But not all housing markets are created equal, and many cities offer this generation plenty of options within a price range they can afford.
"Millennials who dream of owning a home will have better luck if they move inland to places like St. Louis, Columbus and Pittsburgh," Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather said in a press release. "These cities used to have economies that relied heavily on manufacturing, and during the recession a lot of young people moved away in search of jobs."
"However, now these cities have more diverse economies based on education, healthcare and technology, and there are open jobs with salaries that are high relative to cost of living. But millennials may want to move as quickly as possible because even in most inland cities the share of homes affordable to the typical millennial is shrinking as housing prices go up," Fairweather said.
From the gateway to the West to just below the Mason-Dixon Line, here's a look at the 12 housing markets with the highest percentage of homes affordable to millennial purchasers with median incomes.
Redfin calculated the share of homes in each housing market that were affordable during 2018 to households making the median income for millennials in that metro area, assuming a 20% down payment, an interest rate of 4.64% and a monthly mortgage payment no more than 30% of gross income.
12. Baltimore, Md.
Median list price: $308,595 Median millennial salary: $85,562 Homes affordable to millennials: 81.3%
Colorful row houses along Guilford Avenue in Charles Village, Baltimore, Maryland.
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11. Raleigh, N.C.
Median list price: $298,081 Median millennial salary: $76,729 Homes affordable to millennials: 81.4%
Konstantin L - Fotolia
10. Oklahoma City, Okla.
Median list price: $198,000 Median millennial salary: $60,462 Homes affordable to millennials: 82.8%
A pool stands where the terrorist attack took place in Oklahoma
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9. Indianapolis, Ind.
Median list price: $190,000 Median millennial salary: $62,054 Homes affordable to millennials: 83.5%
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA skyline over Monument Circle.
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8. Cleveland, Ohio
Median list price: $164,900 Median millennial salary: $56,151 Homes affordable to millennials: 84%
Columbus, Ohio beyond The Ohio State University
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7. Minneapolis, Minn.
Median list price: $284,900 Median millennial salary: $83,933 Homes affordable to millennials: 85.1%
Minneapolis, MN, river and bridge near downtown
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6. Kansas City, Mo.
Median list price: $225,000 Median millennial salary: $71,313 Homes affordable to millennials: 85.2%
The Kansas City skyline continues to grow, but the recognizable Western Auto building and recently renovated Union Station have dominated the landscape for many years.
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5. Hartford, Conn.
Median list price: $249,900 Median millennial salary: $76,235 Homes affordable to millennials: 85.7%
Hartford, CT- OCTOBER 15: The Mark Twain House and Museum on October 15, 2014. It was the home of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) from 1874 to 1891 in Hartford, Connecticut.
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4. Cincinnati, Ohio
Median list price: $199,900 Median millennial salary: $68,511 Homes affordable to millennials: 85.9%
John McGraw Photog - stock.adobe.com
3. Columbus, Ohio
Median list price: $215,500 Median millennial salary: $71,181 Homes affordable to millennials: 87.1%
Columbus, Ohio beyond The Ohio State University
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2. Pittsburgh, Pa.
Median list price: $179,900 Median millennial salary: $70,169 Homes affordable to millennials: 87.5%
Panorama of downtown Pittsburgh skyline at twilight
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1. St. Louis, Mo.
Median list price: $189,900 Median millennial salary: $68,805 Homes affordable to millennials: 88.1%
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