Dive Brief:

Finance website NerdWallet has named its most affordable U.S. metropolitan areas for homebuyers, and Indianapolis; Memphis, TN; Dayton, OH; Cleveland; and Akron, OH, top the list.

NerdWallet calculated how many square feet of a house a typical family in the largest 100 metro areas could comfortably afford — while staying within a reasonable budget — by comparing data on debt, median income, housing costs and home prices.

The standout result on the list: Six of the Top 10 affordable metro areas are in Ohio — Dayton, Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, Cincinnati and Toledo. However, NerdWallet noted that Toledo and Youngstown may be affordable, but they’re also two of the poorest cities in the U.S.

Dive Insight:

NerdWallet found that Indianapolis, the most affordable metro area, boasts an average price of $56 per square feet, and NerdWallet estimates that a family with an annual income of $81,500 can afford a whopping 5,300-square-foot house.

And for those looking for a great job market, particularly in the STEM industry, Raleigh, NC — number nine on the list — is the place to be, according to Nerdwallet. Average homebuyers there can afford 3,163 square feet.

On the flip side, Nerdwallet found the least affordable housing markets in the U.S. to be: McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA; Urban Honolulu, HI; San Diego-Carlsbad, CA; and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. See the full rankings here.

Builders should take note of these results, as the more affordable markets come with lower price tags for their new homes. However, the less expensive metro areas also have the potential to draw in the coveted younger buying segment.