Buying a house? This is the cheapest zip code in Georgia

The COVID-19 pandemic had devastating economic consequences in the United States, grinding entire industries to a halt. One sector that did not suffer, however, was real estate. Driven by the pandemic, existing home sales hit their highest level in nearly a decade and a half in 2020.

The median home sale price in the United States was $265,000 in 2020 — $30,000 more than it was the previous year. A quarter of a million dollars, however, is not affordable for many Americans. Still, for those on a tight budget, there are many parts of the country where most homes are selling for far less.

Using median home sale prices provided by ATTOM Data Solutions, a real estate and property data company, 24/7 Wall St. identified the least expensive ZIP codes in each state.

The 31204 postal code, which covers much of the western part of Macon, Georgia, had a median home sale price of just $75,000 in 2020.

Home values in a given area are typically a reflection of what residents can afford. In the 31204 ZIP code, which is one of the poorest in the country, most households earn less than $34,500 a year, and 30.3% of the population live below the poverty line. Nationwide, the typical household earns $62,843, and 13.4% of the population live in poverty.

ZIP codes were ranked based on median sales price of condos and single-family homes in 2020. Only ZIP codes with at least 1,000 single-family homes and condos and where at least 500 of housing units were sold in 2020 were considered. The estimated market value is determined by ATTOM’s automated valuation model.

Supplemental data on median household income, the share of households that are at least 50 years old, and unemployment are five-year estimates at the ZIP code level for 2015-2019 from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

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