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The Cost To Own a 3-Bedroom Home in Every State

valentinrussanov / iStock.com
valentinrussanov / iStock.com

The three-bedroom house is something of a standard for many American families. They're a great fit for a family of four, but those bedrooms can just as easily become home offices, gyms, art studios or whatever else you can imagine should you live alone or be an empty nester. If you want enough space for your family but don't want to buy too much house, three bedrooms can be that simple compromise that splits the difference.

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But a three-bedroom home is not the same everywhere you go. Depending on the state you call home, the typical three-bedroom house can list at anywhere from about $125,000 to more than $740,000. That's why GOBankingRates compiled a study to track the affordability of the three-bedroom house across America.

The states are ranked based on the average monthly mortgage payment for three-bedroom homes -- from least to most expensive. For additional context, GOBankingRates included a variety of other important factors that affect overall affordability, like the average size of a 20% down payment and the average effective property tax rate.

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The end result is a clearer picture of which states offer a friendly market for those shopping for a modest family home and which will price most people out of the market before they start looking.

Last updated: July 13, 2021

StanRohrer / iStock.com
StanRohrer / iStock.com

West Virginia

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $125,540

  • 20% down payment: $25,108

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.55%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $479

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peeterv / Getty Images/iStockphoto
peeterv / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Mississippi

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $146,746

  • 20% down payment: $29,349

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.65%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $572

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Svineyard / Shutterstock.com
Svineyard / Shutterstock.com

Oklahoma

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $148,873

  • 20% down payment: $29,775

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.88%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $609

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ChrisBoswell / iStock.com
ChrisBoswell / iStock.com

Alabama

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $166,814

  • 20% down payment: $33,363

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.40%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $615

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BlazenImages / Getty Images/iStockphoto
BlazenImages / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Arkansas

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $169,551

  • 20% down payment: $33,910

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.64%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $659

pisaphotography / Shutterstock.com
pisaphotography / Shutterstock.com

Louisiana

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $175,923

  • 20% down payment: $35,185

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.52%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $667

Anne Kitzman / Shutterstock.com
Anne Kitzman / Shutterstock.com

Kentucky

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $165,738

  • 20% down payment: $33,148

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.82%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $669

Bradwhitsitt / Shutterstock.com
Bradwhitsitt / Shutterstock.com

Indiana

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $177,884

  • 20% down payment: $35,577

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.87%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $726

Cafer Akdeniz / Shutterstock.com
Cafer Akdeniz / Shutterstock.com

Kansas

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $169,190

  • 20% down payment: $33,838

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.33%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $755

felixmizioznikov / Getty Images/iStockphoto
felixmizioznikov / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Iowa

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $168,625

  • 20% down payment: $33,725

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.50%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $777

Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Ohio

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $168,937

  • 20% down payment: $33,787

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.62%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $795

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wbritten / Getty Images/iStockphoto
wbritten / Getty Images/iStockphoto

South Carolina

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $208,374

  • 20% down payment: $41,675

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.56%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $796

Meinphoto / Shutterstock.com
Meinphoto / Shutterstock.com

Missouri

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $191,056

  • 20% down payment: $38,211

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.01%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $802

Pgiam / iStock.com
Pgiam / iStock.com

Georgia

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $209,899

  • 20% down payment: $41,980

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.92%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $865

sframephoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto
sframephoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Tennessee

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $221,364

  • 20% down payment: $44,273

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.73%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $877

pawel.gaul / Getty Images/iStockphoto
pawel.gaul / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Michigan

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $199,226

  • 20% down payment: $39,845

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.44%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $908

Shutterstock.com
Shutterstock.com

North Carolina

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $223,591

  • 20% down payment: $44,718

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.85%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $909

DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com
DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com

North Dakota

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $220,227

  • 20% down payment: $44,045

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.95%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $913

turtix / Shutterstock.com
turtix / Shutterstock.com

New Mexico

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $240,283

  • 20% down payment: $48,057

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.68%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $942

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Shutterstock.com

Pennsylvania

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $212,270

  • 20% down payment: $42,454

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.51%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $979

ElsvanderGun / iStock.com
ElsvanderGun / iStock.com

South Dakota

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $225,041

  • 20% down payment: $45,008

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.22%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $984

Check Out: 45 Great Cities With Shockingly Cheap Real Estate

Jakich / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Jakich / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Nebraska

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $209,383

  • 20% down payment: $41,877

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.65%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $991

Ken Schulze / Shutterstock.com
Ken Schulze / Shutterstock.com

Wyoming

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $262,113

  • 20% down payment: $52,423

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.55%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,000

DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com
DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com

New York

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $226,773

  • 20% down payment: $45,355

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.40%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,026

Graves Creative Design / Shutterstock.com
Graves Creative Design / Shutterstock.com

Delaware

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $267,790

  • 20% down payment: $53,558

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.58%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,028

irabassi / Getty Images/iStockphoto
irabassi / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Texas

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $220,161

  • 20% down payment: $44,032

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.69%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,049

Henryk Sadura / Shutterstock.com
Henryk Sadura / Shutterstock.com

Wisconsin

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $224,048

  • 20% down payment: $44,810

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.73%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,075

Brett Taylor / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Brett Taylor / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Virginia

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $268,612

  • 20% down payment: $53,722

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.86%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,094

pics721 / Shutterstock.com
pics721 / Shutterstock.com

Illinois

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $219,271

  • 20% down payment: $43,854

  • Average effective state property tax: 2.05%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,110

Shutterstock.com
Shutterstock.com

Florida

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $282,779

  • 20% down payment: $56,556

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.94%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,170

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Shutterstock.com

Minnesota

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $287,545

  • 20% down payment: $57,509

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.11%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,231

Shutterstock.com
Shutterstock.com

Arizona

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $317,917

  • 20% down payment: $63,583

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.67%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,244

LPETTET / Getty Images/iStockphoto
LPETTET / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Nevada

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $334,516

  • 20% down payment: $66,903

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.66%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,306

vintagepix / Getty Images/iStockphoto
vintagepix / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Alaska

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $315,024

  • 20% down payment: $63,005

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.02%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,325

Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com
Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com

Maryland

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $314,616

  • 20% down payment: $62,923

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.04%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,328

FrankvandenBergh / Getty Images/iStockphoto
FrankvandenBergh / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Maine

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $300,866

  • 20% down payment: $60,173

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.27%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,328

Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com
Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com

Montana

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $352,539

  • 20% down payment: $70,508

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.76%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,406

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com
Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com

Vermont

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $293,436

  • 20% down payment: $58,687

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.80%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,425

Cartier / Shutterstock.com
Cartier / Shutterstock.com

Connecticut

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $298,666

  • 20% down payment: $59,733

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.70%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,425

picmax / Getty Images/iStockphoto
picmax / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Idaho

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $374,655

  • 20% down payment: $74,931

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.75%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,491

Shutterstock.com
Shutterstock.com

Utah

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $397,681

  • 20% down payment: $79,536

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.62%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,540

Read More: In Less Than a Decade, You Won't Be Able To Afford a Home in These Cities

solepsizm / Shutterstock.com
solepsizm / Shutterstock.com

Rhode Island

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $357,928

  • 20% down payment: $71,586

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.53%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,657

JPL Designs / Shutterstock.com
JPL Designs / Shutterstock.com

Oregon

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $407,724

  • 20% down payment: $81,545

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.98%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,701

Sean Xu / Shutterstock.com
Sean Xu / Shutterstock.com

Colorado

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $448,399

  • 20% down payment: $89,680

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.56%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,714

Christopher Sprake / Shutterstock.com
Christopher Sprake / Shutterstock.com

New Hampshire

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $364,106

  • 20% down payment: $72,821

  • Average effective state property tax: 2.03%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,838

Shutterstock.com
Shutterstock.com

New Jersey

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $362,709

  • 20% down payment: $72,542

  • Average effective state property tax: 2.21%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,885

Shutterstock.com
Shutterstock.com

Washington

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $476,105

  • 20% down payment: $95,221

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.92%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $1,963

Richard Cavalleri / Shutterstock.com
Richard Cavalleri / Shutterstock.com

Massachusetts

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $473,526

  • 20% down payment: $94,705

  • Average effective state property tax: 1.15%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $2,043

Nicolas McComber / iStock.com
Nicolas McComber / iStock.com

California

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $614,576

  • 20% down payment: $122,915

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.74%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $2,441

7maru / Shutterstock.com
7maru / Shutterstock.com

Hawaii

  • Average 3-bedroom home value: $740,227

  • 20% down payment: $148,045

  • Average effective state property tax: 0.30%

  • Monthly mortgage payment: $2,669

More From GOBankingRates

Jami Farkas contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the cost to own a three-bedroom home in every state by analyzing all 50 U.S. states along the following criteria: (1) average home value for a three-bedroom home, sourced from Zillow's April 2021 index; (2) monthly mortgage payment, using Zillow's mortgage calculator and based on the April 2021 average home value for a three-bedroom home, 20% down payment, the average state effective property tax sourced from the Tax Foundation and a 2.96% 30-year fixed mortgage, which is the current national average mortgage rate as of May 6, 2021, sourced from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; and (3) annual mortgage payment calculated by multiplying factor (2) by twelve. States were ranked by factor (2) with the lowest payment being best. All data compiled on June 15, 2021.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Cost To Own a 3-Bedroom Home in Every State