17 Suburbs Near Major US Cities That Have Slightly More Affordable Houses

See ya later, NYC.

City life is great, but sky-high rent prices make it hard to imagine ever being able to buy your home.

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That $3,000 a month one-bedroom rental in San Francisco or New York City just isn't sustainable, especially if you're trying to save for a down payment. The reality is, for many young people the idea of buying a home anywhere — let alone in a major city — can seem like a distant (or impossible) dream.

While there are obviously a lot of external factors that affect whether you can afford homeownership (a big one being whether your family is able to help you out financially), one thing you can control is: the location you're considering.

Realtor.com pulled a list of city suburbs with the lowest median home price per square foot. They may not be the city you love, but they’re close to the city you love — and they offer better value.

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According to realtor.com, you can save an average of 29% per square foot just by considering the suburbs of some of the biggest cities in the US. In addition to being more affordable, you'll have the space to fashion yourself a home office, a reading nook, or workout room (read: a TikTok dance studio).

FYI, these suburbs and their median home prices were determined based on single-family homes that are 1,800 square feet or larger and located within 25 miles of the nation's largest cities (unless otherwise noted).

1. Marietta, Georgia (close to Atlanta)

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Just 20 miles north of Atlanta is Marietta, a town that prides itself on its rich history (one that started well before Atlanta was founded). Six museums within walking distance of each other make it easy to ~get your history on~ while hiking trails criss-cross the nearby Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (the site of an 1864 Civil War battle).

Median listing price: $440,000

Savings per square foot: 21% (Suburb: $143 / Urban: $181)

2. Palos Hills, Illinois (outside Chicago)

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Palos Hills has quite an urban feel and is popular among younger people starting their careers, thanks to its proximity to Chicago (just a 30-minute drive!!!). Directly to the west of the city is open space that includes nature preserves, parks, trails, and woods. How's that for the perfect mix of city and country?

Median listing price: $379,000

Savings per square foot: 24% (Suburb: $139 / Urban: $184)

3. Ashton-Sandy Spring, Maryland (near Washington DC)

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Less than 20 miles due north of Washington DC is Ashton-Sandy Spring, a designated spot that includes the communities of — you guessed it — Ashton and Sandy. The suburb is an hour and a half from DC by bus and metro, but it's well worth the commute. There's a walking trail that traces the historic Underground Railroad and a blueberry garden where you can pick and eat to your heart's content ($4 a pint, $8 a quart). If endless blueberries aren't heaven, I don't know what is!

Median listing price: $844,000

Savings per square foot: 39% (Suburb: $178 / Urban: $294)

4. Fullerton, California (close to Los Angeles)

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Southeast of LA, near the Chino Hills State Park is the town of Fullerton. Homes here aren't cheap, but the city is less than 45 minutes away on the Pacific Surfliner (a coastal train service). And, Fullerton has plenty of parks, museums, and colleges that provide a close-knit community feel that isn't always easy to find in a city the size of LA.

Median listing price: $1,155,000

Savings per square foot: 27% (Suburb: $418 / Urban: $570)

5. Santa Clarita, California (also near Los Angeles)

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Santa Clarita may be best known for its Six Flags Magic Mountain (home of the tallest coaster in the world), but the city is also a hub for the arts — you'll want to catch a show at the Canyon Theatre Guild and The MAIN. It even has over 100 miles of biking and hiking trails. The city is actually 33 miles from LA — 13 miles further than Fullerton — but the commute is still bearable! It's a 50-minute ride on the Metrolink, or a 45-minute drive to the City of Angels.

Median listing price: $624,000

Savings per square foot: 39% (Suburb: $347 / Urban: $570)

6. Hanover, Massachusetts (outside Boston)

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Hanover prides itself on its small-town feel, but it's also just a 30-minute drive north to Boston. That means you can get your big city fill, then retreat to Hanover's parks, trails, and waterways (which are great for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing).

Median listing price: $670,000

Savings per square foot: 34% (Suburb: $231 / Urban: $350)

7. Gig Harbor, Washington (near Seattle and Tacoma)

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In the Puget Sound on the bay is the city of Gig Harbor. It's a place that, like the nearby cities of Seattle and Tacoma, is all about the water. You can walk the charming waterfront, explore the area by ferry, or simply take in the views of the nearby Mt. Rainier. When you're craving time in the city, Seattle's Pike Place Market and the views from atop the Space Needle are well worth the 50-minute drive.

Median listing price: $774,500

Savings per square foot: 34% (Suburb: $264 / Urban: $398)

8. Surprise, Arizona (close to Phoenix)

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Surprise is a city with a small-town feel and big-city amenities — and it's just a 45-minute drive from Phoenix. Surprise hosts regional festivals and is full of art galleries, but sports is what it does best. You'll find the largest tennis and racquet complex in the southwest, and, during Major League Baseball spring training, Surprise is home to the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers. How's that for excitement?

Median listing price: $376,495

Savings per square foot: 28% (Suburb: $144 / Urban: $201)

9. Burnsville, Minnesota (just outside Minneapolis)

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Burnsville has its own ski mountain(!!) and the lakeside Fort Snelling State Park, with plenty of year-round hiking, biking, and cross-country ski trails. All that space and access to nature is just a 26-minute bus ride from Minneapolis and a 14-minute drive from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.

Median listing price: $349,900

Savings per square foot: 19% (Suburb: $141 / Urban: $175)

10. Clark, New Jersey (near New York City)

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This quiet township feels worlds away from the buzz of New York City. But in reality, it's less than 40 minutes away from the Big Apple by car, and 90 if you're taking public transportation (thanks to the North Jersey Coast Line). Clark has plenty of parks, including the Watchung Reservation, a 2,000+ acre preserve with a deserted village, lake, and endless trails to explore.

Median listing price: $798,000

Savings per square foot: 34% (Suburb: $242 / Urban: $366)

11. Harrison, New Jersey (also near New York City)

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Harrison has a higher price-per-square-foot than Clark, but if a smaller space better suits your lifestyle, then the town's noticeably lower median listing price might peak your fancy. Plus, you can get from Harrison to NYC's Penn Station in just 35 minutes thanks to the perfectly convenient PATH and the North Jersey Coast Line. The Passaic River separates Harrison from Newark. And, the city has been working to redevelop the riverfront area to include commercial and residential space and a waterfront walkway. In other words, your new home could come with a coveted riverside view!

Median listing price: $510,000

Savings per square foot: 23% (Suburb: $283 / Urban: $366)

12. Cedar Hill, Texas (close to Dallas)

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Cedar Hill is just over 20 minutes from Dallas by car and has a whopping 11 shopping centers and a historic Downtown full of locally owned boutiques — so get ready for Gossip Girl-esque spending sprees. And if shopping isn't your thing, Cedar Hill also has a bird, butterfly, and mammal preserve and its own state park.

Median listing price: $352,000

Savings per square foot: 23% (Suburb: $124 / Urban: $161)

13. Clinton Township, Michigan (outside Detroit)

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Clinton Township is a 35-minute drive from Detroit (one hour by bus) and sits near Lake St. Clair. For those looking for nature, the 30-acre George George Memorial Park has walking trails and picnic spaces, while thrill seekers should head to C.J. Barrymore's, an amusement park with a drop tower and something called a saddle sling (which looks terrifying).

Median listing price: $329,500

Savings per square foot: 11% (Suburb: $135 / Urban: $151)

14. Hayward, California (near San Francisco)

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Hayward sits on the east of San Francisco Bay, just south of Oakland and SF. The city has water to the west and open space to the east. Plus, it's an easy 30-minute drive to San Fran (and less than an hour via BART). Home prices are steep, but they beat the rates found in San Francisco by a whopping 35%.

Median listing price: $1,258,500

Savings per square foot: 35% (Suburb: $406 / Urban: $624)

15. Pine Island Ridge, Florida (near Miami and Fort Lauderdale)

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This neighborhood in Davie provides easy access to both Miami (35-minute drive) and Fort Lauderdale (20-minute drive), but its median home price is over $100 lower, per square foot. The nearby Flamingo Gardens — a 60-acre botanic garden and wildlife sanctuary — is home to injured and non-releasable bobcats, alligators, otters, peacocks, and flamingos.

Median listing price: $679,000

Savings per square foot: 34% (Suburb: $224 / Urban: $341)

16. Sickerville, New Jersey (near Philadelphia)

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It might be an entire state away, but Sickerville, a township in New Jersey, is just a 30-minute drive from Philly (and just over an hour away by public transportation). In Sickerville, fishing and birdwatching at the Winslow Fish and Wildlife Management Area just might become some of your new favorite hobbies. And when you aren't out with your binoculars marveling at beautiful bird species, you can play disc golf, sand volleyball, and softball at New Brooklyn County Park.

Median listing price: $282,000

Savings per square foot: 20% (Suburb: $118 / Urban: $148)

17. Jersey Village, Texas (outside Houston)

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An easy 30-minute drive from Houston (55 minutes by bus) will put you in Jersey Village, a small town (less than 10,000 people at the 2010 census) with a beautiful 18-hole Jersey Meadow Golf Club. Just across the highway is Traders Village Houston, a flea market with 2,000 dealers, and the University of Houston is just a 25-minute drive away.

Median listing price: $447,000

Savings per square foot: 36% (Suburb: $126 / Urban: $198)

If this sounds like music to your ears (and bank account), check out more of our personal finance posts.