Top 10 Most Affordable Cities in the US To Move To Now:-People left big cities for cheaper, larger homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, more people left New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago than moved there, citing affordability, according to the National Association of Realtors. Redfin reported that only 21% of U.S. homes for sale were affordable in 2022, a record low. However, affordability goes beyond housing. How grocery and transport costs compare to average income can make one area more or less affordable.
The Guides Team examined 2023 U.S. city affordability. We ranked 223 of the largest U.S. cities by income, housing, transportation, and other cost of living factors. See our methodology for data and source details.
Top 10 Most Affordable Cities in the US To Move To Now
1. Green Bay, WI.
- Our study found Green Bay, 120 miles north of Milwaukee, to be the most affordable.
- The median monthly rent in Green Bay, Wisconsin, was $870 in March 2023, 10th lowest among 223 cities.
- Green Bay has affordable groceries, clothing, entertainment, and other goods.
- According to recent cost of living data from the Council for Community and Economic Research (CCER), groceries and miscellaneous goods in Green Bay are 15% and 12% lower than the national average.
2. Wichita.
- Wichita, Kan., is the second-cheapest U.S. city. Its low average monthly rent ($971) and affordable transport (gas and public transit) rank highest among the seven metrics we considered.
- More than 13% cheaper than the national average, Wichita transport. The low median home sales price of $210,000 in March 2023 is also appealing to Wichita homebuyers.
3. Rapid City.
- Pennington County, which includes Rapid City, South Dakota, had the lowest March 2023 unemployment rate (1.5%) in this study. Rapid City has the 10th cheapest transport (nearly 15% lower than the national average) and rent compared to other cities.
- Rapid City’s median monthly rent for all homes and apartments was $1,278 in March 2023.
4. Springfield, Il.
- Springfield is in the top 50 U.S. cities for four metrics. It has the 21st-lowest median home price ($139,000) and 30th-lowest median rent ($1,034).
- Like Green Bay, Springfield has lower prices on groceries and other goods than most places. Groceries are 8.1% cheaper than the national average, and miscellaneous goods are 13.4% cheaper, according to CCER data.
5. Broken Arrow, OK.
- Broken Arrow is a cheap town in northeast Oklahoma’s Tulsa County.
- Broken Arrow has the highest median household income of the top 10 cities at $102,700.
- Broken Arrow has a higher median home sales price than other cities in our top 10, but residents with high incomes can afford it.
Also Read:-Top 10 Best Emotional Support Dog Breeds
Top 10 Most Affordable Cities in the US To Move To Now
6. Jackson, Miss.
- Jackson, Miss., has much lower housing costs than the nation.
- The median March 2023 home sale price was $120,000, and the median monthly rent was $1,065.
- Jackson’s home prices and rents are 15th and 34th lowest, respectively. End-of-2022 CCER data shows Jackson transport prices are 12.8% lower than national prices.
7. Alexandria, LA.
- Our third Southern city is Alexandria, La.
- Alexandria has the lowest median home sale price in our study, $64,000. Renters pay $1,100 per month on average.
- Transport in Alexandria is 11.5% lower than the national average.
8. Iowa City
- Iowa City was the first capital until 1857, when Des Moines took over.
- The Old Capitol Building and University of Iowa Art Museum are among the city’s cultural landmarks.
- Additionally, it is affordable.
- Median monthly rent is under $1,200, $800 below the national average.
- Groceries and transport are 11% and 7% cheaper than U.S. averages.
9. Manchester, NH
- Manchester, N.H., may be affordable for New Englanders.
- At $81,900, the median household income is in the top third of cities, and unemployment is 2.3%. Manchester has the lowest cost of miscellaneous goods and services (12.2% lower than the national average) of the three criteria we considered outside of housing.
10. Sioux City
- Sioux City, Iowa, and Manchester, New Hampshire, are the ninth-most affordable U.S. cities in 2023.
- Nearly 300 miles west of Iowa City, Sioux City borders Nebraska and South Dakota.
- Food and other miscellaneous goods and services are 23rd- and 44th-lowest in Sioux City, compared to all other cities.
- Recent estimates put Sioux City’s median home sales price at $202,000, nearly $200,000 below the national average.
If you like this article about Top 10 Most Affordable Cities in the US To Move To Now Please share this article with your friends and family members.