WASHINGTON — Single women accounted for more than one in 10 home purchase mortgages nationwide in 2025, with affordability emerging as a key factor in determining where they were most likely to buy homes, according to a new analysis by Mortgage Research Network.
The study found that nearly 360,000 women under age 45 purchased homes on their own last year, representing 11.4% of all home purchase loans nationwide. Mortgage Research Network analyzed Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data across the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas and found significant differences in homeownership rates among single female buyers depending on location.
“Where women are buying on their own varies dramatically by market, and affordability appears to be one of the strongest drivers,” Tim Lucas, lead analyst and author of the report, said in the study.
According to Mortgage Research Network, single women purchased homes at nearly twice the rate in the highest-ranked metropolitan areas compared with the lowest-ranked markets. In the top five metros, single female buyers accounted for an average of 15.8% of purchase mortgages, compared with 7.6% across the bottom five markets.
Affordable Markets Lead Rankings
The analysis found that more affordable housing markets tended to have the highest concentrations of single female homebuyers.
New Orleans ranked first among the nation’s largest metropolitan areas, with single women accounting for 17.4% of home purchase mortgages, according to Mortgage Research Network. Hartford followed at 16.2%, while Buffalo, Baltimore and Birmingham rounded out the top five.
The average home value across the top 10 metropolitan areas was approximately $309,000, the report said. By comparison, the average home value across the bottom 10 markets exceeded $818,000.
The Role of Costs
Many of the nation’s most expensive housing markets ranked near the bottom of the list. Mortgage Research Network found that San Jose ranked last, with single women accounting for just 6.5% of purchase mortgages. San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle also ranked among the lowest-performing metropolitan areas.
The findings underscore ongoing concerns within the housing industry that affordability challenges continue to limit homeownership opportunities for many first-time and single-income buyers, even as demand for homeownership remains strong.
Income Gap Persists
While affordability plays a significant role in determining where single women purchase homes, Mortgage Research Network found that income remains a major factor in who is able to buy.
In the highest-ranked metropolitan areas, single female homebuyers generally earned substantially more than the typical single woman living in those markets.
In New Orleans, for example, the median income of a single female homebuyer was $74,000, compared with approximately $36,000 for single women overall in the market, according to the report.
Other Disparities
Similar income disparities were found in other top-ranked metropolitan areas, suggesting that women purchasing homes on their own often have earnings well above local averages. Nationally, the median income for single female homebuyers was $112,000, Mortgage Research Network reported.
The report said the findings highlight a continuing challenge for lenders and housing advocates, as both income and housing affordability remain key determinants of homeownership opportunities.
Regional Differences Emerge
Mortgage Research Network found that affordable markets in the South, Midwest and Northeast dominated the rankings.
Eight of the top 10 metropolitan areas were located in the South or Midwest, while Pittsburgh and Philadelphia also ranked among the strongest markets for single female homebuyers.
Several Sun Belt markets that had previously attracted buyers with lower housing costs ranked much lower. According to the report, Phoenix finished 44th nationally, while Dallas ranked 39th, suggesting that rising home prices may be limiting opportunities for single-income purchasers.
