JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville is the best large U.S. housing market for first-time homebuyers this spring, according to a new analysis released by Zillow.
The report ranks Jacksonville No. 1 among the nation’s 50 largest metro areas, citing improving affordability, rising inventory and less competition compared with other major markets. Birmingham, Alabama, San Antonio, Atlanta, and Houston round out the top five.
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Zillow researchers found that many of the strongest markets for first-time buyers are in the Sun Belt and Midwest, where housing supply has rebounded more quickly and home prices remain relatively within reach. In top-ranked markets, as many as 68% of listings are considered affordable for households earning the median income.
“First-time buyers are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel,” Zillow senior economist Orphe Divounguy said in a statement. “Affordability is still a challenge, but rising incomes, stabilizing prices and improving inventory are creating real opportunities in parts of the country.”
Despite those gains, the housing market remains difficult for many buyers. Mortgage rates continue to limit purchasing power, and the number of homes for sale is still about 20% below pre-pandemic levels, the report found.
Even so, conditions have improved compared with a year ago. Inventory shortages have eased, and affordability has inched upward in several markets, though not enough to offset higher borrowing costs entirely.
The analysis highlights sharp regional differences. Coastal metro areas continue to struggle with high home prices, steep rents and limited inventory, making it harder for renters to save for a down payment. In contrast, many Southern and Midwestern cities offer a more favorable mix of lower rent burdens and more available homes.
Zillow said its rankings are based on four key factors: rent affordability, the share of listings within reach for median-income households, the number of affordable homes relative to renters, a measure of competition, and the concentration of residents ages 29 to 43, a group more likely to be first-time buyers.
For buyers in top-ranked markets like Jacksonville, Zillow suggests taking advantage of increased negotiating power as more inventory and less competition can open the door to better pricing and terms. Sellers, meanwhile, are encouraged to price homes realistically as affordability remains a key constraint for many first-time purchasers.
| Metropolitan Area | Rent Burden: Share of Median Household Income Spent on Typical Rent | Affordable Listings for Median-Income Household (February 2026)* | Affordable Listings Per 100 Renter Households | Share of Population Ages 29–43 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | 23.1% | 47.8% | 5.9 | 36.3% |
| Birmingham, AL | 21.1% | 55.6% | 6.2 | 32.9% |
| San Antonio, TX | 20.2% | 47.4% | 4.5 | 36.4% |
| Atlanta, GA | 22.3% | 45.2% | 4.3 | 37.4% |
| Houston, TX | 22.7% | 40.2% | 3.1 | 39.7% |
| St. Louis, MO | 19.5% | 67.7% | 3.6 | 33.3% |
| Detroit, MI | 21.8% | 64.8% | 4.2 | 32.8% |
| Raleigh, NC | 18.4% | 48.0% | 2.7 | 35.9% |
| Baltimore, MD | 21.5% | 61.8% | 3.0 | 34.5% |
| Louisville, KY | 20.9% | 54.1% | 3.8 | 33.8% |
| Indianapolis, IN | 21.3% | 57.6% | 3.7 | 33.4% |
| Austin, TX | 17.9% | 30.4% | 1.9 | 39.1% |
| Washington, DC | 21.1% | 49.2% | 1.8 | 37.6% |
| Denver, CO | 19.4% | 33.2% | 2.1 | 38.8% |
| Charlotte, NC | 22.6% | 41.0% | 3.0 | 37.4% |
| Dallas, TX | 19.9% | 38.2% | 2.6 | 36.9% |
| Memphis, TN | 23.8% | 46.4% | 3.3 | 35.9% |
| Orlando, FL | 27.0% | 29.0% | 2.7 | 39.8% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 23.3% | 53.9% | 2.1 | 35.3% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 21.8% | 33.0% | 3.6 | 35.2% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 21.1% | 62.9% | 4.1 | 29.4% |
| Kansas City, MO | 20.1% | 56.1% | 3.2 | 31.6% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 19.4% | 53.7% | 3.1 | 31.5% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 21.5% | 60.8% | 3.2 | 31.2% |
| Tampa, FL | 28.6% | 32.4% | 4.5 | 36.3% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 18.1% | 29.8% | 1.6 | 37.1% |
| Seattle, WA | 22.1% | 21.5% | 0.6 | 41.3% |
| Columbus, OH | 20.3% | 47.7% | 1.8 | 34.3% |
| Buffalo, NY | 21.6% | 70.9% | 1.7 | 31.2% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 21.1% | 40.3% | 4.3 | 31.1% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 24.6% | 39.9% | 2.5 | 34.6% |
| San Jose, CA | 23.2% | 14.0% | 0.2 | 41.7% |
| Portland, OR | 20.4% | 24.9% | 1.1 | 37.1% |
| Cleveland, OH | 22.6% | 55.6% | 2.8 | 30.4% |
| Chicago, IL | 26.8% | 43.5% | 1.7 | 35.9% |
| Las Vegas, NV | 24.5% | 28.0% | 2.5 | 35.8% |
| Richmond, VA | 22.8% | 38.4% | 1.4 | 35.3% |
| Nashville, TN | 22.8% | 29.0% | 2.3 | 34.6% |
| Milwaukee, WI | 21.8% | 50.3% | 1.8 | 31.8% |
| Miami, FL | 37.3% | 29.6% | 5.0 | 34.4% |
| San Francisco, CA | 25.9% | 20.1% | 0.4 | 38.4% |
| New Orleans, LA | 28.8% | 22.9% | 2.2 | 35.7% |
| Riverside, CA | 30.9% | 16.6% | 1.3 | 38.2% |
| Sacramento, CA | 25.4% | 17.0% | 0.7 | 35.8% |
| San Diego, CA | 29.8% | 11.3% | 0.3 | 39.1% |
| Hartford, CT | 22.8% | 42.0% | 1.1 | 30.0% |
| Boston, MA | 29.7% | 19.5% | 0.5 | 34.5% |
| Los Angeles, CA | 33.9% | 5.6% | 0.1 | 36.3% |
| Providence, RI | 29.1% | 11.6% | 0.3 | 31.6% |
| New York, NY | 37.1% | 16.3% | 0.5 | 33.3% |
*A listing is considered affordable if the monthly mortgage payment (including estimates for taxes, maintenance and insurance) would take up no more than 30% of median household income, assuming a 20% down payment.