5 least affordable housing markets (and most affordable ones, too)

most least expensive harrisburg pennsylvania

Rank: #4 most affordable
Median home price: $146,000
Median income: $70,800
% of homes sold that are affordable*: 87.8%

A healthy job market and high household incomes easily help residents afford homes in Pennsylvania's capital.

Government jobs, as well as work in the manufacturing and agricultural industries, have helped pushed the area's median earnings to more than $70,000 a year.

Meanwhile, home prices have remained stable. "You can buy a nice, 1,200-square-foot ranch just about anywhere in the area for between $130,000 and $150,000 and a big, two-story home for $200,000," said local real estate broker Ryan Hess.

First published November 14, 2013: 11:31 AM ET

Source: Source: National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index
*The Housing Opportunity Index is the percentage of new and existing homes sold that families earning the area's median income could afford during the third quarter ended September 30, 2013. Prices of new and existing homes are based on figures from CoreLogic and mortgage data is based on rates reported by the Federal Housing Financing Agency.

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