‘Desirable’ metros with homes under $300K? Why Realtor.com put Wichita on the list
The “affordability crisis” might be a defining issue of 2025, shaping everything from election outcomes to household budgets.
It’s particularly apt when describing home prices, which as the National Association of Realtors reported earlier this month, rose in 77% of U.S. metro markets in the third quarter of 2025.
According to the NAR, the national median price for a single-family home jumped by almost 2% year-over-year. It’s now reached $426,800. A monthly mortgage payment on a typical single-family home purchased with a 20% down payment now costs $2,187. The NAR reports first-time home buyers are spending almost 40% of their income on monthly mortgage payments.
Limited housing supply in the northeast and western parts of the country are pushing home buyers to look at the relatively cheaper South and Midwest, but those regions are also seeing price increases.
So where can you still find homes on the market for less than $300,000? Popular housing site Realtor.com recently looked at 10 such markets around the country, and Wichita got a nod.
Why Wichita, KS?
According to Realtor.com, the median list price for a home in Wichita is $285,000. While that’s an increase from where the figure stood in 2019, when it was $209,890, it’s still much more affordable than what you’d find in many competitive housing markets around the country.
So how much house does that price point get you in Wichita? For example, there’s a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home on the market for $265,000 at 246 North Oliver Ave. It offers more than 2,300 square feet of living space in the popular College Hill area.
Wichita’s quality of life also got a nod from Realtor.com, which also included it on its list of the 50 Hottest ZIP Codes of 2025.
“Wichita has a lively cultural side with a strong local music and theater community, the Wichita Art Museum and the botanical gardens at Botanica Wichita. Its food scene is also impressive, featuring classic Kansas BBQ, craft breweries and gourmet food trucks,” the website states.
Susie Santo, president and CEO of Visit Wichita, said the recognition isn’t surprising, responding to The Wichita Eagle’s request for comment via an emailed statement:
“Wichita offers the best of both worlds: big-city amenities paired with a strong sense of community. It’s a welcoming place where people can put down roots while also enjoying a thriving arts and dining scene, world-class museums and attractions and a stable and accessible housing market. That combination is what makes Wichita not just a great place to visit, but a place where people enjoy living,” Santo said.
How does Wichita compare to similar housing markets?
Compared to the nine other cities across the Midwest and Northeast Realtor.com included, Wichita ranks on the pricier end of the spectrum.
Here’s the breakdown so you can compare, according to Realtor.com:
- Muncie, Ind., median list price $178,250
- Toledo, Ohio, median list price $217,950
- Battle Creek, Mich., median list price $229,999
- Pittsburgh, median list price $250,000
- Cleveland, Ohio, median list price $259,900
- Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Pa., median list price $262,350
- Buffalo-Cheektowaga, N.Y., median list price $267,450
- Wichita, Kansas, median list price $285,000
- Frankfort, Ky., median list price $292,050
- St. Louis, median list price $295,900
This story was originally published November 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM.