20 Affordable Suburbs Near Red-Hot Housing Markets

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Point2.

The prices of homes for sale in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York are famously unaffordable. Owning a home in these powerhouse cities is becoming an impossible dream.

And, given how expensive these urban hubs are, any renter and potential buyer would be forgiven for thinking they need to move to another state to find something affordable. But, perhaps that’s not the case. Enter the suburb.

Different people have different opinions when it comes to the suburb. Whether they are organic developments or artificial creations, suburbs are urban extensions that are seen as affordable “bedroom communities,” emblems of urban sprawl or, on the contrary, enclaves of luxury and status.

But, for home seekers and aspiring homebuyers, a suburb’s appeal comes from its more affordable housing options, promise of more space and more privacy.

And, at a time when affordability is truly becoming a keyword in homebuyers’ vocabulary, these affordable suburbs might make the difference between fulfilling one’s homeownership dreams or simply continuing to hope.

Could the suburb be the answer to today’s buyers’ prayers for affordable housing? According to our latest analysis, the answer is yes. Here are the most affordable suburbs near red-hot housing markets.

1. Medley, Florida

• Main City: Miami
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: -65%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: -$291
• City Price per Square Foot: $445
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $154

2. Emerson, New Jersey

• Main City: New York City
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −62%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$367
• City Price per Square Foot: $588
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $221

3. Lodi, New Jersey

• Main City: New York City
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −62%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$366
• City Price per Square Foot: $588
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $223

4. Mount Vernon, New York

• Main City: New York City
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −62%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$365
• City Price per Square Foot: $588
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $223

5. Huntingtown, Maryland

• Main City: Washington, D.C.
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −62%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$311
• City Price per Square Foot: $501
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $190

6. Waldorf, Maryland

• Main City: Washington, D.C.
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −62%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$309
• City Price per Square Foot: $501
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $192

7. Moonachie, New Jersey

• Main City: New York City
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −62%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$362
• City Price per Square Foot: $588
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $226

8. Boulevard Park, Washington

• Main City: Seattle
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −61%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$350
• City Price per Square Foot: $572
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $222

9. Lawrence, Massachusetts

• Main City: Boston
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −60%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$387
• City Price per Square Foot: $641
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $254

10. Passaic, New Jersey

• Main City: New York City
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −60%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$354
• City Price per Square Foot: $588
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $235

11. Paterson, New Jersey

• Main City: New York City
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −60%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$351
• City Price per Square Foot: $588
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $238

12. Triangle, Virginia

• Main City: Washington, D.C.
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −59%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$298
• City Price per Square Foot: $501
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $203

13. Mitchellville, Maryland

• Main City: Washington, D.C.
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −59%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$298
• City Price per Square Foot: $501
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $203

14. Upper Marlboro, Maryland

• Main City: Washington, D.C.
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −59%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$296
• City Price per Square Foot: $501
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $205

15. Largo, Maryland

• Main City: Washington, D.C.
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −59%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$295
• City Price per Square Foot: $501
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $206

16. Fort Washington, Maryland

• Main City: Washington, D.C.
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −58%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$293
• City Price per Square Foot: $501
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $208

17. Dumfries, Virginia

• Main City: Washington, D.C.
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −58%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$292
• City Price per Square Foot: $501
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $209

18. Carlstadt, New Jersey

• Main City: New York City
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −58%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$339
• City Price per Square Foot: $588
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $249

19. Warrenton, Virginia

• Main City: Washington, D.C.
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −57%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$287
• City Price per Square Foot: $501
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $213

20. Suitland, Maryland

• Main City: Washington, D.C.
• Percentage Difference in Price vs. Main City: −57%
• Net Difference in Price vs. Main City: −$287
• City Price per Square Foot: $501
• Suburb Price per Square Foot: $214

Methodology

• For this study, we looked at the 20 most populous and most expensive U.S. cities: Irvine, CA; San Francisco, CA; San Jose, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Oakland, CA; San Diego, CA; New York, NY; Seattle, WA; Boston, MA; Washington, D.C.; Honolulu, HI; Riverside, CA; Denver, CO; Miami, FL; Salt Lake City, UT; Austin, TX; Charleston, SC; Portland, OR; Boise, ID; and Sacramento, CA.
• Ranking of the 20 cities was based on population and the latest available home price data, per local MLSs.
• We mapped all the suburbs within a 20-mile circle radius, or 30-mile driving distance from the city center, resulting in 777 suburbs belonging to the 20 cities.
• We then looked at median home prices and prices per square foot in the 20 cities included in the analysis and the 777 suburbs. All price data based on Redfin.com, Realtor.com and local MLS full residential price data.
• To discover and rank the most affordable U.S. suburbs near the most expensive cities, we compared the price per square foot in those suburbs to the price per square foot in the city. We then calculated the net and percentage differences between the suburb and the main city.