Updated July 21, 2026: The calculations now use Zillow's June 2026 ZHVI and ZORI releases. Use the interactive state-by-state comparison for the current state rankings.

"Just buy — you're throwing money away on rent." It's the most repeated personal finance advice in America, and for decades it was mostly right. In 2019, at lower mortgage rates and lower home values, the math was simpler in many markets.

By June 2026, at a modeled 6.75% mortgage rate and a typical home value of $372,995 — up 54% from January 2019 — the math had fundamentally changed.

We ran the numbers

Using Zillow home values and rent data for all 50 states, we calculated the true total monthly cost of owning vs. renting everywhere. The result: the answer depends entirely on where you live.

See the full interactive state-by-state comparison →

The key metric: price-to-rent ratio

Divide a home's price by annual rent. Below 15? Buying is cheaper. Above 21? Renting wins. In between, it's a toss-up.

Nationally, the ratio is about 15.7 — toss-up territory. But the state-by-state picture is wildly different:

Where buying wins

Midwest and Southern states like Mississippi, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and Kansas have price-to-rent ratios well below 15. Monthly ownership costs are comparable to — or even less than — rent. In these markets, the classic advice still holds: buy if you'll stay 3+ years.

Where renting wins

Hawaii, Utah, Montana, Colorado, and Idaho have ratios above 23. Monthly ownership costs exceed rent by $500–$1,500+. That gap, invested in an index fund at historical 8% returns, can grow faster than home equity — especially in the first 7 years.

The "invest the difference" math

In a state where buying costs $800/month more than renting (common in the top "rent" states):

  • Invest the $71,400 down payment at 8% annual return
  • Invest the $800/month savings every month
  • After 7 years: ~$211,000 investment portfolio

A homeowner's equity after 7 years (with 3% appreciation + principal paydown): ~$175,000.

The renter wins by $36K — in liquid, diversified assets.

But it's not just a spreadsheet

Buying can work for forced savings discipline, as a hedge against rising rents, and for long-term holds. Renting can work for flexibility, liquidity, and when the local price-to-rent ratio makes ownership unusually expensive.

The worst financial move isn't renting or buying — it's stretching to buy a home you can barely afford because someone told you renting is "throwing money away."

Explore the full interactive comparison with data for all 50 states →

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