Overview
- Zillow's April 2026 analysis, published in mid-June, found a record 242 U.S. cities where a typical starter home—the lowest third of local values—now costs $1 million or more.
- The count has nearly tripled since February 2020 when 80 cities met the threshold, reflecting persistent price gains that spread beyond the coasts into 26 states.
- California still leads with 105 such cities while New York and New Jersey added the most places in the past year, and the New York City metro now tops all metros with 63 cities.
- Despite the rise in seven-figure starter markets, the typical U.S. starter home remains about $198,649 and Zillow reports some easing for prepared buyers due to more inventory and slower price growth.
- Analysts and Zillow point to restrictive zoning and limited new construction as the root causes and say increasing buildable supply is the clearest policy path to restore affordability and help first-time buyers.