These 11 Cities Will Likely Become Unaffordable in 2027

Housing costs don't rise evenly across the country. In a handful of cities, high rents, climbing home values, and an elevated cost of living already stack up in ways that leave little room in a monthly budget.

Here are 11 places where the numbers already run well above the national average, and where anyone planning a move or a retirement on a fixed income may want to look closely before committing.

Editor's note: Median gross rent figures are City-Data's 2024 figures; average home values are from Zillow as of September 2026; cost-of-living figures come from Sperling's BestPlaces.

Scottsdale, Arizona

Median rent: $2,117

Average home value: $851,746

Scottsdale's desert golf-resort identity, framed by the McDowell Mountains and a long list of spa and wellness amenities, has always carried a premium. A local college presence adds a bit of youthful energy to an otherwise upscale, retiree-friendly atmosphere, but the price of that lifestyle shows clearly in the numbers.

With an average home value above $830,000 and rents over $2,100, Scottsdale is already out of range for many households. The local cost of living runs about 13% above the national average, and a regional hospital and health system network serves the area. Arizona does not tax Social Security benefits, which helps retirees stretch a fixed income a little further.

Franklin, Tennessee

Median rent: $2,111

Average home value: $913,277

Franklin's historic downtown, with its preserved period architecture, sits along the Harpeth River, which flows through the heart of the city and feeds waterfront parks and trails. A notable arts-and-culture scene and a mild climate have made it an increasingly popular place to settle.

That popularity has pushed the average home value to nearly $900,000, with rents to match, and the local cost of living runs about 39.4% above the national average. A regional health system serves Williamson County. Tennessee has no state income tax at all, so Social Security benefits are fully exempt, though retirees drawn by that may still find the housing math a tough trade-off.

Asheville, North Carolina

Median rent: $1,611

Average home value: $444,478

Asheville sits where the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers meet in the Blue Ridge Mountains, giving the city waterfront parks and trails alongside a long-standing arts and crafts culture. A local college adds college-town energy, and the surrounding national forest scenery and proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park keep drawing retirees to the area.

The cost of living runs about 5.8% above the national average, and rents near $1,600 sit in a market with steady demand. North Carolina does not tax Social Security benefits, and a regional hospital system serves the area, but continued interest in the mountain lifestyle could keep pushing prices upward.

Bend, Oregon

Median rent: $1,962

Average home value: $721,430

The Deschutes River runs through the center of Bend, where it is dammed to form Mirror Pond and lined with waterfront parks and trails used for walking, paddling, and float trips. The nearby Cascade Range and the Deschutes National Forest give the city strong outdoor-recreation character, with a local college adding modest college-town energy.

Home values above $719,000 and rents near $2,000 already stretch many budgets, and the cost of living runs about 27% above the national average. Oregon does not tax Social Security benefits, and a regional hospital and health system serves Central Oregon, but neither offsets the pressure building in a tight mountain-town housing market.

Charleston, South Carolina

Median rent: $1,887

Average home value: $587,511

Charleston occupies a peninsula where the Ashley and Cooper rivers converge into a harbor opening to the Atlantic, giving the city waterfront parks and trails and a walkable historic downtown anchored by a local college and an art museum. That waterfront setting has long made it a draw in the Southeast.

The cost of living runs about 12% above the national average, and rents and home values have climbed accordingly. South Carolina does not tax Social Security benefits, and an academic medical center along with multiple hospital systems serves the area, but demand for peninsula and near-peninsula living keeps pushing housing costs higher.

Missoula, Montana

Median rent: $1,331

Average home value: $563,970

Missoula sits where several mountain ranges and valleys converge, with the Clark Fork River running through downtown before nearby confluences with the Bitterroot and Blackfoot rivers. College-town energy and waterfront parks and trails give the city an active, outdoorsy identity.

The average home value above $552,000 tells the story here, and the cost of living runs about 12.8% above the national average. Montana is one of the few states that taxes Social Security income to the same extent it is taxable federally, so retirees should factor that into the math alongside housing. Regional hospitals serve the city, giving residents access to broad health services.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Median rent: $1,693

Average home value: $576,890

Santa Fe's identity rests on a dense arts-and-gallery scene paired with adobe-style downtown architecture, set below the Sangre de Cristo mountains with the Santa Fe River running just south of the downtown plaza. That distinct character has long made it a destination for retirees and artists alike.

The cost of living runs about 12% above the national average, and home values above $572,000 put real pressure on fixed incomes. New Mexico is among the states that still tax Social Security benefits, which is worth weighing against the appeal of the setting. A regional medical center and hospital network serve the area.

Provo, Utah

Median rent: $1,255

Average home value: $478,876

Provo's steady student population and campus-adjacent amenities give it strong college-town energy, while the Provo River, a large freshwater lake just nearby, and the Wasatch Range rising directly behind town offer easy access to waterfront trails and mountain recreation.

The cost of living runs about 17.2% above the national average, and home values near $479,000 keep climbing. Utah taxes Social Security benefits, an added consideration for retirees. A regional hospital system serves Utah County from facilities in and around the city, but continued growth around the campus and the surrounding mountains is likely to keep pushing prices upward.

Portland, Maine

Median rent: $1,711

Average home value: $554,454

Built on a peninsula in Casco Bay, Portland pairs a working harbor with a walkable historic district and coastal parks and trails, while nearby islands and local colleges add to its maritime, outdoorsy character. That coastal identity has made it an increasingly popular New England destination.

The cost of living runs about 12.5% above the national average, and home values above $540,000 reflect steady demand for life on the water. Maine does not tax Social Security benefits, which helps retirees. A regional health system with a major hospital campus provides a broad range of inpatient and specialty care, but rising rents and home values suggest Portland's affordability window is narrowing.

Flagstaff, Arizona

Median rent: $1,753

Average home value: $650,175

Flagstaff trades typical desert terrain for pine-forest trails and year-round outdoor recreation, sitting at the base of the San Francisco Peaks within the Coconino National Forest. A local university campus gives the city a youthful, active pulse, and mountain scenery sets the backdrop.

Home values above $646,000 and a cost of living running about 16.2% above the national average show the pressure building here. Arizona does not tax Social Security benefits, and a regional hospital system serves residents and visitors, but the mountain setting and college-town draw continue to push housing costs higher.

Nashua, New Hampshire

Median rent: $1,772

Average home value: $503,469

Nashua sits where the Nashua River meets the Merrimack, giving the city waterfront parks and multi-use trails along both waterways, plus a walkable downtown of shops and restaurants and college-town energy from local colleges. Easy driving distance to Boston adds another layer of appeal for day trips, culture, or family visits.

The cost of living runs about 10.7% above the national average, while rents above $1,770 and home values near $503,000 keep climbing. New Hampshire does not tax Social Security benefits and has no state income tax at all, a real advantage for retirees. Regional hospitals and affiliated medical centers serve the area, but Nashua's proximity to Boston is likely to keep demand, and prices, moving upward.

Bottom line

Each of these cities offers something distinct, from riverfront downtowns to mountain backdrops to working harbors, and each pairs that appeal with housing costs layered on top of an already elevated cost of living.

Anyone considering a move to one of these cities, especially retirees on a fixed income, should weigh not just today's rent or home price but the direction these markets are heading.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice.

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