Daytona Beach Faces Major Home Shortage for Middle-Income Buyers

Middle-income households are experiencing the most substantial supply gap in the housing market, with buyers earning approximately $75,000 able to afford homes up to about $261,140. Nationally, homes priced below this threshold constitute only about 23% of listings, a stark contrast to the 44% seen in a balanced market. This deficit translates to an estimated shortage of 311,000 listings accessible to these buyers, according to a joint analysis by Realtor.com® and the National Association of Realtors®. The issue is particularly acute in many metropolitan areas, with 36% of metros showing less than 70% alignment between available listings and the income ranges of potential buyers.

Daytona Beach, Florida, exemplifies this challenge, where middle-income earners encounter a pronounced scarcity of suitable housing options. The 2026 Housing Mismatch Report, a collaborative effort between Realtor.com® and the National Association of Realtors®, highlights that in March 2026, a mere 20.80% of listings in Daytona Beach were within the affordable range for individuals earning around $75,000. This figure represents a marginal improvement from the 16.90% recorded in March 2025, indicating persistent difficulties for this demographic.

The analysis reveals that Daytona Beach is currently missing an estimated 2,391 affordable listings, creating significant obstacles for prospective homeowners. The report also introduces the Listing-Income Alignment Score, a novel metric designed to offer a refined perspective on housing affordability by assessing the congruence between the distribution of available home listings and the income levels of the population. This score aims to provide a more accurate picture of market dynamics than traditional affordability discussions.