Harford County posted the eighth lowest home affordability index in Maryland, according to an analysis of 432 counties nationwide by ATTOM Data Solutions in the second quarter.
The county’s affordability index was 118 in the analysis, which found that home prices around the country have hit their lowest level of affordability in a decade.
The report determines the affordability number based on the household income needed to purchase a median-priced home in the county compared to historical data. An index under 100 indicates declining affordability.
In Harford County, a median home costs $235,000.
“Slowing home price appreciation in the second quarter was not enough to counteract an 11 percent increase in (national) mortgage rates compared to a year ago, resulting in the worst home affordability we’ve seen in nearly 10 years,” said Daren Blomquist, senior vice president at ATTOM Data Solutions.
Maryland counties with lowest home affordability indexes
| County | Q2 2018 Median Sales Price | Annual Income Needed to Buy (3% Down and 28% Front-End DTI) | Annualized Weekly Wages | Pct of Annualized Wages to Buy | Historic Pct of Wages to Buy | Q2 2018 Affordability Index |
| Frederick | $282,000 | $80,652 | $49,972 | 45.2% | 48.8% | 108 |
| Prince George's County | $260,000 | $69,065 | $56,589 | 34.2% | 37.5% | 110 |
| Carroll | $305,000 | $86,092 | $43,407 | 55.5% | 61.5% | 111 |
| Montgomery | $429,000 | $120,419 | $73,450 | 45.9% | 51.1% | 111 |
| Charles | $271,500 | $75,915 | $45,825 | 46.4% | 53.2% | 115 |
| Cecil | $195,000 | $55,455 | $47,398 | 32.8% | 37.7% | 115 |
| Anne Arundel | $333,000 | $91,666 | $57,941 | 44.3% | 51.3% | 116 |
| Harford | $235,000 | $65,016 | $51,389 | 35.4% | 41.7% | 118 |
| Washington | $159,900 | $44,758 | $41,808 | 30.0% | 35.9% | 120 |
| Wicomico | $140,000 | $38,000 | $43,615 | 24.4% | 30.4% | 124 |
| Baltimore | $219,000 | $61,623 | $54,730 | 31.5% | 39.3% | 125 |
| Saint Marys | $258,950 | $71,207 | $66,391 | 30.0% | 38.8% | 129 |
| Howard | $390,000 | $110,802 | $66,170 | 46.9% | 62.6% | 134 |
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