A NEW report shows the great Australian dream of home ownership is drifting further from reach for a growing number of Bendigonians.
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The 12th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey 2016 ranks the affordability of markets in nine countries.
They include Australia, Canada, China (including Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom and United States.
Rankings are calculated using the median house price and median household income.
According to the newly released report, Bendigo, with a median house price of $340,000 and median income of $56,300, ranks equal 30th in the most affordable cities and towns in Australia.
The ranking puts Bendigo on par with Darwin, which has a median house price of $629,000.
Looking for Australia's most affordable housing?
The report says that can be found in Karratha, Western Australia, where the median house price is $440,000 compared to a median household income of $174,800.
Karratha is equal 23rd in housing affordability among all nine nations.
Well-off Western Australians are finding housing affordable elsewhere in Kalgoorlie, where the average house costs an attractive $350,000 on an average $120,000 family wage.
Brisbane ranks top among capital cities, with a $480,000 average house price an average income of $78,600.
But that's only enough for an equal 32nd ranking in Australia, below that of Bendigo.
The Queensland cities of Gladstone, Mackay and Rockhampton rank third through to equal fifth, with Port Hedland (WA), Bunbury (WA), Latrobe (Victoria), Mount Gambier (SA) and Townsville comprising the top 10.
If a sea-change or tree-change isn't your thing, perhaps a move overseas might be the go.
The report suggests Ireland is the place to be with Limerick and Waterford tops for housing affordability.
While many associate Limerick with a naughty poem, medieval poems and pub crawls, it's housing affordability that's king.
With a median household income of 51,200 pounds, you can expect the average house to cost 92,800 pounds.
For markets over 100,000 people, Buffalo, New York - a mere 30 minutes from the majestic Niagara Falls - rates as the survey's most affordable.
For your average household income of $51,800, the average house would cost $136,800.
The Queen City Cincinnati and its Ohio counterpart Cleveland -home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – make up the top three.
