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Zillow says US households take about 15 years to save and break even on home purchase versus renting

PUBT·08/20/2026 12:04:10
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Zillow says US households take about 15 years to save and break even on home purchase versus renting
  • Zillow analysis estimates a median-income US household needs 14.7 years to save 20% down, then break even versus renting.
  • Saving for a down payment takes 8.5 years nationally; break-even versus renting takes 6.2 years, based on July 2026 conditions.
  • High-cost metros extend timelines sharply; San Jose totals 49.2 years, Los Angeles 37.7 years, New York 29.4 years.
  • Lower-cost markets shorten payback; Memphis totals 10.9 years, with Pittsburgh near 11.1 years, Detroit 11.4 years.
  • Starter homes cut the national timeline to 7.2 years, with 4.6 years to save, then 2.6 years to break even.


Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Zillow Group Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief via PR Newswire (Ref. ID: SF30243) on August 20, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.