ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando remains unaffordable for the typical household in 2026, but a new analysis predicts that could change within five years.
The median Orlando household would need to earn 58.4% more to comfortably afford a median-priced home, according to a study released by moving-services marketplace HireAHelper.
All 12 Florida cities included in the analysis were considered unaffordable. The largest gaps were reported in Hialeah, where households would need 284.5% more income, and Miami, where they would need 273.2% more.
Other Florida cities included:
- Fort Lauderdale: 113.7% more income needed
- St. Petersburg: 112.1%
- Hollywood: 100.2%
- Pembroke Pines: 93.8%
- Tampa: 61.1%
- Orlando: 58.4%
- Port St. Lucie: 40.4%
- Tallahassee: 23.9%
- Jacksonville: 12.7%
- Cape Coral: 6%
The outlook improves in the study’s five-year projections. Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville and three other Florida cities are expected to cross into affordability by 2031 as projected income growth outpaces rising housing costs.
Researchers analyzed median home prices and household incomes in 174 of the nation’s largest cities. They classified a market as affordable when annual mortgage and property tax costs did not exceed 30% of the median household income.
The calculations assumed a 30-year fixed mortgage with a 6% interest rate and a 20% down payment. The analysis did not account for homeowners insurance, association fees or household debt.
Nationally, the study found that the median home price has reached $390,300 and is projected to increase 35.1% to $527,525 by 2031.
Only Louisiana, Minnesota and Iowa were considered affordable for the typical household in 2026. The analysis projects that 36 states will meet its affordability standard by 2031.
Read the full housing affordability study here.
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