7 Surprising Cities Where LGBTQ+ Homebuyers Love To Live—That Are Still Affordable, Too

Most people know that America’s LGBTQ+ communities tend to thrive in big cities such as San Francisco, New York, Miami, and even Austin, TX, among others.

But home prices in those cities are not budget-friendly.

Median home prices in San Francisco are north of $1 million. New York’s list prices are nearly double the national figure, which is now at about $442,500. Austin is nearly 30% more expensive than the national average, and Miami is more than 20% more expensive.

So where can lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer home shoppers find an accepting, diverse community along with a friendly price point?

In celebration of Pride Month, the data team at Realtor.com® set out to learn what the data says about striking a balance between affordability and inclusivity. To do this, we used the U.S. Census Bureau’s same-sex couple data from the American Community Survey to find metro areas with same-sex couple composition above the national average.

Same-sex couples account for about 1 in every 19 unmarried, cohabitating couples and about 1 in every 93 married couples, as of the most recent census data, which goes through 2022. We narrowed our search by looking only for areas with a median list price below the national median of $442,500.

Finally, we checked the Human Rights Commission Municipal Equality Index Score for the largest city in the metro to make sure it had high marks in the group’s evaluation of “how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ+ people who live and work there.”

The results reveal some surprising trends about where affordable LGBTQ-friendly communities are emerging.

America’s affordable LGBTQ+ hot spots

Most notably, these communities are concentrated in the Sun Belt, with cities such as Tucson, AZ, and San Antonio, TX, making the cut. Two Florida metros, Gainesville and Tampa, also made the list. Though in Tampa, the most expensive place in our rankings, list prices are nearing the national median.

These places offer warm climates, which have long attracted newcomers from colder regions of the country, but these are also cities known for their vibrant cultural richness and a strong sense of community—and that’s on top of a price point that’s less expensive than average.

Another feature these cities have in common is that they’ve taken the lead on progressive policies ahead of broader adoption. The only Midwestern city on our list, Columbus, OH, is widely regarded as one of the most progressive cities in what is largely a conservative state.

Another good example is Tucson, which has seen LBGTQ+ representation and policies of inclusion for decades, notes Liane Wong, a real estate agent with Centra Realty in Tucson.

“Tucson was the first city in Arizona to have domestic partnerships. Since then, the mayor and council always support LGBTQ rights,” says Wong. “Tucson has a really strong sense of [LGBTQ] community. We have a lot of [LGBTQ] organizations that have been around for 30 to 40 years.”

Albuquerque, NM, according to Talia Freedman, the qualifying broker and owner of Talia Freedman and Co. real estate, has also become a refuge for people looking for a more inclusive environment.

“I and my brokers have multiple people moving here from other states, where there are extreme anti-trans, anti-queer laws. And they’re extremely eager to get out,” says Freedman. “It’s turning into a little bit of a safe haven.”

A small-to-medium-sized city in Central Florida might not be the first place to come to mind when thinking of LGBTQ-friendly markets. However, according to Lindsey Johnson, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Gainesville Realty Partners, Gainesville’s character is deeply influenced by the state university and a smaller college there.

“A big part of it is the fact that it is a university town. We have the University of Florida as well as Santa Fe College,” she says, noting that the areas around the schools have become the local epicenter for diversity. “I find generally when there’s that type of population, there’s more of a cultural melting pot.”

That cultural melange, Johnson says, extends beyond the college-aged population, creating a welcoming environment for people of any age.

“There are definitely clients who are looking for a place that is accepting and inclusive, and they find that here in Gainesville,” Johnson says. “Our community is a supportive place.”

Where inclusion and culture go hand in hand

The presence of a vibrant arts community also links these cities.  Tucson, Albuquerque, and similar cities are known for their robust cultural scenes and community activities, which often include strong support for the arts.

Within Albuquerque, Freedman points to Nob Hill, where the city’s Pride Parade will be this year.

“They go all out there,” Freedman says. “It’s full of cute little galleries, stores, awesome restaurants, and lots of inclusivity.”

These cities also offer a blend of urban amenities and outdoor activities. Tucson, for instance, boasts the scenic beauty of the Sonoran Desert, providing a distinctive natural backdrop that appeals to many.

“The Sonoran Desert is a unique environment, and you cannot really find the plants and the wildlife that are here,” says Gabrielle Feinholtz, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Realty in Tucson.

She also notes the city’s tremendous food scene combined with authenticity and low costs.

“We are a foodie city, big-time, and it’s affordable,” she says. “You can go to little restaurants and get unique tacos, and it’s not going to cost you half of your rent to go out to dinner.”

Here’s our list of metros where home prices are still more affordable than average, and which welcome diversity and inclusion.

Estimated same-sex couple composition: 1 in every 13 couples
Median list price: $348,262
Human Rights Commission Municipal Equality Index Score: 100 (out of 100)

Estimated same-sex couple composition: 1 in every 11 couples
Median list price: $362,300
Human Rights Commission Municipal Equality Index Score: 90

Estimated same-sex couple composition: 1 in every 13 couples
Median list price: $402,450
Human Rights Commission Municipal Equality Index Score: 100

Estimated same-sex couple composition: 1 in every 13 couples
Median list price: $403,876
Human Rights Commission Municipal Equality Index Score: 100

Estimated same-sex couple composition: 1 in every 11 couples
Median list price: $423,913
Human Rights Commission Municipal Equality Index Score: 100

Estimated same-sex couple composition: 1 in every 11 couples
Median list price: $423,950
Human Rights Commission Municipal Equality Index Score: 100

Estimated same-sex couple composition: 1 in every 11 couples
Median list price: $425,000
Human Rights Commission Municipal Equality Index Score: 100