With mortgage debt at record levels, paying off a home can be expensive. This is especially true in recent weeks as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has left millions of Americans out of work and without an income.
To see where monthly mortgage costs are highest, LendingTree analysts looked at the average mortgage payment offered through 2019 to LendingTree users in each of the nation’s 50 states. With this data, LendingTree analysts ranked each state based on its respective average monthly mortgage payment and then compared that to the national average payment of $1,159.
Additionally, LendingTree also studied the ratio of household income before the coronavirus crisis hit to monthly mortgage payments in each state. Our analysts then created a separate ranking based on where mortgages are the most expensive, relative to income. Borrowers in states with the highest relative mortgage payments will likely struggle the most in the wake of COVID-19, as homeowners lose their jobs and see their incomes reduced dramatically.
Fortunately for borrowers struggling to keep up with their mortgage payments, there are numerous mortgage relief programs being implemented to help homeowners stay afloat.
Methodology
To calculate the average monthly mortgage payment in each state, LendingTree averaged the monthly mortgage payments offered by lenders on the LendingTree platform through 2019. Using this number, each state was ranked from the highest average monthly mortgage payment to the lowest.
LendingTree analysts used estimates provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence to determine the average household income in each state for 2019. By dividing monthly mortgage payments by the average household income, our analysts determined what share of a household’s income goes toward its mortgage payment.
50. Iowa
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $970
- Average monthly household income: $6,329
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$189
49. Indiana
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $980
- Average monthly household income: $5,993
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$179
48. Arkansas
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $984
- Average monthly household income: $5,356
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$175
47. West Virginia
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $989
- Average monthly household income: $5,102
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$170
46. Mississippi
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $990
- Average monthly household income: $5,053
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$169
45. Kentucky
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,003
- Average monthly household income: $5,593
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$156
44. Oklahoma
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,005
- Average monthly household income: $5,855
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$154
43. Nebraska
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,014
- Average monthly household income: $6,440
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$145
42. Missouri
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,020
- Average monthly household income: $6,095
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$139
41. Ohio
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,023
- Average monthly household income: $6,176
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$136
40. Michigan
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,031
- Average monthly household income: $6,279
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$128
39. South Dakota
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,042
- Average monthly household income: $6,147
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$117
38. North Dakota
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,052
- Average monthly household income: $7,004
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$107
37. Wisconsin
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,054
- Average monthly household income: $6,474
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$104
36. Kansas
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,060
- Average monthly household income: $6,459
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$99
35. Alabama
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,060
- Average monthly household income: $5,604
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$99
34. New Mexico
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,060
- Average monthly household income: $5,547
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$99
33. Vermont
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,070
- Average monthly household income: $6,539
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$89
32. Pennsylvania
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,071
- Average monthly household income: $6,796
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$88
31. Louisiana
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,073
- Average monthly household income: $5,735
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$86
30. Minnesota
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,083
- Average monthly household income: $7,550
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$76
29. Maine
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,096
- Average monthly household income: $6,101
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$63
28. Georgia
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,100
- Average monthly household income: $6,548
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$59
27. South Carolina
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,102
- Average monthly household income: $5,841
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$57
26. Arizona
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,116
- Average monthly household income: $6,435
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$43
25. Rhode Island
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,118
- Average monthly household income: $7,127
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$41
24. Delaware
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,121
- Average monthly household income: $7,247
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$38
23. North Carolina
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,122
- Average monthly household income: $6,146
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$37
22. Florida
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,124
- Average monthly household income: $6,388
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$35
21. Illinois
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,130
- Average monthly household income: $7,405
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$28
20. Montana
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,135
- Average monthly household income: $5,913
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$24
19. Texas
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,137
- Average monthly household income: $7,018
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$22
18. Wyoming
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,138
- Average monthly household income: $6,605
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$20
17. New Hampshire
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,140
- Average monthly household income: $7,990
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$19
16. Tennessee
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,147
- Average monthly household income: $5,955
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$12
15. Idaho
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,155
- Average monthly household income: $5,885
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: -$4
14. Nevada
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,191
- Average monthly household income: $6,443
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: $32
13. Alaska
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,201
- Average monthly household income: $8,042
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: $42
12. Connecticut
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,209
- Average monthly household income: $9,141
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: $50
11. Oregon
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,221
- Average monthly household income: $6,670
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: $63
10. Utah
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,261
- Average monthly household income: $7,254
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: $102
9. Virginia
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,334
- Average monthly household income: $8,167
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: $175
8. Colorado
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,342
- Average monthly household income: $7,710
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: $183
7. Maryland
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,351
- Average monthly household income: $8,957
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: $192
6. New Jersey
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,367
- Average monthly household income: $9,178
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: $208
5. Massachusetts
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,442
- Average monthly household income: $8,886
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: $283
4. Washington
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,459
- Average monthly household income: $7,821
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: $300
3. New York
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,575
- Average monthly household income: $8,119
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: $416
2. California
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,696
- Average monthly household income: $8,458
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: $537
1. Hawaii
- Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,780
- Average monthly household income: $8,314
- Difference between state and national average mortgage payment: $621
LendingTree research analyst Jacob Channel contributed to this study.
This article originally appeared on LendingTree.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com
