National median new-home price: $196,100

(The builders listed below each offer a house at the median price of the particular market they are in.)

CITY: Las Vegas

  • Median new-home price: $210,795
  • Builder/Home price: Astoria Homes, $210,990
  • Features: 1,536 square feet; three bedrooms/two-and-a-half baths; two-story
  • Median area income: $54,700
  • Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,368
  • Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $16.46
  • Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 128

    • CITY: Los Angeles/Long Beach, Calif.

  • Median new-home price: $315,300
  • Builder/Home price: Pardee Homes, $315,990
  • Features: 1,353 square feet; three bedroom/two bath condo unit with two-car garage
  • Median area income: $50,300
  • Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,258
  • Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $19.63
  • Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 116

    • CITY: Chicago

  • Median new-home price: $216,300
  • Builder/Home price: Kennedy Homes, $216,000
  • Features: 3,160 square feet; three bedrooms/ two-and-a-half baths; two-car garage
  • Median area income: $68,700
  • Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,718
  • Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $18.29
  • Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 142

    • CITY: Tampa/ St. Petersburg/ Clearwater, Fla.

  • Median new-home price: $178,700
  • Builder/Home price: Inland Homes, $178,900
  • Features: 2,053 square feet; three bedrooms/two baths; two-story
  • Median area income: $49,700
  • Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,243
  • Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $15.02
  • Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 117

    • CITY: Minneapolis/ St. Paul

  • Median new-home price: $210,300
  • Builder/ Home price: Orrin Thompson Homes, $208,405
  • Features: 1,516 square feet; two bedrooms/ one bath; two-story
  • Median area income: $75,300
  • Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,883
  • Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $18.29
  • Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 142

    • CITY: Boston

  • Median new-home price: $297,200
  • Builder/Home Price: DJG Construction, $305,000
  • Features: 1,345 square feet; two bedrooms/ two baths; active-adult community
  • Median area income: $80,800
  • Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $2,020
  • Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $27.29
  • Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 162

    • CITY: Middlesex/ Somerset/Hunterdon, N.J., PMSA*

  • Median new-home price: $553,425
  • Builder/Home price: Kalian Cos., $528,712
  • Features: 2,650 square feet; four bedrooms/two-and-a-half baths; two-story
  • Median area income: $86,900
  • Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $2,173
  • Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $22.38
  • Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 174
    *Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area

    • CITY: Atlanta

  • Median new-home price: $147,900
  • Builder/Home price: The Knight Group, $147,900
  • Features: 1,806 square feet; three bedrooms/ two-and-a-half baths; two-story
  • Median area income: $68,800
  • Maximum affordable monthly housing cost for family with median area income: $1,720
  • Hourly wage needed to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing: $18.15
  • Number of hours needed to work per week at a minimum wage job to afford the rent on a fair-market two-bedroom apartment: 141

    • —Data compiled by J. Sturgeon and P. Curry

    Sources: National Low Income Housing Coalition, U.S. Census Bureau, NAHB, National Association Of Realtors, and Local HBAS and Builders

    Note: Minimum wage varies from state to state.