You Can Live in a Mansion for Under $1 Million in These Cities

First, what actually qualifies as a mansion? According to Zillow, based on national averages a mansion is a home with upwards of 5,000 square feet of living space. No surprise, buying that much house is going to cost you, with the median price of $1.4 million dollars nationwide. But just as real estate markets vary in every city and state, so too do the prices of these mega-sized properties.

In a survey of the 50 largest metropolitan areas, Zillow found four where the average cost of a 5,000-square-foot home is under seven figures and, in one case, significantly so. Near the top of this budget (if you will) mansion list is Cleveland, OH; Indianapolis, IN; and Memphis, TN, all with median mansion prices in the mid-to-high $900,000s. But for the most bang for your buck, head to Buffalo, NY where the same sized home averages only $825,500.

On the other end of the spectrum, of course, you’ll find some markets where even a mini mansion is going to cost well above that $1.4 million average. In fact, four cities in California all break the $4 million mark: San Diego at $4.6 million, Los Angeles at $4.7 million, San Francisco at $4.9 million and tech hub San Jose at a whopping average of $6.5 million. California’s major markets aside, you’ll find Miami, Seattle and Phoenix ranging between $3.7 million and $2.9 million.

“Home prices surged during the pandemic, pushing even starter homes into million‑dollar territory in hundreds of cities,” said Kara Ng, senior economist at Zillow. “Especially on the coasts, champagne tastes require champagne budgets. But in some parts of the country, a million dollars still buys serious square footage. More room to roam, including outdoor space, became a must-have during the pandemic, and those preferences have held true.”

And just as home values tend to rise over time, the same holds true with mansions, too. As of June 2021, over 45 percent of mansions in the U.S. fell under $1 million. In 2025, that number has shrunk to just over 30 percent.

If you’re looking to live large, you might want to head to cities in the Midwest or South where there are a greater amount of mansions for sale under $1 million from a sheer numbers standpoint. Atlanta reigns supreme with 21,000 available homes meeting those metrics. However, with more space can come increased maintenance costs as well as longer or more difficult resale processes as you search for your uniquely large home’s next would-be buyer.

But if you’re willing to live a little less large, Zillow points out that, in 21 of the 50 biggest markets, a quarter of eligible mansion-sized homes fall under $1 million. In the aforementioned Buffalo, these “starter mansions” (yes, we just said starter mansions) can even be found for under $500K. Who knew affluence could be so affordable?