While affordability has become a major Democrat talking point, research shows that states run by Democrat governors are the least affordable in the nation.
A study by Realtor.com finds that all five of the least affordable states for housing have Democrat governors.
Meanwhile, four of the five most affordable states for housing have Republican governors. And North Carolina, which has a Democrat governor, is considered to be a swing state. By region, states in the south and Midwest seem a lot affordable. Southern and Western states with at least seven states are in construction.
South Carolina is rated the most affordable state for housing. Massachusetts is the least affordable.
The study takes into account not only the cost of housing in the state, but also other factors such as the income of the state’ residents.
Many of the states in the South and Midwest that earned A’s and B’s did so on the basis of homebuilding volume and cost. States receiving D’s and F’s states tend to have strict zoning and land use regulations and be based on the West and Northeast:
Most Affordable-
- South Carolina (Governor Henry McMaster-Republican) (A)
- Iowa (Governor Kim Reynolds-Republican) (A-)
- Texas (Governor Gregg Abbott-Republican) (A-)
- Indiana (Governor Mike Braun-Republican) (B+)
- North Carolina (Governor Josh Stein-Democratic) (B+)
Least Affordable-
- Connecticut (Governor Ned Lamont-Democratic) (F)
- California (Governor Gavin Newsom-Democratic) (F)
- Hawaii (Governor Josh Green-Democratic) (F)
- New York (Governor Kathy Hochul-Democratic) (F)
- Massachusetts (Governor Maura Healey-Democratic) (F)
See full report at https://www.realtor.com/research/state-report-cards-2025/
