Square Footage Around the Country

Everyone knows that not all real estate markets are created equal, and with the median home price in the U.S. rising to $375,000, it has people wondering: what can I actually get? Experts at Realtor.com have completed a study of major real estate markets spread across various regions of the United States. Read on to find what $375,000 will get you in Washington State, Texas, and beyond. 

To come up with their findings, Realtor.com took the largest markets in the country (which was 100, by the way), and looked at average square footage compared to price. They narrowed their findings to the top 8 on a sliding scale from smallest to biggest. 

Not surprisingly, San Jose, CA claimed the top spot… but that’s not necessarily a good thing. For $375,000 you’ll find yourself in a 458 square foot apartment. This particular market has long held the title as the most expensive place to live in the entire country. Local tech giants offering high-paying jobs have flooded the market making it difficult for anyone not in those fields. 

Conversely, the market where $375,000 gets you the most is in Youngstown, Ohio. Notably not home to tech giants, this Rust Belt city offers homes ten times as big as the San Jose apartments. Literally. You can get a 4,540 square foot home for $375,000. 

But what about us?

Here in Charlotte, we experience a little bit of both. Demand to live in Uptown affects price and availability, and as you get further and further from the city center, both price and space fluctuate. As far as the Realtor.com study, the closest market to us that made their list is Greenville, SC. Taking the 6th spot on their list of 8, Greenville has seen a recent new construction boom as well as reuse of older homes. For $375,000, you can get a home between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet. 

The bright side? With remote work becoming more and more common, the option to move to a more reasonable market might actually be a reality.