Rank: 20

Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro (Minn.-Wis.)
Own/rent ratio: 145%
Annual cost to own: $15,564
Annual cost to rent: $10,716

The Twin Cities region was the 16th-largest in the country in 2007, with a population of 3.2 million. It had an unemployment rate of 8.5% in June, and 1 in 90 houses received at least one foreclosure notice in the first half of the year, according to RealtyTrac. The University of Minnesota is in the area, as well as headquarters for General Mills.