Topic Hub · Q2 2026

Florida housing affordability.

Income required, median home prices, monthly carrying costs, and price-to-income ratios across Jacksonville, Gainesville, Ocala, Orlando, Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine, and Palatka. Updated quarterly.

Sources: NEFAR RealMLS · Florida Department of Revenue · FDOR · OFR · U.S. Census ACS · See methodology

On this page Overview Data trackers Featured analysis FAQs
Overview

What this hub tracks.

Florida housing affordability has restructured since 2020. Statewide prices grew faster than statewide income for three straight years. Insurance premiums nearly doubled. Property tax bills jumped for new buyers due to the Save Our Homes reset. The result: a market where the income required to buy the median home is materially different in 2026 than in 2019, and the difference varies by metro in ways the headlines don't capture.

What this hub tracks: the income needed to comfortably afford the median home in each of 7 NE Florida metros, the full monthly carrying cost (mortgage + taxes + insurance + HOA), and the price-to-income ratio that lets you compare metros honestly. All data is sourced from NEFAR RealMLS, the Florida Department of Revenue, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, and U.S. Census ACS. Refreshed quarterly.

Featured analysis

Deep-dive guides.

Featured Analysis

Best Jacksonville Neighborhoods Under $500K

Where $500,000 still buys a quality single-family home in Jacksonville. Mandarin, Fleming Island, Arlington, parts of Westside. Honest analysis with submarket data.

Read the full analysis →
FAQs

Common questions.

What income do you need to afford a home in Jacksonville?
A household earning $80,000-$95,000 can comfortably afford the median Jacksonville home ($382K) in 2026, assuming a 10-20% down payment, current mortgage rates around 6.75%, and typical Duval County property tax and homeowners insurance. Lower-priced submarkets (Westside, Northside, parts of Arlington) require less. Higher-priced submarkets (Beaches, Ponte Vedra) require substantially more.
Which Florida metro is the most affordable?
Among the 7 NE Florida metros tracked, Palatka has the lowest median home price (~$205K), followed by Ocala (~$292K) and Gainesville (~$345K). Jacksonville sits at ~$382K. St. Augustine is ~$485K. Ponte Vedra is the most expensive at ~$895K median. Affordability also depends on local wages — Gainesville and Palatka have lower median household incomes.
How is housing affordability calculated?
The standard housing affordability framework uses a 28% rule: the household should spend no more than 28% of gross monthly income on housing (PITI: principal, interest, taxes, insurance). In Florida this calculation must include both homestead-rate property tax and full homeowners insurance — both are higher than national averages. Our trackers show the income required under this 28% standard for each metro.
Is housing affordability getting worse in Florida?
Mixed. Statewide median home price growth has cooled to 0.4% YoY in 2026, the flattest in a decade. Wages have grown modestly. But insurance premiums and property tax bills for new buyers (post-Save Our Homes reset) have grown faster than income. Net effect: affordability for an existing homeowner staying put has improved slightly. Affordability for a new buyer moving has worsened.
What is the price-to-income ratio?
Price-to-income ratio is median home price divided by median household income for a metro. A healthy historic norm is roughly 3-4x. NE Florida metros in 2026 range from 3.2x (Palatka) to 8.5x (Ponte Vedra). Jacksonville at ~5.4x is moderately elevated but lower than Orlando (6.1x), Tampa (5.9x), and dramatically lower than South Florida (8x-12x+).

Buying or selling in NE Florida?

Talk to Jon or Brittany directly. We'll connect you with the right Momentum agent for your situation, or just answer questions.

Talk to founders →