Inflation is hammering people across the globe, and that includes the United States.
With gas, food and other prices skyrocketing, many Americans have been forced to tighten their belts or, in some cases, seek out cheaper pastures. People have been migrating south and west — or east if they live on the West Coast — in search of a cheaper cost of living and more mild weather. Plus, with the rise in remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic and few affordable housing options in major markets, there’s never been a better time to move.
But what cities will give you the most bang for your buck? There is no shortage of options, but here’s a look at the 25 most affordable places to live in the United States in 2022, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Looking to buy a home? Check out BEX Realty to search real estate listings, find condos and homes for sale, and work with their unequalled realtors and concierge service throughout the home buying process.
What Makes Syracuse So Affordable
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Syracuse, like Baton Rouge, is a college town with extreme weather. Located in Central New York, almost exactly between Albany and Buffalo, Syracuse gets some of the most intense winters in the U.S., which drives people away from living there year-round.
That is why median housing costs are far lower than the national average despite a surplus of things to do, including entertainment, minor-league sports — and Division 1 sports at Syracuse University — and culture, too.
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What Makes Youngstown So Affordable
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Youngstown’s affordability stems from its significantly below-average median housing prices — which as of 2022 sit at less than $100,000. Yet, like Syracuse, the winters can be cruel, as Youngstown sits about halfway between Pittsburgh and Cleveland, where temps average about 28 degrees Fahrenheit every day in the winter.
Youngstown is an older city, whose median age is about 40 but is also mostly single people — 51 percent of the city’s population is unmarried.
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What Makes Louisville So Affordable
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Louisville is one of the most unique cities in the nation, with museums, a college, a legendary horse racetrack and much more inside its city limits. Plus, Louisville has a significantly below-market median housing average — we’re talking about half the average price of homes in the U.S. right now.
The city consists of mostly middle-aged people, and although it does get snow, is milder than other cities on the list.
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What Makes Greenville So Affordable
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As stated above, South Carolina is attracting retirees and others in search of lower costs of living with a friendly tax policy. Greenville is just 30 miles west of Spartanburg yet has a substantially higher median house price cost; however, its median home price is still below the national average.
Greenville has attracted corporations like Michelin and GE, which further drives down taxes in the city, yet it does also have a lower-than-average median salary. Still, it seems to be a great place for married families since more than 52 percent of the city is made up of wedded couples.
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What Makes Omaha So Affordable
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Omaha has a lot going on. It is a college town, home to Creighton University and the University of Nebraska-Omaha, which adds culture and things to do. It also has a lower-than-average median rent price and housing cost.
Nebraskans face fees and taxes for owning cars, which dents the cost of living in the state, yet Omaha makes up for it with its average annual salary of about $50,000, which is better than other comparably sized markets.
Looking to buy a home? Check out BEX Realty to search real estate listings, find condos and homes for sale, and work with their unequalled realtors and concierge service throughout the home buying process.
What Makes Fayetteville So Affordable
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Fayetteville is the home of the University of Arkansas and also sits within striking distance of the corporate offices for Walmart in Bentonville and Tyson Foods in Springdale. Thus, U.S. News & World Report ranks the area as the No. 4 place to live in the United States.
It has reasonably priced housing and rents, and although median salaries are below comparably sized markets, it has a low unemployment rate, too.
Looking to buy a home in Fayetteville? Check out BEX Realty to search real estate listings, find condos and homes for sale, and work with their unequalled realtors and concierge service throughout the home buying process.
What Makes Pittsburgh So Affordable
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Pittsburgh has evolved from a steel city into a tech metropolis that has made it the envy of other midwestern cities. The city is highly walkable, and although its housing market is blowing up, Pittsburgh’s average rent and median house price are still far below the national average.
In short, Pittsburgh is a great, affordable place to live, but that could change in the next decade.
Looking to buy a home in Pittsburgh? Check out BEX Realty to search real estate listings, find condos and homes for sale, and work with their unequalled realtors and concierge service throughout the home buying process.
What Makes South Bend So Affordable
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South Bend is famously home to the University of Notre Dame and is just a two-hour drive to Chicago, which gives residents strong cultural options when looking for things to do during their downtime.
Plus, Indiana, which has three cities in the top-12 on this list, is tax-friendly and cheap for those who choose to live there. South Bend, despite its higher-than-average unemployment rate, has low median rent costs and an average house price that is far below the national average, which makes it a financially friendly place to live.
Looking to buy a home in South Bend? Check out BEX Realty to search real estate listings, find condos and homes for sale, and work with their unequalled realtors and concierge service throughout the home buying process.
What Makes Green Bay So Affordable
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Make no mistake, Green Bay is cold. It sits on its own Green Bay portion of Lake Michigan, which accounts for snow and frigid winds that make the winters treacherous. Still, the city has low costs of housing, with median rents and home prices far below the national average, despite the fact it has an unemployment rate that is above the national average.
The NFL’s Packers obviously give the city added self-esteem, and it is about two hours from Madison, Milwaukee or Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and only about four hours from the Twin Cities, which makes summer getaways a snap.
Looking to buy a home in Green Bay? Check out BEX Realty to search real estate listings, find condos and homes for sale, and work with their unequalled realtors and concierge service throughout the home buying process.
What Makes Des Moines So Affordable
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Des Moines is the capital of Iowa and is a much smaller metro market than places like St. Louis, Kansas City or even Omaha, which means it has a far cheaper cost of living. Des Moines’ average home price is about $50,000 cheaper than the median national average, has slightly below-average rent costs and a low unemployment rate, especially in the city’s downtown area.
Still, like most areas on this list, the region is quickly growing, which means get in if you’re interested while it’s still affordable.
Looking to buy a home in Des Moines? Check out BEX Realty to search real estate listings, find condos and homes for sale, and work with their unequalled realtors and concierge service throughout the home buying process.
What Makes Hickory So Affordable
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Hickory sits at the start of the Smoky Mountains, about an hour north of Charlotte and east of Asheville, which are each growing at an incredible rate. Hickory has below-median wages but also far-below-average home and rent prices, although new construction has been tricky given the plethora of state and federally held lands.
The region is booming though as northerners migrate south looking for warmer weather, a cheaper cost of living and a slower lifestyle.
Looking to buy a home in Hickory? Check out BEX Realty to search real estate listings, find condos and homes for sale, and work with their unequalled realtors and concierge service throughout the home buying process.
What Makes Quad Cities So Affordable
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It might seem odd to have a region that spans multiple states on the list, but here we are. Despite higher-than-average taxes in each state, the Quad Cities region boasts substantially below-average rental prices thanks to a small metro population of about 400,000 as of May 2022.
The region has a thriving arts and entertainment scene though, which is buoyed by the TaxSlayer Center, a 12,000-seat arena that hosts concerts plus a minor-league hockey team and arena football team.
Looking to buy a home? Check out BEX Realty to search real estate listings, find condos and homes for sale, and work with their unequalled realtors and concierge service throughout the home buying process.
What Makes Fort Wayne So Affordable
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The median salary in Fort Wayne is less than the national average, but the metro area counters this with its very low cost of living, including cheap median housing costs that are more than half of the national average plus rent costs that are far below the median in the United States.
Fort Wayne does have an above-average unemployment rate but sits about 160 miles from midwest metropoles Detroit, Chicago and Columbus, and it’s 120 miles from Indianapolis, giving families and those interested in long-weekending a collection of great options.
Looking to buy a home in Fort Wayne? Check out BEX Realty to search real estate listings, find condos and homes for sale, and work with their unequalled realtors and concierge service throughout the home buying process.
What Makes Huntsville So Affordable
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Huntsville, according to U.S. News and World Report, is the No. 3 place to live in America thanks in part to its remarkably low cost of living. Housing prices are about half of the national average, and median rents are about $200 per month less costly than those in the United States; plus, the city has a below-average unemployment rate.
Huntsville is a college town that’s also home to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Huntsville is growing quickly, mostly with married couples and families, which make up 52 percent of the demographic, but should remain among the most affordable cities for years to come.
Looking to buy a home in Huntsville? Check out BEX Realty to search real estate listings, find condos and homes for sale, and work with their unequalled realtors and concierge service throughout the home buying process.
