Affordability became a central concern in 2025. With rising mortgage rates and tighter budgets, many buyers shifted their focus from competing in the hottest markets to getting the most value for their housing dollar.
Although the national median price per square foot hovered around $229 from January through November, several major metro areas offered noticeably more space for less money.
When considering both the median price per square foot and the typical home size, these markets emerged in 2025 as some of the best-value options among major U.S. metros, according to the Realtor.com® Most for Your Money Metro 2025 report.
“In 2025, the ‘Most for Your Money’ metro wasn’t about chasing the lowest sticker price alone,” says Anthony Smith, senior economist at Realtor.com. “It reflected how far a buyer’s budget could stretch in terms of space.”
The highest-ranking metros paired the lowest prices per square foot with larger typical home sizes—”making space efficiency, not just headline price, a priority,” notes Smith.
Three major Texas metros ranked in the top five “Most for Your Money” metros in 2025.
Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas all delivered strong space efficiency.
“Texas metros stood out because they consistently paired lower prices per square foot with larger homes,” says Smith. “These markets are able to deliver more space at lower per-unit costs by expanding outward, supporting larger typical home sizes than many mature, space-constrained metros that rely on teardowns or building upward.”
Top 5 ‘Most for Your Money’ metros
1. Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TX
Median listing price per square foot in 2025: $174
Median listing price: $354,999
Median home size: 2,093 square feet
Houston’s median home size was 273 square feet above the national median of 1,820.
“For buyers focused on maximizing space, Houston remained one of the most compelling large-market options in the country,” says Smith.
2. San Antonio–New Braunfels, TX
Median listing price per square foot in 2025: $179
Median listing price: $324,900
Median home size: 1,933 square feet
“Price points under $200 per square foot and above-average home sizes bring bigger homes at reasonable prices,” says Daniel Cabrera, owner and founder of Sell My House Fast SA TX. “In San Antonio, it’s typical to get a flex room, game room, or home office; three-car garages; and deep, covered patios.”
3. Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GA
Median listing price per square foot in 2025: $196
Median listing price: $410,000
Median home size: 2,164 square feet
“The Atlanta metro delivered value primarily through larger typical home sizes, which helped offset higher median listing prices and allowed buyers to stretch their budgets through space rather than price alone,” says Smith.
These larger home sizes are a big draw, especially for people moving from other states, according to real estate professional and attorney Bruce Ailion, of Re/Max Town & Country in Atlanta.
“People visit friends, relatives, and colleagues in Atlanta. They are living in New York, Chicago, L.A., San Francisco, Miami, and elsewhere,” he says. “They see the bigger homes people are living in in Atlanta, and the other great amenities the city offers, and the thought of moving to Atlanta begins.”
4. Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX
Median listing price per square foot in 2025: $204
Median listing price: $420,000
Median home size: 2,154 square feet
People often say “everything’s bigger in Texas,” and housing is no exception. In fact, Dallas–Fort Worth has one of the largest typical home sizes among the major metros, according to Smith.
“Many people do desire to have a larger home or a larger lot in the DFW area to settle into the Texas lifestyle,” Shawn Buck, 2026 Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors president, tells Realtor.com.
5. Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–IN
Median listing price per square foot in 2025: $212
Median listing price: $357,000
Median home size: 1,700 square feet
“The Chicago metro offered a different value profile,” says Smith. “While homes were smaller than in many Sun Belt metros, lower overall prices and a below-average price per square foot kept the market competitive for buyers prioritizing total cost over sheer square footage.”
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