15 Things You Can Buy With the Average Social Security Check

The Average Mortgage in Ohio or West Virginia

Ohio and West Virginia have the lowest average monthly mortgage payments in the country at $793 and $796, respectively, according to a study. However, lenders usually limit your monthly mortgage payment to 28 percent of your monthly income — which means that if the average $1,301.59 Social Security check is your only income, your mortgage payment shouldn’t be more than $364.45.

So, even with an inexpensive mortgage in Ohio, you’d still need more than double the average Social Security benefit to reasonably afford your payments. On the other end of the spectrum, a mortgage in Washington, D.C., or Hawaii will run you $2,718 and $2,916, respectively.