15 standout metros for starter homes

Austin, Texas

• three-bedroom, two-bath single-family house
• 1,436 square feet
• Year built: 2004
• Price: $147,500

What it's like to live here:
Austin has a famous music scene and is a magnet for high-tech companies. It's the state capital and home to the University of Texas at Austin. The city has a diverse, highly educated population, a moderate climate and low crime for a big city.

Source: Rows 1-4: Sperling’s BestPlaces; *Median home prices from NAR; **Appreciation from Federal Housing and Finance Agency; cost of living is based on a U.S. average of 100

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Boise, Idaho

• three-bedroom, 1.75-bath, two-story single-family house
• 1,008 square feet
• Year built: 2008
• Price: $149,990

What it’s like to live here:
Boise, state capital and home to Boise State University, has grown 27% in the last 10 years. People are attracted by hiking, skiing, rafting and boating in the surrounding mountains, forests, rivers and lakes. Crime is low. The arts community is growing, and emphasis on local food and wine draws visitors, as does the Idaho Shakespeare Festival.

Fifty-seven percent of Boise votes Republican, 88% of residents are white and just 43% are affiliated with a religion. A large proportion — 4.3% — of Boise residents telecommute.

Source: Rows 1-4: Sperling’s BestPlaces; *Median home prices from NAR; **Appreciation from Federal Housing and Finance Agency

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Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y.

• five-bedroom, 2.5-bath, single-family Victorian
• 2,355 square feet
• Year built: 1910
• Price: $154,900

What it's like to live here:
When Bethlehem Steel closed its Buffalo plant in 1983, the city already was in trouble, with urban blight, poor schools, declining population and high unemployment. But many say Buffalo is coming back, with investments in the waterfront, a wind turbine factory at the old steel plant, affordable housing and a more diversified economy. Attractions: a citywide system of parks and greenways, tons of culture, 19^th-century architecture, rich ethnic food and traditions, State University of New York Buffalo and lots of fine old homes in 32 distinct neighborhoods.

Many (18%) residents have graduate degrees; 43% are single; and 68% identify with a religion, mostly Roman Catholicism.

Source: Rows 1-4: Sperling’s BestPlaces; *Median home prices from NAR; **Appreciation from Federal Housing and Finance Agency

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Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

• three-bedroom, one-bath single-family house
• 1,310 square feet
• Year built: 1958
• Price: $148,900

What it’s like to live here:
These twin cities are home to a smart, sophisticated bunch, with the 40,000-plus-student University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and many high-tech startup companies. Nearly 17% of residents have a graduate degree. Champaign houses offices for seven Fortune 500 companies. Its redeveloped downtown has restaurants, shopping, the arts and farmers markets. The cities are surrounded by farmland, parks and nature preserves.

Source: Rows 1-4: Sperling’s BestPlaces; *Median home prices from NAR; **Appreciation from Federal Housing and Finance Agency

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Colorado Springs, Colo.

• three-bedroom, two-bath single-family house
• 1,428 square feet
• Year built: 1939
• Price: $151,000

What it's like to live here:
The 14,115-foot Pike's Peak towers over Colorado Springs. There are caves, creeks, hot springs, bike trails, parks and mountains to explore. The city, just 61 miles south of Denver, is home to the U.S. Air Force Academy; several military installations, including Schriever and Peterson Air Force bases; and high-tech companies. It also is the headquarters of several religious organizations. The region is high (6,142 feet) and dry (less than 17 inches of rainfall annually), with 300 days of sunshine a year.

About 60% of residents vote Republican; 60% are married; 55% identify with a religion; and nearly 12% have a graduate degree.

Source: Rows 1-4: Sperling’s BestPlaces; *Median home prices from NAR; **Appreciation from Federal Housing and Finance Agency

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Columbia, S.C.

• three-bedroom, 1.5-bath single-family house
• 2,190  square feet
• Year built: 1920
• Price: $149,900

What it’s like to live here:
Scenic Columbia is a sophisticated city that retains much of the Old South. It's the state capital and is full of history, parks, culture, restaurants and nightlife. The city, built around three rivers, is home to the University of South Carolina and is consistently ranked high for affordability and quality of life.

Source: Rows 1-4: Sperling’s BestPlaces; *Median home prices from NAR; **Appreciation from Federal Housing and Finance Agency

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Fargo, N.D.-Minn.

• three-bedroom, 1.75-bath single-family house
• 1,008 square feet
• Year built: 1985
• Price: $149,990

What it's like to live here:
Fargo is cold in winter, with subzero temperatures and several feet of snow. The air is clean and the cost of living low. Growth has been slow and steady, so prices haven't dropped precipitously. While there are short sales and foreclosures on the market, they don't dominate, says Kay Nelson of Homesmart Realtors.

Source: Rows 1-4: Sperling’s BestPlaces; *Median home prices from NAR; **Appreciation from Federal Housing and Finance Agency

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Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas

• five-bedroom, 2.5-bath single-family house
• 2,323 square feet
• Year built: 1996
• Price: $155,000

What it's like to live here:
Houston has grown 19% since 2000. It's the fourth-biggest city in the country. The economy is based on energy and oil, aeronautics, manufacturing, health care and biotech. Houston has a vibrant arts district, a 17-block theater district and the most parks and green space of any American city. Still, home prices have remained affordable; Texas real-estate values didn't shoot up drastically in the boom and they haven't dropped hard, either.

Houston is diverse: 60% white and 17% African American; 34% of all the residents – of every race – claim some Hispanic heritage.

Source: Rows 1-4: Sperling’s BestPlaces; *Median home prices from NAR; **Appreciation from Federal Housing and Finance Agency

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Knoxville, Tenn.

• three-bedroom, two-bath single-family house
• 2,228 square feet
• Year built: 1915
• Price: $149,900

What it's like to live here:
Knoxville is Tennessee's third-largest city. It's home to the University of Tennessee's main campus. After Knoxville's textile industry collapsed, the city struggled. The economy is more stable today, thanks partly to music — old-time, bluegrass and country. There are performances, music festivals and a thriving opera company. Other attractions include lots of caverns, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and nearby Dollywood, entertainer Dolly Parton's theme park.

Source: Rows 1-4: Sperling’s BestPlaces; *Median home prices from NAR; **Appreciation from Federal Housing and Finance Agency

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Louisville-Jefferson County, Ky.-Ind.

• three-bedroom, two-bath single-family house
• 1,400 square feet
• Completed: April 2009
• Price: $150,000

What it's like to live here:
Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville is the home of the Kentucky Derby, and the city celebrates for two weeks leading up to the big race. Louisville is on the Ohio River. At last count, it had 124 parks, and the city is continuously working to add and preserve parks and green space. You can visit seven distilleries along the Urban Bourbon Trail to sample variations of Kentucky's famed liquor. There's live music and well-preserved historic homes, neighborhoods and commercial districts and the University of Louisville.

Voters are evenly split between Democrats and Republicans; 83% of residents are white, 13% are black. Louisville gets about 11 inches of snow, 45 inches of rain and 197 sunny days a year.

Source: Rows 1-4: Sperling’s BestPlaces; *Median home prices from NAR; **Appreciation from Federal Housing and Finance Agency

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Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa

• three-bedroom, three-bath single-family house
• 1,448 square feet
• Year built: 1969
• Price: $ 149,900

What it's like to live here:
Folks love Omaha. They rave not about the scenery or the nightlife but about the quality of life and the character of the people. "Omaha's a place where you can still do business on a handshake," says one resident.

It's cold in the winter, with about 26 inches of snow, on average. The median age is 35. About 59% of residents are married; 48% are affiliated with a religion.

Source: Rows 1-4: Sperling’s BestPlaces; *Median home prices from NAR; **Appreciation from Federal Housing and Finance Agency

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Pittsburgh

• two-bedroom, 1.5-bath single family house
• 1,344 square feet
• Year built: 1880
• Price: $155,000

What it's like to live here:
Pittsburgh is "the city of bridges." Downtown is built on the triangle formed where the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers meet and form the Ohio River. Another former Rust Belt city that fell on hard times, Pittsburgh today is reliant on a more diverse economy, centered on health care, education, financial services and technology. The city has long supported arts, music, theater, galleries and museums. There's a symphony orchestra and an opera company. The many neighborhoods have distinct character and handsome historic homes. The weather can be wet, with rain, snow and humid summers. The many colleges here include the University of Pittsburgh.

Nearly 57% of residents are married; the median age is 42. Voters tilt slightly in favor of the Democratic party.

Source: Rows 1-4: Sperling’s BestPlaces; *Median home prices from NAR; **Appreciation from Federal Housing and Finance Agency

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Salem, Ore.

• three-bedroom, two-bath single family house
• 971 square feet
• Year built: 2008
• Price: $149,900

What it's like to live here:
Salem, the capital of Oregon, is on the Willamette River and is home to Willamette University. Although Salem is south of Portland, Salem is cooler; it has an average of 51 inches of rain a year and 12 inches of snow. The rich and largely protected Willamette Valley agricultural area enjoys acclaim for its wine, cheese, fruit, nuts and vegetables. The city has a thriving farmers market, a film festival, repertory theater, a chamber orchestra and several museums. Crime is low. Salem has four correctional facilities, including Oregon's maximum security prison.  There are several large parks in and around the town.

Votes are split about evenly between Republicans and Democrats. Only 33% of residents claim a religion. The average age is 35. The city has a relatively large (4.6%) proportion of telecommuters.

Source: Rows 1-4: Sperling’s BestPlaces; *Median home prices from NAR; **Appreciation from Federal Housing and Finance Agency

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San Antonio, Texas

• four-bedroom, three-bath single-family house
• 2,367 square feet
• Year built: 1994
• Price: $149,000

What it's like to live here:
San Antonio's vivid history is very much alive. Nearly 53% of residents are Hispanic and many have roots in Mexico. It can be hot and humid here; the coolest temperatures are 40 degrees, on average. San Antonio is surrounded by four military bases, including Fort Sam Houston and Lackland Air Force Base. Crime is low, for a big city, and culture is everywhere. The city is famous for the River Walk, a riverside path lined with shops, galleries, patios, parks, cafes and restaurants – all one story below the main street.

About 60% of the people have a religious identity, mostly Roman Catholic. The median age is 34. Republican voters have a slight edge (51%).

Source: Rows 1-4: Sperling’s BestPlaces; *Median home prices from NAR; **Appreciation from Federal Housing and Finance Agency

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Spokane, Wash.

• four-bedroom, 1.75-bath single-family house
• Square feet 1,500
• Year built: 1914 (Remodeled 2006)
• Price: $153,000

What it's like to live here:
Spokane has a dry, often sunny climate, with around 18 inches of rain yearly and 20 inches of snow. Famous for their irreligious nature, Northwesterners are more likely to see the outdoors as their cathedral. Spokane is no exception: Just 34% of residents claim a religious affiliation. It's home to Gonzaga and Whitworth universities. High-tech and biotech companies are growing the economy, and the city has lots of lovely older homes.

Spokane voters are evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. Some 4.2% of residents telecommute.

Source: Rows 1-4: Sperling’s BestPlaces; *Median home prices from NAR; **Appreciation from Federal Housing and Finance Agency

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