Phoenix, Houston, and other U.S. counties see wages outpace home prices in 2026

Paychecks are finally catching up to home prices in parts of the United States. Realtor.com combed the data to find out which counties lead the way

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Wages are now growing faster than home prices in a majority of U.S. counties — and for buyers who have spent years priced out of the market, the shift carries real weight.

Between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, paychecks outpaced home price growth in 64% of the 580 counties analyzed by ATTOM, a property data and real estate analytics firm. Average weekly wages grew 6.4% through the third quarter of 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the national median home price rose 8% since Q1 2024.

Higher wages accelerate the time it takes to save for a down payment, and more critically, a larger income creates flexibility in the debt-to-income ratio, which lenders use to decide whether a borrower qualifies for a mortgage. Even without a meaningful drop in mortgage rates, a higher overall income gives buyers more negotiating leverage, more choices, and more financial confidence heading into a purchase decision.

"Wage growth outpacing home prices in a majority of markets is a positive signal for affordability," ATTOM CEO Rob Barber told Realtor.com. "However, with homeownership costs still elevated in many areas, this improvement may not be enough on its own to bring large numbers of buyers back into the market."

Realtor.com combed through ATTOM's data to find the largest counties with the highest level of wage growth relative to home prices. Here's what's driving wages higher — and what it means for buyers.

1. Maricopa County draws tech giants and watches........

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