Free tool
Compare places
Put 2 to 4 states or counties side by side: what a home costs, rent, income and loan limits, with the source of every number.
Free, no sign-up. What you type stays on your phone.
- Public data from the Census Bureau, HUD, and FHFA
Pick two or more places and compare their official numbers side by side.
The places
Picked (0 of 4)
Pick 2 to 4 states or counties.
Add a place
Search for a state or county by name.
Pick at least 2 places to see them side by side.
Try an example:
These are medians and official figures for each place, with their year. They don't tell you what you would pay or be lent.
Show contents
How is it calculated?
The same formulas lenders use, with the rules each program publishes. Nothing is hidden.
The formula
For each measure: each place's value, the highest ÷ the lowest, and the difference in percent. The sentences name the biggest differences.
Example with the numbers for the United States
- Los Angeles County
- $834,200 · $1,954 · $90,112
- Cook County
- $324,500 · $1,435 · $83,498
Computed from the page's data when it was built; in the tool you replace every number with your own.
What moves the result?
Six things that change the number more than anything else.
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The price
Every dollar of price is a dollar more of loan. It is the first thing that moves the payment.
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The rent
The reference is HUD's Fair Market Rent for your county, by home size.
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Income
Lenders compare the payment with your pre-tax income; programs, with the household's.
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Tax and insurance
They sit inside the payment. The tax depends on the county; the insurance, on the home and the area.
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The limits
FHA and conventional loans have a cap per county. Above it the rules change.
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Your county
Price, tax, rent and limits change with the place. The tool follows yours.
The official numbers behind the tool
Official data the tool uses, so you can compare.
Homes, incomes and taxes in the most populous states
| State | Typical value | Typical household income | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $734,700 | $99,122 | 0.7% |
| Texas | $283,800 | $78,476 | 1.49% |
| Florida | $359,000 | $74,568 | 0.76% |
| New York | $423,800 | $85,974 | 1.55% |
| Pennsylvania | $254,500 | $77,971 | 1.3% |
| Illinois | $263,300 | $83,390 | 2.01% |
| Ohio | $214,800 | $71,389 | 1.31% |
| Georgia | $303,300 | $77,353 | 0.77% |
- California $734,700$99,122
- Texas $283,800$78,476
- Florida $359,000$74,568
- New York $423,800$85,974
- Pennsylvania $254,500$77,971
- Illinois $263,300$83,390
- Ohio $214,800$71,389
- Georgia $303,300$77,353
Source: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024)
Homes and incomes in the most populous counties of the United States
| Place | Typical value | Typical household income | Value ÷ income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County (CA) | $834,200 | $90,112 | 9.3× |
| Cook County (IL) | $324,500 | $83,498 | 3.9× |
| Harris County (TX) | $276,600 | $74,983 | 3.7× |
| Maricopa County (AZ) | $452,800 | $89,300 | 5.1× |
| San Diego County (CA) | $854,700 | $106,268 | 8.0× |
| Orange County (CA) | $962,600 | $116,289 | 8.3× |
| Miami-Dade County (FL) | $463,000 | $71,753 | 6.5× |
| Kings County (NY) | $905,000 | $80,263 | 11.3× |
- Los Angeles County (CA) $834,200$90,112
- Cook County (IL) $324,500$83,498
- Harris County (TX) $276,600$74,983
- Maricopa County (AZ) $452,800$89,300
- San Diego County (CA) $854,700$106,268
- Orange County (CA) $962,600$116,289
- Miami-Dade County (FL) $463,000$71,753
- Kings County (NY) $905,000$80,263
Source: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024)
— means the source publishes no value.
Want your county's numbers?
Type your county or ZIP code: the tool loads its numbers and keeps them in your browser for the other tools.
Frequently asked questions
Can I share the comparison?
Yes. The link carries only the places you picked, and whoever opens it sees the same comparison with the latest data.
Why does it say "data not available"?
Because the source does not publish that figure for that place, or it is not reliable for a place that small. We would rather say so than show a number that did not come from the source.
Can I compare cities?
For now, states and counties, the places that have all of these figures. Look up the county your city is in.
Do you keep what I pick?
No. The places you pick stay in your browser and in the link. We never ask for names or personal data.
Methodology and sources (the Census Bureau, HUD, and FHFA)
- The numbers: for each place we read the same data as its page: the typical home value, typical rent, typical household income and the effective tax rate from the Census (ACS); HUD's fair market rent; and the HUD and FHFA loan limits. Each row names its source and year.
- The bars: each bar compares a number with the highest in its row. If a source does not publish a figure for a place, we say so; we never put another number in its place.
- The differences: we look for the figures where the places are furthest apart (highest divided by lowest) and say so in one or two sentences. For a state, the fair market rent is the population-weighted average of its counties and the FHA limit is the median of its counties.
Data
- American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024)
- Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027)
- FHA mortgage limits (2026 data)
- Conforming loan limits (2026 data)
What comes next?
Go on to the tool that answers your next question, or read a guide at your own pace.
Want someone to go over it with you? A HUD-approved counselor does it for free or at low cost. Find a counselor
More tools
Guides to read next
- Closing Disclosure explained: what to check before signing What the Closing Disclosure is, when it must reach you, what to check on each of its five pages and which closing costs are not allowed to go up.
- How much do you need for a down payment? 20% is not required: what each loan asks for (FHA, conventional, VA, USDA), what changes with less than 20% down, and where the money can come from.
- How to buy a home in the United States, step by step The nine steps to buying a home: paperwork, credit, budget, assistance, preapproval, offer, inspection, closing and the first year, with official sources.
- Bidding wars: appraisal gaps and escalation clauses What it costs to offer more than the appraisal, how an escalation clause works and what you risk if you waive the inspection or appraisal to win.