What’s The Average Down Payment On A House?

If you’re thinking about buying a home, you may assume you need a 20% down payment. But while that number has been considered the standard for many years, most mortgages don’t require a full 20% down — and it’s definitely not typical for first-time homebuyers. Here’s what to know when setting your down payment–savings goal.

What is the average down payment on a house?

National Association of Realtors data shows that, in 2025, the median down payment for all U.S. homebuyers was 19%.

But if you dig a bit deeper, that figure varies quite a bit based on a buyer’s history. Repeat buyers — those who have previously owned a home — made a median down payment of 23%, while the median for first-time buyers was just 10%. On a home costing $414,900, the median sale price at the end of the year, that’s a significant difference of $95,427 for repeat buyers versus $41,490 for first-timers.

The housing market is constantly evolving, and so is the typical down payment. As you can see on the chart below, property values have soared in recent years; typically, as the price of a home rises, so must the amount people tend to put down on their mortgages.

Average vs. median down payment

While you might be searching for the average down payment on a house, most housing experts focus on the median. Why? The median — which is the middle value in a data set — is a better indicator of what’s typical. The average, on the other hand, can be skewed by a small number of borrowers making unusually high or unusually low down payments.

Down payments by state

• Explore median down payments by state

  State	Median down payment (July 2025)
  Alabama	$37,300
  Alaska	N/A
  Arizona	$68,500
  Arkansas	$29,200
  California	$160,600
  Colorado	$118,544
  Connecticut	$90,225
  Delaware	$75,000
  District of Columbia	$250,000
  Florida	$60,000
  Georgia	$50,000
  Hawaii	$820,000
  Idaho	$67,900
  Illinois	$40,000
  Indiana	$48,542
  Iowa	$30,000
  Kansas	$71,250
  Kentucky	$34,250
  Louisiana	$21,825
  Maine	$71,300
  Maryland	$79,500
  Massachusetts	$139,750
  Michigan	$33,000
  Minnesota	$55,000
  Mississippi	$15,800
  Missouri	$36,250
  Montana	N/A
  Nebraska	$41,987
  Nevada	$75,000
  New Hampshire	$99,000
  New Jersey	$118,500
  New Mexico	$59,625
  New York	$82,525
  North Carolina	$64,000
  North Dakota	$33,106
  Ohio	$31,425
  Oklahoma	$27,600
  Oregon	$94,000
  Pennsylvania	$47,000
  Rhode Island	$89,400
  South Carolina	$58,870
  South Dakota	$46,875
  Tennessee	$50,000
  Texas	$15,000
  Utah	$202,000
  Vermont	N/A
  Virginia	$72,000
  Washington	$126,000
  West Virginia	$20,944
  Wisconsin	$50,000
  Wyoming	N/A
  Note: Data was unavailable for Alaska, Montana, Vermont and Wyoming.	Source: ATTOM

Down payment requirements for different mortgage types

The minimum amount you’ll need for a down payment depends on the cost of the home and the type of mortgage you have. The requirements range from no down payment at all to 10% or more. Here’s an overview of the most common loan types and their minimum down payments:

Average down payment by age

In general, the younger the buyer, the smaller the down payment. Older buyers are more likely to be able to sell a previous home to fund a down payment or have had more working years in which to save up for the purchase. Here is the typical down payment on a house by age group:

How much does a down payment on a house cost?

Making the minimum down payment is always an option, but there are benefits to putting down more. The larger your down payment, the less you’ll need to borrow and the lower your monthly payments and total interest costs will be. You’ll also be more likely to get a better interest rate on your mortgage with a larger down payment. And it translates into more equity in the home to start — a tappable asset, as well as a potential safeguard against any decline in home value.

Although 20% is not technically required by lenders, if you can put that amount down on a conventional mortgage, you’ll avoid paying for private mortgage insurance (PMI), which is an extra charge tacked onto your monthly payment until you reach 20% equity.

If you’re struggling to save for a down payment, look into down payment assistance programs in your area. Many cities, counties and states offer loans and grants to help you cover down payment or closing costs, so you won’t need to pay as much out of pocket.

Ultimately, whether you decide to put down more than the minimum depends on your finances and what will make you feel most comfortable. If you’ve been renting for a while and have limited savings, pulling together the minimum down payment might be preferable to continuing to rent, especially if your housing needs have changed. Buying a home sooner rather than later also moves you into wealth-building territory more quickly, acquiring an asset you can pass down to future generations.

Down payment examples

We’ve done the math to help you estimate your down payment at various price points.

FAQs

• Can I avoid paying PMI without making a 20% down payment?
  

  If you’re putting down less than 20% on a conventional loan, you won’t be able to completely avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI). Some mortgage lenders do offer “no-PMI” options, but you will pay a higher interest rate, which could end up costing you more over time.

  Another possible solution: a piggyback mortgage. You’ll finance 80% of the home’s price with one mortgage, take out a second mortgage for another 10%, and then come up with the remaining 10% in cash. That second mortgage, plus your 10% contribution, in effect gives you a 20% down payment — so you avoid PMI.

  If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you might get a break on PMI, anyway. Many first-time buyer programs come with reduced premiums.

• How can I fund a down payment?
  

  In addition to using your own money from savings or investments to cover a down payment, you can also use gift funds from a friend, relative or other source. If using a gift to cover part of the down payment, be prepared to show a lender documentation that the money truly is a gift and doesn’t need to be repaid. There are also plenty of down payment assistance programs out there, typically geared toward first-time and low- to moderate-income buyers. Some assistance can even come in the form of a grant or a forgivable loan, which means you never need to repay the money.

Additional reporting by Maya Dollarhide