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In today’s housing market, buying on one income can be a challenge—but more people are doing just that.
While 62% of recent homebuyers were married couples, a growing number of buyers are navigating the process solo. According to recent data from the National Association of Realtors®, 20% of buyers were single women and 8% were single men in 2024.
For these one-income households, finding an affordable place to put down roots is key. North Dakota ranks No. 4 on a list of the most affordable states for solo buyers, offering a rare combination of relatively low income requirements and a stable, growing housing market.
Where one income still works
A single earner in North Dakota needs about $82,285 annually to live comfortably, according to SmartAsset’s calculations. Their team used the 50/30/20 budgeting model—that covers essential expenses like housing and groceries (50%), discretionary spending (30%), and savings or debt payments (20%).
With a median-priced home listed at $380,400 and an estimated mortgage payment of $1,986 (not including taxes or insurance), the state provides a solid balance between affordability and quality of life.
“Single home shoppers may have to compromise on the type or size of home, or the location, to achieve homeownership on just one income,” says Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com®. But North Dakota’s blend of low unemployment, accessible housing, and low property taxes makes it a compelling choice for solo earners who want to buy a home on a single income.
Smart buys, small footprints
According to real estate agents who specialize in working with single buyers, today’s solo shoppers tend to know exactly what they want—and what they can afford. “Most of them are looking for something that’s a little smaller, three bedrooms and below,” says Brooke Nelson, a real estate agent based in Missouri. “The single person that’s buying homes right now seems to be pretty responsible as far as their finances go”.
In North Dakota, that might mean skipping newly built four-bedroom houses in favor of older yet move-in-ready homes in well-connected neighborhoods. That strategy helps buyers avoid unexpected expenses and gives them room to maintain savings goals without stretching every dollar.
“They want things that are pretty much move-in ready or that need very few repairs,” Nelson adds. “The single people that I have, they’re really looking for things that are more complete from a seller that has maintained it well”.
Those priorities—predictable costs, modest scale, minimal renovations—align well with what’s available in many of North Dakota’s smaller cities and towns, where the market tends to be more stable and inventory less competitive than in major metros.
A Financially Grounded Choice
North Dakota also delivers when it comes to long-term financial outcomes.
A new analysis from the National Association of Realtors® shows that 16.7% of owners in the state now have more home equity than the IRS currently allows to be excluded from capital gains taxes, which is $250,000 for an individual owner. An additional 2.2% have built gains above the $500,000 threshold for married couples filing jointly.
That’s even less than neighboring South Dakota—and that’s good news for solo buyers aiming to build wealth gradually.
If you’re one of the many Americans weighing renting vs. buying, North Dakota offers a path to ownership that doesn’t require deep pockets or big compromises. With a manageable income requirement and a healthy housing market, it’s one of the best states for solo homebuyers to plant roots, build equity, and live comfortably.
This article was produced with editorial input from Dina Sartore-Bodo, Gabriella Iannetta, and Allaire Conte.