How Much Space You Can Buy for $300K, $400K, and $500K in Every State
A $300K home budget stretches far in states like West Virginia but buys under 1,000 sq. ft. in high-cost states like Hawaii and California.
A $300,000 homebuying budget goes further than you might expect in many parts of the U.S. In 25 states—about half the country—it can buy you up to 1,500 square feet of living space.
To determine how much home a $300,000 budget can buy, ProfessPost used data from the Federal Reserve of St. Louis on median listing prices per square foot across the U.S. They also gathered each state’s housing cost index and calculated the price per square foot accordingly. Additionally, researchers estimated what buyers could expect with budgets of $400,000 and $500,000.
West Virginia stands out as the only state where $300,000 can buy more than 2,000 square feet of home—specifically, 2,185 square feet. In fact, in 25 states, this budget can secure over 1,500 square feet of living space. On the other hand, Hawaii ranks last, where $300,000 only covers 443 square feet, smaller than the typical studio apartment size of 500 to 600 square feet.
In seven states—including Maine, Arizona, New Jersey, New York, California, Massachusetts, and Hawaii—a $300,000 budget buys less than 1,000 square feet. This highlights significant regional price differences.
The cost per square foot strongly reflects local living expenses. Hawaii has the highest rate at $678 per square foot, while West Virginia is the most affordable at $167. This $511 gap illustrates the stark contrast in housing affordability across the U.S.
