Percentage Affordable to Millennials: 33 percent

Percentage Affordable to Middle Class, October 2013: 55 percent

Median Size of Home Affordable to Middle Class: 1,400

Median Household Income: $62,000

Median Household Income, Millennial Households Only: $50,000

Here's Trulia's data document, featuring information on these cities and many more.

Trulia Data on Affordable Cities 2014

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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