The team at MovingPlace released a new study pinpointing the American ZIP codes where renters cannot afford to own their own home. In 2025, the average age of first-time home buyers skyrocketed to 40. Just five years ago, the average age was 33. Home prices are rising, and would-be homeowners battle inflation and a tough market. Some locations are more affordable than others, while certain ZIP codes have such high housing costs that ownership is prohibitive for the average renter.
These are the ZIP codes that the team determined are the most difficult for renters to reach home ownership:
- 11204 (Brooklyn, NY)
- 10453 (Bronx, NY)
- 98052 (Redmond, WA)
- 10025 (New York, NY)
- 11385 (Ridgewood, NY)
- 98012 (Bothell, WA)
- 91709 (Chino Hills, CA)
- 10314 (Staten Island, NY)
- 60647 (Chicago, IL)
- 90250 (Hawthorne, CA)
Some of these cities on this list aren’t impossible for renters to own in. They need to search in a different neighborhood or ZIP code in the metro area.
infographic by: www.movingplace.com
