Top 20

Compare 20 places to build.

A planning shortlist synthesized from 2025–26 migration and homebuilding interest. Each row is the same average program: ~2 acres, 2,000 sq ft, builder finish—local multipliers only.

01
Des Moines, IA
Top homebuilding + affordability metro in 2026 rankings
Avg build
$429k
$361k–$583k
BEA RPP
91.7 / 100
vs $4,710/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
02
Raleigh, NC
A+ build market; strong inbound migration
Avg build
$504k
$420k–$733k
BEA RPP
98.2 / 100
vs $4,111/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
03
Knoxville, TN
Highest projected in-to-out move ratio for 2026
Avg build
$451k
$377k–$641k
BEA RPP
92.6 / 100
vs $2,859/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
04
Austin, TX
Sun Belt build volume and job growth
Avg build
$576k
$476k–$864k
BEA RPP
98.1 / 100
vs $10,475/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
05
Houston, TX
High permit volume and relatively buildable land
Avg build
$513k
$428k–$733k
BEA RPP
98.6 / 100
vs $8,058/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
06
Jacksonville, FL
Florida inbound demand with room to build
Avg build
$518k
$429k–$767k
BEA RPP
99.5 / 100
vs $5,200/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
07
Boise, ID
Mountain West relocation favorite
Avg build
$528k
$438k–$781k
BEA RPP
98.4 / 100
vs $3,524/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
08
Nashville, TN
Jobs + lifestyle draw across the South
Avg build
$498k
$414k–$734k
BEA RPP
96.3 / 100
vs $3,565/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
09
Charlotte, NC
Banking hub with steady new construction
Avg build
$485k
$404k–$699k
BEA RPP
97.3 / 100
vs $3,879/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
10
Oklahoma City, OK
Affordable build market with active permitting
Avg build
$407k
$343k–$551k
BEA RPP
90.4 / 100
vs $2,433/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
11
Phoenix, AZ
Large-metro migration leader in the Southwest
Avg build
$538k
$448k–$778k
BEA RPP
103.3 / 100
vs $2,963/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
12
Indianapolis, IN
Midwest affordability and homebuilding strength
Avg build
$456k
$384k–$622k
BEA RPP
95.7 / 100
vs $2,764/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
13
Orlando, FL
Central Florida inbound house-hunter demand
Avg build
$528k
$436k–$800k
BEA RPP
101.4 / 100
vs $5,655/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
14
San Antonio, TX
Texas growth corridor; strong net inflows
Avg build
$496k
$415k–$709k
BEA RPP
94.7 / 100
vs $7,824/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
15
Tulsa, OK
Rising inbound interest among mid-size metros
Avg build
$406k
$342k–$547k
BEA RPP
89.2 / 100
vs $2,348/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
16
Myrtle Beach, SC
Coastal relocation + new residential communities
Avg build
$459k
$383k–$664k
BEA RPP
93.6 / 100
vs $2,642/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
17
Wilmington, NC
Top inbound city share in recent mover data
Avg build
$489k
$407k–$712k
BEA RPP
97.9 / 100
vs $4,041/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
18
Columbia, SC
High homebuilding grade in the Southeast
Avg build
$435k
$364k–$609k
BEA RPP
93.7 / 100
vs $2,170/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
19
Columbus, OH
Midwest build + affordability standout
Avg build
$503k
$423k–$687k
BEA RPP
95.5 / 100
vs $5,361/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
20
Savannah, GA
High 2026 inbound interest among mid-size cities
Avg build
$466k
$389k–$668k
BEA RPP
95.2 / 100
vs $4,142/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living

*Property tax is an illustrative state-average rate on a mid-tier home value—not your county bill. Rankings are a planning shortlist, not a census or MLS ranking. Numbers exclude financing and contingency buffer.

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TrueBuildCost

Top 20

Compare 20 places to build.

A planning shortlist synthesized from 2025–26 migration and homebuilding interest. Each row is the same average program: ~2 acres, 2,000 sq ft, builder finish—local multipliers only.

01
Des Moines, IA
Top homebuilding + affordability metro in 2026 rankings
Avg build
$429k
$361k–$583k
BEA RPP
91.7 / 100
vs $4,710/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
02
Raleigh, NC
A+ build market; strong inbound migration
Avg build
$504k
$420k–$733k
BEA RPP
98.2 / 100
vs $4,111/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
03
Knoxville, TN
Highest projected in-to-out move ratio for 2026
Avg build
$451k
$377k–$641k
BEA RPP
92.6 / 100
vs $2,859/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
04
Austin, TX
Sun Belt build volume and job growth
Avg build
$576k
$476k–$864k
BEA RPP
98.1 / 100
vs $10,475/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
05
Houston, TX
High permit volume and relatively buildable land
Avg build
$513k
$428k–$733k
BEA RPP
98.6 / 100
vs $8,058/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
06
Jacksonville, FL
Florida inbound demand with room to build
Avg build
$518k
$429k–$767k
BEA RPP
99.5 / 100
vs $5,200/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
07
Boise, ID
Mountain West relocation favorite
Avg build
$528k
$438k–$781k
BEA RPP
98.4 / 100
vs $3,524/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
08
Nashville, TN
Jobs + lifestyle draw across the South
Avg build
$498k
$414k–$734k
BEA RPP
96.3 / 100
vs $3,565/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
09
Charlotte, NC
Banking hub with steady new construction
Avg build
$485k
$404k–$699k
BEA RPP
97.3 / 100
vs $3,879/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
10
Oklahoma City, OK
Affordable build market with active permitting
Avg build
$407k
$343k–$551k
BEA RPP
90.4 / 100
vs $2,433/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
11
Phoenix, AZ
Large-metro migration leader in the Southwest
Avg build
$538k
$448k–$778k
BEA RPP
103.3 / 100
vs $2,963/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
12
Indianapolis, IN
Midwest affordability and homebuilding strength
Avg build
$456k
$384k–$622k
BEA RPP
95.7 / 100
vs $2,764/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
13
Orlando, FL
Central Florida inbound house-hunter demand
Avg build
$528k
$436k–$800k
BEA RPP
101.4 / 100
vs $5,655/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
14
San Antonio, TX
Texas growth corridor; strong net inflows
Avg build
$496k
$415k–$709k
BEA RPP
94.7 / 100
vs $7,824/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
15
Tulsa, OK
Rising inbound interest among mid-size metros
Avg build
$406k
$342k–$547k
BEA RPP
89.2 / 100
vs $2,348/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
16
Myrtle Beach, SC
Coastal relocation + new residential communities
Avg build
$459k
$383k–$664k
BEA RPP
93.6 / 100
vs $2,642/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
17
Wilmington, NC
Top inbound city share in recent mover data
Avg build
$489k
$407k–$712k
BEA RPP
97.9 / 100
vs $4,041/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
18
Columbia, SC
High homebuilding grade in the Southeast
Avg build
$435k
$364k–$609k
BEA RPP
93.7 / 100
vs $2,170/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
19
Columbus, OH
Midwest build + affordability standout
Avg build
$503k
$423k–$687k
BEA RPP
95.5 / 100
vs $5,361/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living
20
Savannah, GA
High 2026 inbound interest among mid-size cities
Avg build
$466k
$389k–$668k
BEA RPP
95.2 / 100
vs $4,142/yr tax*
Summary
Build Living

Projects & remodel

Need a range for one job?

Roofing, HVAC, kitchen, and more—ZIP-tuned planning ranges for a single remodel or improvement, not a whole new house.

Browse projects Remodel ROI