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Housing markets with low prices aren't always the most affordable cities for first-time home buyers and existing homeowners. That's because income levels and mortgage rates can weaken home purchasing power in even the cheapest markets.

Here's a look at 12 cities where the median home sales price is at or below $200,000, but other market factors put a damper on purchasing power.

The data, from the First American Real House Price Index, measures home price changes, taking local wages and mortgage rates into account "to better reflect consumers' purchasing power and capture the true cost of housing." The May 2017 data is ranked by RHPI value, where a reading of 100 is equal to conditions in January 2000.
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Replica steamboat travels down the Ohio River in front of the Cincinnati skyline.
Bryan Busovicki - stock.adobe.com

No. 12: Cincinnati, Ohio

Median Sales Price: $146,500
Real Home Price Index: 58.74
Year-Over-Year RHPI Change: 5.20%
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Nighttime panoramic picture of Saint Louis Gateway Arch
picsbyst - stock.adobe.com

No. 11: St. Louis, Mo.

Median Sales Price: $145,000
Real Home Price Index: 63.94
Year-Over-Year RHPI Change: 9.20%
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kanonsky - stock.adobe.com

No. 10: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Median Sales Price: $150,000
Real Home Price Index: 65.65
Year-Over-Year RHPI Change: 4.10%
Greater Hartford home sales rise
Hartford, Connecticut, USA downtown skyline on the Connecticut River.
SeanPavonePhoto - stock.adobe.com

No. 9: Hartford, Conn.

Median Sales Price: $200,000
Real Home Price Index: 69.33
Year-Over-Year RHPI Change: 3.20%
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Oklahoma State Capitol building is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Steven Frame/sframe - stock.adobe.com

No. 8: Oklahoma City, Okla.

Median Sales Price: $164,000
Real Home Price Index: 70.43
Year-Over-Year RHPI Change: 10.30%
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Delmas Lehman - Fotolia

No. 7: Tampa, Fla.

Median Sales Price: $176,700
Real Home Price Index: 70.44
Year-Over-Year RHPI Change: 14.20%
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lindaparton - stock.adobe.com

No. 6: Detroit, Mich.

Median Sales Price: $157,000
Real Home Price Index: 77.98
Year-Over-Year RHPI Change: 11.00%
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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.
Shelley Dennis/Shelley - stock.adobe.com

No. 5: Kansas City, Mo.

Median Sales Price: $188,423
Real Home Price Index: 86.99
Year-Over-Year RHPI Change: 9.70%
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Schlegel Ren - Fotolia

No. 4: Orlando, Fla.

Median Sales Price: $200,000
Real Home Price Index: 87.29
Year-Over-Year RHPI Change: 12.40%
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thejimcox - Fotolia

No. 3: Jacksonville, Fla.

Median Sales Price: $192,000
Real Home Price Index: 88.36
Year-Over-Year RHPI Change: 10.50%
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River Walk in San Antonio Texas
Leena Robinson/leekris - stock.adobe.com

No. 2: San Antonio, Texas

Median Sales Price: $185,208
Real Home Price Index: 94.70
Year-Over-Year RHPI Change: 9.20%
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Spring is on it's way along North Lincoln Memorial Drive in Milwaukee
Christopher Boswell/Christopher Boswell - stock.adobe.com

No. 1: Milwaukee, Wis.

Median Sales Price: $183,000
Real Home Price Index: 97.65
Year-Over-Year RHPI Change: 11.50%
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