The 50 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in America

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 7,696 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in the U.S.. #1 is Westwood, MI.

1. 50Dover-Foxcroft, Maine

   Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

   2,776 people · Piscataquis County · median home $158,800 · income $56,250 · Jan low 3°F · 77 in snow

2. 49Lordship, Connecticut

   Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

   2,954 people · median home $465,200 · income $84,606 · Jan low 24°F · 34 in snow

3. 48Farmingdale, Maine

   Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

   2,995 people · Kennebec County · median home $249,700 · income $71,635 · Jan low 9°F · 69 in snow

4. 47Bowdoinham, Maine

   Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

   3,047 people · Sagadahoc County · median home $405,500 · income $108,479 · Jan low 10°F · 72 in snow

5. 46Oracle, Arizona

   Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

   3,051 people · Pinal County · median home $239,900 · income $63,774 · Jan low 35°F · 11 in snow

6. 45Woolwich, Maine

   Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

   3,068 people · Sagadahoc County · median home $254,500 · income $102,175 · Jan low 12°F · 72 in snow

7. 44Bowdoin, Maine

   Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

   3,136 people · Sagadahoc County · median home $292,800 · income $91,239 · Jan low 8°F · 78 in snow

8. 43Wilder, Kentucky

   Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

   3,176 people · Campbell County · median home $159,900 · income $70,893 · Jan low 24°F · 18 in snow

9. 42Penbrook, Pennsylvania

   Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

   3,274 people · Dauphin County · median home $168,100 · income $62,312 · Jan low 22°F · 24 in snow

10. 41Campton, New Hampshire

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,343 people · Grafton County · median home $356,300 · income $118,870 · Jan low 7°F · 68 in snow

11. 40Shark River Hills, New Jersey

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,583 people · Monmouth County · median home $523,400 · income $139,524 · Jan low 25°F

12. 39Shaftsbury, Vermont

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,598 people · Bennington County · median home $267,300 · income $86,071 · Jan low 13°F · 75 in snow

13. 38Hazlehurst, Mississippi

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,619 people · Copiah County · median home $110,500 · income $43,552 · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

14. 37Green, New Jersey

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,627 people · Sussex County · median home $472,200 · income $141,875 · Jan low 19°F · 30 in snow

15. 36Casco, Maine

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,646 people · Cumberland County · median home $355,500 · income $69,313 · Jan low 11°F · 70 in snow

16. 35Loxley, Alabama

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,710 people · Baldwin County · median home $398,500 · income $108,488 · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

17. 34Greenhills, Ohio

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,741 people · Hamilton County · median home $174,100 · income $70,250 · Jan low 21°F · 16 in snow

18. 33Edgecliff Village, Texas

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,788 people · Tarrant County · median home $280,000 · income $85,242 · Jan low 33°F · 0 in snow

19. 32Hardin, Montana

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,818 people · Big Horn County · median home $147,100 · income $60,423 · Jan low 11°F · 28 in snow

20. 31Dillon, Montana

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,880 people · Beaverhead County · median home $256,700 · income $61,134 · Jan low 15°F · 11 in snow

21. 30Cisco, Texas

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,883 people · Eastland County · median home $104,300 · income $58,550 · Jan low 30°F · 2 in snow

22. 29Naples, Maine

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,925 people · Cumberland County · median home $340,100 · income $78,188 · Jan low 7°F · 70 in snow

23. 28Rossville, Georgia

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,980 people · Walker County · median home $133,000 · income $59,191 · Jan low 29°F · 1 in snow

24. 27Stepney, Connecticut

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,280 people · median home $475,800 · income $153,966 · Jan low 18°F · 44 in snow

25. 26Wanamassa, New Jersey

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,344 people · Monmouth County · median home $570,100 · income $140,972 · Jan low 25°F · 25 in snow

26. 25Bonanza, Georgia

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,406 people · Clayton County · median home $204,200 · income $60,260 · Jan low 32°F · 1 in snow

27. 24Dover-Foxcroft, Maine

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,422 people · Piscataquis County · median home $162,600 · income $63,344 · Jan low 3°F · 77 in snow

28. 23Lee, New Hampshire

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,520 people · Strafford County · median home $480,600 · income $131,579 · Jan low 14°F · 39 in snow

29. 22Penn Estates, Pennsylvania

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,546 people · Monroe County · median home $283,100 · income $118,681 · Jan low 19°F · 42 in snow

30. 21West Reading, Pennsylvania

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,553 people · Berks County · median home $173,100 · income $65,885 · Jan low 23°F · 27 in snow

31. 20West Bay Shore, New York

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,625 people · Suffolk County · median home $584,400 · income $137,083 · Jan low 25°F · 28 in snow

32. 19Hollis, Maine

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,745 people · York County · median home $338,900 · income $95,950 · Jan low 8°F · 81 in snow

33. 18Pleasant Run Farm, Ohio

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,779 people · Hamilton County · median home $229,400 · income $73,725 · Jan low 21°F · 14 in snow

34. 17Silverton, Ohio

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,908 people · Hamilton County · median home $200,500 · income $72,143 · Jan low 24°F · 16 in snow

35. 16Los Chaves, New Mexico

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,997 people · Valencia County · median home $285,700 · income $79,662 · Jan low 19°F · 5 in snow

36. 15Bridgeport, Pennsylvania

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,015 people · Montgomery County · median home $341,100 · income $82,705 · Jan low 23°F · 25 in snow

37. 14Delhi Hills, Ohio

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,022 people · Hamilton County · median home $226,600 · income $99,049 · Jan low 23°F · 23 in snow

38. 13The Meadows, Florida

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,037 people · Sarasota County · median home $382,400 · income $69,774 · Jan low 52°F · 0 in snow

39. 12Timber Pines, Florida

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,163 people · Hernando County · median home $278,200 · income $59,185 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

40. 11Chester, New Hampshire

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,232 people · Rockingham County · median home $552,300 · income $142,212 · Jan low 15°F · 76 in snow

41. 10Thiells, New York

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,240 people · Rockland County · median home $579,700 · income $133,623 · Jan low 17°F · 36 in snow

42. 9New Gloucester, Maine

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,676 people · Cumberland County · median home $357,100 · income $108,797 · Jan low 11°F · 80 in snow

43. 8Newmarket, New Hampshire

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,797 people · Rockingham County · median home $423,500 · income $87,196 · Jan low 14°F · 39 in snow

44. 7Orangetree, Florida

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,896 people · Collier County · median home $498,600 · income $112,857 · Jan low 52°F · 0 in snow

45. 6Ave Maria, Florida

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    6,242 people · Collier County · median home $459,200 · income $102,949 · Jan low 52°F · 0 in snow

46. 5Hapeville, Georgia

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    6,553 people · Fulton County · median home $312,100 · income $95,714 · Jan low 36°F · 2 in snow

47. 4Berwick, Maine

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    7,950 people · York County · median home $369,100 · income $94,771 · Jan low 15°F · 55 in snow

48. 3Bath, Maine

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    8,766 people · Sagadahoc County · median home $310,900 · income $69,390 · Jan low 10°F · 72 in snow

49. 2Topsham, Maine

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    9,560 people · Sagadahoc County · median home $360,800 · income $91,028 · Jan low 12°F · 67 in snow

50. 1Westwood, Michigan

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of U.S. towns

    9,621 people · Kalamazoo County · median home $193,400 · income $58,205 · Jan low 18°F · 88 in snow

Price vs ranking

More U.S. rankings

• The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America
• The 50 Quietest Small Towns in America
• The 50 Most Affordable Small Towns in America
• The 50 Best Small Towns for Families in America
• The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
• The 50 Best Places to Retire in America
• The 50 Quietest Places in America
• The 50 Most Affordable Places in America
• The 50 Best Places for Families in America
• The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America

Same ranking, other places

• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Ohio
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Illinois