Buying a house can be exciting and terrifying. The negotiations, the inspections, the costs — they can all be overwhelming. And getting a mortgage means you’ll be paying a number of fees when you finally reach the closing table.
These fees vary from state to state. Some can be more than a quarter of an average person’s annual income, and others just a fraction of it, a MoneyWise analysis finds.
Wherever you may be buying — or refinancing — here are estimates of what it will cost you in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to get a mortgage — starting from the cheapest places to the most expensive.
Our methodology: To determine the most and least affordable states for taking out a mortgage, MoneyWise took the average closing costs for the states and D.C. from ClosingCorp and divided those into the latest median household income numbers from the U.S. Census. The higher the resulting number, the less affordable the state.
51. Missouri
Taking out a mortgage — or refinancing one — is more affordable in Missouri than any other state.
Closing costs in the Show-Me State average $1,571. That’s 2.74% of the state’s median household income of $57,409.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $1,290.
50. Indiana
Closing costs in the Hoosier State average $2,101. That’s 3.65% of the state’s median household income of $57,603.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $1,396.
49. Iowa
Closing costs in the Hawkeye State average $2,272. That’s 3.68% of the state’s median household income of $61,691.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $1,803.
48. North Dakota
Closing costs in the Peace Garden State average $2,381. That’s 3.69% of the state’s median household income of $64,577.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $1,894.
47. South Dakota
Closing costs in the Mount Rushmore State average $2,276. That’s 3.82% of the state’s median household income of $59,533.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $1,828.
46. Wyoming
Closing costs in the Equality State average $2,572. That’s 3.69% of the state’s median household income of $65,003.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $1,982.
45. Kansas
Closing costs in the Sunflower State average $2,548. That’s 4.1% of the state’s median household income of $62,087.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,042.
44. Kentucky
Closing costs in the Bluegrass State average $2,229. That’s 4.26% of the state’s median household income of $52,295.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $1,887.
43. Nebraska
Closing costs in the Cornhusker State average $2,715. That’s 4.29% of the state’s median household income of $63,229.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,007.
42. Alaska
Closing costs in the Last Frontier average $2,442. That’s 4.56% of the state’s median household income of $75,463.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,582.
41. Alabama
Closing costs in the Yellowhammer State average $2,371. That’s 4.58% of the state’s median household income of $51,735.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $1,885.
40. Colorado
Closing costs in the Centennial State average $3,659. That’s 4.74% of the state’s median household income of $63,229.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,906.
39. North Carolina
Closing costs in the Tar Heel State average $2,803. That’s 4.89% of the state’s median household income of $57,341.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,776.
38. Wisconsin
Closing costs in the Badger State average $3,221. That’s 5.02% of the state’s median household income of $64,168.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $1,883.
37. Minnesota
Closing costs in the North Star State average $3,843. That’s 5.15% of the state’s median household income of $74,593.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,331.
36. Arkansas
Closing costs in the Natural State average $2,578. That’s 5.27% of the state’s median household income of $48,952.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $1,785.
35. Montana
Closing costs in the Treasure State average $3,021. That’s 5.29% of the state’s median household income of $57,153.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,496.
34. Oklahoma
Closing costs in the Sooner State average $2,943. That’s 5.41% of the state’s median household income of $54,449.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,511.
33. New Mexico
Closing costs in the Land of Enchantment average $2,825. That’s 5.44% of the state’s median household income of $51,945.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,676.
32. Mississippi
Closing costs in the Magnolia State average $2,578. That’s 5.63% of the state’s median household income of $45,792.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,016.
31. Ohio
Closing costs in the Buckeye State average $3,319. That’s 5.66% of the state’s median household income of $58,642.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,160.
30. Idaho
Closing costs in the Gem State average $3,544. That’s 5.81% of the state’s median household income of $60,999.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,789.
29. South Carolina
Closing costs in the Palmetto State average $3,269. That’s 5.81% of the state’s median household income of $56,227.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,944.
28. Georgia
Closing costs in the Peach State average $3,610. That’s 5.83% of the state’s median household income of $61,980.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,727.
27. Oregon
Closing costs in the Beaver State average $3,911. That’s 5.83% of the state’s median household income of $67,058.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $3,149.
26. Texas
Closing costs in the Lone Star State average $3,754. That’s 5.86% of the state’s median household income of $64,034.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $3,494.
25. Utah
Closing costs in the Beehive State average $4,612. That’s 6.09% of the state’s median household income of $74,780.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,157.
24. Maine
Closing costs in the Pine Tree State average $3,761. That’s 6.38% of the state’s median household income of $58,924.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $1,961.
23. Rhode Island
Closing costs in the Ocean State average $4,619. That’s 6.49% of the state’s median household income of $71,169.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $1,968.
22. Arizona
Closing costs in the Grand Canyon State average $4,190. That’s 6.75% of the state’s median household income of $62,055.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $1,662.
21. Tennessee
Closing costs in the Volunteer State average $3,790. That’s 6.76% of the state’s median household income of $56,071.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,080.
20. West Virginia
Closing costs in the Mountain State average $3,352. That’s 6.86% of the state’s median household income of $48,850.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $3,039.
19. Michigan
Closing costs in the Great Lake State average $4,211. That’s 7.07% of the state’s median household income of $59,584.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,844.
18. Louisiana
Closing costs in the Pelican State average $3,827. That’s 7.49% of the state’s median household income of $51,073.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,681.
17. Virginia
Closing costs in the Old Dominion average $6,186. That’s 8.09% of the state’s median household income of $76,456.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,735.
16. Massachusetts
Closing costs in the Bay State average $7,035. That’s 8.2% of the state’s median household income of $85,843.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,689.
15. California
Closing costs in the Golden State average $6,879. That’s 8.55% of the state’s median household income of $80,440.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $3,474.
14. Hawaii
Closing costs in the Aloha State average $7,127. That’s 8.58% of the state’s median household income of $83,102.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $4,154.
13. Nevada
Closing costs in the Silver State average $5,586. That’s 8.83% of the state’s median household income of $63,276.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,915.
12. New Jersey
Closing costs in the Garden State average $7,828. That’s 9.13% of the state’s median household income of $85,751.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $4,645.
11. Connecticut
Closing costs in the Constitution State average $7,303. That’s 9.26% of the state’s median household income of $78,833.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,717.
10. Illinois
Closing costs in the Prairie State average $6,530. That’s 9.44% of the state’s median household income of $69,187.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $1,955.
9. Vermont
Closing costs in the Green Mountain State average $5,947. That’s 9.44% of the state’s median household income of $63,001.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,387.
8. New Hampshire
Closing costs in the Granite State average $8,039. That’s 10.32% of the state’s median household income of $77,933.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,183.
7. Maryland
Closing costs in the Old Line State average $11,710. That’s 13.5% of the state’s median household income of $86,738.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $3,476.
6. Florida
Closing costs in the Sunshine State average $8,213. That’s 13.87% of the state’s median household income of $59,227.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $4,606.
5. Washington
Closing costs in the Evergreen State average $11,513. That’s 14.63% of the state’s median household income of $78,687.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $4,687.
4. Pennsylvania
Closing costs in the Keystone State average $9,437. That’s 14.87% of the state’s median household income of $63,463.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $6,376.
3. New York
Closing costs in the Empire State average $13,262. That’s 18.39% of the state’s median household income of $72,108.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $8,256.
2. Delaware
Closing costs in the First State average $17,727. That’s 25.26% of the state’s median household income of $70,176.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $2,676.
1. District of Columbia
Taking out a mortgage — or refinancing one — is least affordable in D.C. than any other state.
Closing costs in the Capitol average $29,330. That’s 31.79% of the state’s median household income of $92,266.
If you’re refinancing a mortgage, closing costs will average $13,722.
