The 10 fastest-growing metro areas

FASTEST-GROWING METRO AREAS BY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

1. ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-ROSWELL, GA.

Median $228,800 Median $62,613 Principal $950 home household and (equivalent interest price: income: payment: to 18.2 income) percent of median monthly Population growth: 89,013 Atlanta had the lowest median house price among the 10 fastest-growing metro areas and the fifth-highest household income. The combination of wages and house prices put Atlanta at the top for house affordability.

2. HOUSTON-THE WOODLANDS-SUGAR LAND,

Median $244,400 Median $61,708 home household price: income: Principal $1,015 and (19.7 interest percent payment: of monthly income) Population growth: 94,417 Houston’s affordability comes courtesy of having this list’s third-lowest house prices and sixth-highest household income.

3. DALLAS-FORT WORTHARLINGTON

Median $268,200 home price: Median household income: $63,812 Principal and interest payment: monthly $1,114 income) (21 percent of Population growth: 146,238 The Metroplex had the fourthhighest income on the list and the fourth-lowest house prices, making it third-most affordable. It was the fastestgrowing metro.

4. WASHINGTON, D.C., METRO AREA

Median Median $95,843 home household price: income: $443,100 Principal $1,841 and (23 interest percent payment: of monthly income) Population growth: 65,908 The Washington-Arlington Alexandria metro area sprawls across the District of Columbia and parts of Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia. Prices were second highest among these 10 metros and incomes were highest.

5. AUSTIN-ROUND ROCK

Median $330,200 Median home household price: income: $71,000 Principal and interest payment: $1,372 (23.2 percent of monthly income) Population growth: 55,269 The Texas capital had the fourth-highest house prices among the fastest-growing metro areas and third-highest household income.

6. TAMPAST. PETERSBURGCLEARWATER, FLA.

Median home price: $238,700 Median household income: $51,115 Principal and interest payment: $992 (23.3 percent of monthly income) Population growth: 54,874 Tampa-St. Pete had the second-lowest house prices on this list. But affordability took a hit because it had the lowest household income.

7. PHOENIX-MESASCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.

Median Median $58,075 home household price: income: $272,000 Principal $1,130 and (23.3 interest percent payment: of monthly income) Population growth: 88,772 Phoenix had the third-lowest household income on this list, along with the fifth-highest home prices.

8. ORLANDO-KISSIMMEESAN FORD, FLA.

Median $269,000 Median $52,385 home household price: income: Principal $1,117 and (25.6 interest percent payment: of monthly income) Population growth: 56,498 This tourist magnet had the second-lowest incomes on this list, trailing only Tampa St. Pete. But house prices were higher, striking a blow to affordability.

9. RIVERSIDE SAN BERNARDINO ONTARIO, CALIF.

Median $360,000 Median $58,236 home household price: income: Principal $1,495 and (30.8 interest percent payment: of monthly income) Population growth: 57,017 With the third-highest house prices among the top 10, but the fourth-lowest household income, many residents of the Inland Empire have to stretch to afford a home.

10. SEATTLE-TACOMA BELLEVUE, WASH.

Median $530,300 Median $78,612 home household price: income: Principal $2,203 and (33.6 interest percent payment: of monthly income) Population growth: 64,386 The Emerald City had the second-highest household income among the top 10 and the highest house prices. With a typical house costing more than half a million dollars, it’s difficult to afford a house payment even on Seattle’s relatively high incomes.