West Virginia stands out as the cheapest state to buy a house in the United States, boasting a statewide median home price hovering around $170,000, which is less than half the national median. Appalachian scenery, low population density, and affordable cost of living drive these low values, though economic opportunities outside healthcare and education can be limited. Other highly affordable states include Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, where lower median incomes and rural housing markets keep entry costs well below national averages.