First, theres the higher education rate, which drives success in the overall Best Places to Live ranking, Best for Young Professionals, Best for Families and Best for Retirees, said Bell. Folks in Indiana also pay around average for transportation and utilities. Next up, Arkansas! This can present a challenge in politics, especially for the residents who may hold opinions different from those around them. We hope this guide of the 12 most affordable states will help you narrow down your search. Where St. Paul Park stands out in cost of living metrics housing costs, which are considerably less than the national average. Heres how Michigans housing prices and job market compare nationally: Michigan is known for its auto industry, the Great Lakes and winter sportsMichiganders love ice fishing, skiing and hockey. Your home will cost about one-sixth as much in the Midwestern Manhattan as it would on the famous island back east. What is the biggest continent? But they're running about 20% less than in California. WebHeres a quick look at the most liberal states of the list: Hawaii; California; Massachusetts; For more reading, check out: Best Cities In America To Raise A Family; Worst Places To Massachusetts is also the home state of well-known politicians such as Elizabeth Warren, Michael Dukakis, Jill Stein, and the Kennedys. In the 2016 presidential election, 47.9% of Maine voted Democratic, while 44.9% voted Republican. In the 2016 presidential election, 50.1% of voters voted Democratic while 39.1% voted Republican. A New York-style pie will cost you 25% less than it would in Rochester, New York, here in America's cheapest state to live in. Michigan 13. And while its cost of living averages about 23% higher than the national average, College Park is a significantly less expensive place to live than nearby Washington, Arlington, or Alexandria. Bonus points of close to nature, and walkable. 2022 Cost of Living Score: 49 out of 50 points (Top States Grade: A+). Web20 Most Affordable States 1. Now that you know which states are the most affordable, lets explore how each states cost of living, income and unemployment rate compare to the U.S. average. Atlanta drives that number down a bit, with a cost of living thats 2%higherthan average. Living costs for this politically liberal town average about 12% higher than the national average but 17% lower than the Massachusetts average. Fort Waynewhich was the cheapest place to live in 2022went down several slots this year. The first step is to get a great real estate agent on your side, and thats where our RamseyTrusted agents come into play. Located about two hours inland from Boston, South Hadley is a charming town known for its museums and arts culture, the nearby mountain range, and an affordable cost of living. For affordability and housing, Pennsylvania delivers. A new report from Niche, a data-driven platform with ratings and reviews of cities across America, has the answers. With an extremely low housing cost index of 61.1, you can expect to buy a home at a median price of $140,800. In this article, FortuneBuilders navigates the cheapest states to live in 2022, what determines state affordability, as well as a few of the most expensive states to live in. With an overall cost of living score of 89.4, you are likely to find a very affordable home in this Southeastern state. The biggest difference in cost is housing, which averages a whopping 249% higher than the U.S. average and 76.4% higher than the Massachusetts average. How about a mountain of Southern fried chicken in The Mountain State? More:What is the most spoken language in the world 2022? Part college town and part beach town, Santa Cruz has long attracted hippies and other Progressive folks. Students at nearby Smith College can expect to spend about 8% more on necessities than the rest of the country but about 20% less than other students in Massachusetts. Located in the greater Washington, D.C. area, College Park is a beautiful historic town with a vibrant local arts scene, a pedestrian-friendly downtown, and stunning views of the Potomac River. Nebraska 19. The Hospitality State has a median home value of $128,600, and renters enjoy a low monthly expense of $612 for a one-bedroom apartment. All Rights Reserved. Approximately 79% of Oaklands residents vote Democrat. However, any of the twelve states that made it into our rankings will offer you significant savings. Heres how Mississippis housing prices, income and job market compare to the rest of the U.S.: *Median monthly rents refer to two-bedroom apartments. WebHere is a list of the 10 cheaper states to live in the U.S. in 2023: Mississippi (84.9) Oklahoma (85.7) Kansas (86.4) Alabama (87.5) Georgia (87.8) West Virginia (88.5) It has state parks, museums, aquariums and random historical sites, like the place where Grant Wood paintedAmerican Gothicyou know, the couple holding the pitchfork. The latest real estate investing content delivered straight to your inbox. Thats why weve researched to find the 30 most affordable politically liberal college towns. Even in a college town like Ames, renting an apartment won't blow away your budget. Oklahoma 4. Now that weve explored some of the cheapest states to live in, its smart to also consider the other side of the coin. Outdoor-loving college students are sure to love living in Boulder. These Nashville prices will be music to your ears. But an influx of out of state residents as well as an emerging number of lower At 66.7, its housing cost index is the cheapest in the country. Idaho 20. Located near the Twin Cities, Northfield, Minnesota, is home to Carleton College and St. Olaf College. Most of Marylands liberal base is in the Washington D.C. metro area and Baltimore. If you want to lower your living costs but want to live in a big city, Indiana could be a great option. Massachusetts is the most liberal state in the U.S., with 35% of voters identifying as liberal. Healthcare, utilities, transportation, and entertainment costs all hover slightly above the national average. To put that into perspective, a one-bedroom apartment in Ann Arbor rents for around $1,063 per month. A one-bedroom apartment in Claremont costs an average of $1,560 per month. With 28% of voters identifying as conservative, Vermont has a liberal advantage of 4 points, the third-highest country. I dont want to move to a red area of the country; or at least, not a state with a red government. "dateModified": "2022-06-23" All rights reserved. Distance also matters. Brownsville, Texas has been named the cheapest place to live in the US. America's Top States for Business 2022: The full rankings, By putting partisanship aside, North Carolina ranks No. Its got one of the lowest health care costs in the country17% below average! The state has one of the highest rate of poverty in the U.S. Even its higher cost of living approximately 67% higher than the national average doesnt dull Boulders shine. Housing here is right on par with the national average, while costs for food, healthcare, utilities, transportation, and entertainment hover just above. Georgia is next up on our list. WebLast but not least, Kentucky is one of the cheapest states to live in the U.S. To find the states with the lowest cost of living, we look at the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). Arkansas 6. Their Cost of Living Index is a well-regarded and often-cited resource for comparing living costs from state to state. Cambridge, Massachusetts, which was named the best city in America for young professionals. Florida saw approximately That said Im not a tech bro or doctor so I cant live in San Diego or Boston. However, students living off-campus should be prepared for living costs averaging slightly higher than the norm. Average costs for food, utilities, transportation, healthcare, and entertainment all trend below or right on par with the national norm. Costs for healthcare average below the national norm, while housing remains the largest cost difference. But what about the cheapest state in which to live? See how Alabamas housing prices, incomes and job market stack up to the rest of the U.S.: Alabama is known for forests, beaches and being NASAs home base. Moderates have the largest percentage of voters, with 37%. In 2016, 62.2% of Hawaii voters voted Democratic in the presidential election. Ithaca, New York. If a state's number goes above 100, it has a higher cost of living than the national average. Lets head west! "@type": "Organization", With a population of about 42,000 people, Burlington is Vermonts largest city. A one-bedroom apartments average cost is roughly $1,900 per month. Missouris two biggest cities, St. Louis and Kansas City, have cool sights like the Gateway Arch and Womens Leadership Fountainbut theyre also two of Americas most dangerous cities.47So youll want to look for neighborhoods that are cheapandsafe. Oregon is the most expensive state to buy a house in 2022. With a housing cost score of 71.3, Georgia turns out to be quite a peach. Tennessee 8. Vermont wasnt always so liberal. Tennessee is the cheapest state to buy a house in 2022. The cost of living here is 17.5% higher than the national average. Millions of people have used our financial advice through 22 books (including 12 national bestsellers) published by Ramsey Press, as well as two syndicated radio shows and 10 podcasts, which have over 17 million weekly listeners. A Division of NBCUniversal. In Manhattan, Kansas, a ribeye steak at the grocery store will cost you about 25% less than it would in Manhattan, New York. So, what kind of money can you expect to earn in Oklahoma? Annandale on Hudson is known for its local arts and culture scenes, though the town is also close enough to New York City to ensure having a night or weekend out is totally possible. Every year, Niche ranks the locations by using data from sources ranging from the American Community Survey (provided by the Census Bureau) to the FBI, in addition to millions of resident reviews. How about something without a home field advantage? Maybe youve already made up your mindyoure sick of sky-high prices and ready to head to greener pastures. Those interested in the local political scene will be happy to know that Democrats make up 70% of the local population. }, Factors affecting the most affordable states to live in. "datePublished": "2022-06-23", Notice that all of these cities are in blue states. Cost of livingindex measures theaverage cost of living in the U.S. as a baseline of 100, saysworldpopulationreview.com. Alabama has the fourth-lowest cost of livingabout 12.1% lower than most of the U.S. Inflation is almost impossible to escape nowadays, but some states are more affordable than others. The Democratic Party is considered to be the liberal political party of the United States. Share. That isnt quite as bad as it sounds, considering the Massachusetts average is a whopping 76.4% higher than the national average. Those seeking employment might look towards one of Alabamas thriving industries, including tech, auto, and aeronautic. "https://www.fortunebuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/most-affordable-states-to-live.jpg" The main factors that affect determining the most affordable states to live in include: Cost of Living: Cost of living refers to the average price of everyday and basic necessities within an area. The cost of living in Arkansas is 9.9% below average. All forms of income are included, such as salaries, investments, retirement funding, and any investment gains. If you have a lot of food costs, such as feeding a large family, note that Kentucky residents pay about 9 percent less in grocery costs than those living in other states. "@type": "Article", Just curious? We sourced population numbers from the U.S Census Bureau. Fortunately, Berkeley is full of college students/potential roommates. A view of Arlington, Virginia, which is home to Colonial Villagethe best neighborhood in America. Moving somewhere new is a big adventure! Learn More. Cost of living often plays a huge role for those trying to decide where to settle roots, start a family, or even start a business. And finally! Here are the top 10 cheapest states to live in, according to WalletHubs report. MethodologyTo create our list, we looked at the most politically liberal college towns. { In Kansas, the cost of living is 12.7% below average. And after Mississippi, it has the second-cheapest transportation on our list. In this Progressive-minded college town, about 62% of people vote Democrat. In its report, Niche also ranked the cheapest places to live in the U.S. At the top of the list this year is Brownsville, Texas. In fact, it was very republican back in the old days. According to worldpopulationreview.com, Hawaii is the most expensive state to live in, with its housing costingthree times the national average. While most cost-of-living categories are right on par with the norm, housing is about 64% higher than the American average (and 98% higher than the Michigan average!). Craving some pizza? Of these 12 most affordable states to live in, which one would you choose? People on the sidewalk near one of the statues of Elvis Presley located in Broadway Street in Nashville. One-bedroom apartments located in town average about $1,225 per month. Oregon is the eighth-most liberal state in the country, with 28% of voters identifying as liberal. Portland is the perfect place for both singles and families. And in the home of Coca-Cola, a liter will cost you about 20% less than in Wilmington, Delaware. Birmingham has a median home price of $65,500, showing pockets with even cheaper housing. Still, such a large student population hasnt kept its cost of living from reaching 82% above the national average. Its cost ofliving index is123.35, saysnumbeo.com. Northfield itself is a charming Midwestern town characterized by its welcoming, pedestrian-friendly downtown area and lively picturesque neighborhoods. A cross-country move costs way more than a cross-state move. New Hampshire is 28% conservative, giving it a slightly less liberal advantage than New York of 2 points. Cambridge also benefits from having very strong universities, which contribute to the higher education rate, employment opportunities and access to amenities provided by the universities., A couple of unique criteria in our Young Professionals ranking include Millennials below poverty and young professional newcomers, and Cambridge showed improvement in both those factors as well as higher education rate and overall score, said Bell. Plus, Iowa is one of the coolest things since sliced bread. For example, there are multiple states that dont have income tax, which can save you a lot of money. 2022 Cost of Living Score: 47 out of 50 points (Top States Grade: A+). St. Paul Park has the 49th cheapest homes and 47th cheapest rent anywhere in minnesota. Go Iowa State Cyclones! Historically, Poughkeepsie hasnt had the best reputation as a college town. A one-bedroom apartment in Bronxville will set one back $1,658 a month. Last but not least, Kentucky is one of the cheapest states to live in the U.S. Healthcare, on the other hand, is 14% below the national norm. When Dorothy of Wizard of Oz said, theres no place like home, perhaps she was also alluding to Kansas low cost of living. Morrison's Drive Inn is a well-known landmark in Logan County and has offered its dining customers curb side food service for nearly 70-years since it opened a few years after World War II ended. 2022 Cost of Living Score: 43 out of 50 points (Top States Grade: A-), Average home price (Morgantown): $329,832. The Council for Community and Economic Research is an organization that measures cost of living across the United States. Switzerland is the second-most expensive country in which to live. One of the best liberal cities to live in, Santa Barbaras cost of living is a whopping 123.4% higher than the national average. We're here to help with life's everyday questions. Located just across the bridge from San Francisco, Berkeley has been synonymous with Progressive politics for decades. This index of how liberal a state is is based on how many liberals there are compared to conservatives. Housing, on the other hand, averages 9% lower than the national average! It takes all sorts of expenses into account, like housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services. WebThese are the top countries viewed as affordable by global survey respondents. Lets compare Tennessees average housing prices, income and job market to the rest of the country: Housing prices are high in Tennessee (and it doesnt help that the average household income is $10,000 lower than the national median). Once you arrive in Mississippi, get ready for some fantastic music and food! You can choose from grassy plains, farmland or the Ozark Mountains. RamseyTrusted agents are part of our Endorsed Local Providers (ELP) program. Lets take a tour of the 13 cheapest states to live in. And Poughkeepsie is remarkably affordable! 56.3% of Vermont voters voted Democratic in the 2016 election, while 30.3% voted Republican. And you can live on the plains or in the mountains, just like in Missouri. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. Missouri 9. Blue states are states that have a more liberal population and culture, as opposed to the conservative red states. While there are many more red states than blue states, the blue states tend to have much higher populations, so they have higher numbers in indexes like the electoral college and the number of congressional representatives. The cheapest part of Alabama is the Anniston-Oxford area, which has a cost of living thats 17% below the national average. The state economy runs on agriculture and trade, and it helps that transportation costs are so low. Nestled in Californias picturesque San Gabriel foothills, Claremont is home to the prestigious consortium of Claremont colleges. In fact, with its bike lanes, vibrant arts scene, and collection of locally owned businesses, Boulder feels like the quintessential college town. TheBritish overseasterritoryhas a cost ofliving index of146.04. A view of Longfellow Bridge and Cambridge, Massachusetts: the best city to live in the US. Overall costs for utilities, transportation, entertainment, food, and healthcare range from 17% below the national average (healthcare) to 25% above (entertainment). Same thing for the oil to fry it in roughly half the price in Morgantown compared to up north. Heres what housing prices, salaries and the job market look like in Missouri: In Missouri, there are plenty of small towns where you can put down roots. WebAverage Rent < $500 - $2,100+ Median Home Price < $20,000 - $1,020,000+ Commute Time < 20 minutes 20 - 30 minutes 30+ minutes Buying or selling a home? But what about housing? Want to find someplace cheaper? Just like some states can be more liberal than others, some cities are more liberal than others. A local one-bedroom apartment can be rented for about $1,400 per month. The monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment in Oakland averages just over $1,700. Famous Okies include Mickey Mantle, Brad Pitt, Carrie Underwood and Will Rogers. Oaklands large and diverse population ensures local college students enjoy a unique college experience. Or head to Niche.com, where you can see the healthiest cities, the best spots for families, the best places (defined as a non-rural town with a population of 1,000 or more), the best suburbs and more. Let us know in the comments below! :List of the largest-to-smallest continents by land area. Colonial Village has seen quite the rise in the past few years, said Bell. Transportation cost index: 92.7. Paul area. Thats about $90 more than the greater Portland area and about $300 more than the Oregon average. Although the book includes essays on God, Torah, history and antisemitism, in a recent interview we focused on the Israel-Diaspora divide, the role of Israel in the Once you arrive, you can enjoy everything from the Great Smoky Mountains, to boot-scootin good music, to legendary Memphis barbecue. [ SIMPLE MORTGAGE HACKS: Take a 90-minute online training class to learn how to choose the right mortgage, lower your interest rate, & save thousands of dollars over the life of your loan! With a housing cost index of 71.8, Kansas puts itself on the map as one of the cheapest places to live in the U.S. You could buy a median-priced home in the Sunflower State at $137,700. But costs for food, utilities, and healthcare all average below or on par with the national average. These ten states were the cheapest to live in over the past year. Theyve helped with 6 million movesboth long and shortall over the country.). As with the vast majority of college towns on our list, the biggest cost difference is housing, which averages 50.2% higher than the rest of the country. A one-bedroom rental in Northfield can be had for an average of $780 per month, about $150 less than the greater Minneapolis/St. This is evidenced by the fact that more than 75% of Santa Cruzs population votes blue. But with its cost of living averaging only 1.5% above the national norm, Middletown, Connecticut, is a surprisingly affordable college town. 29% of voters identify as liberal, and 29% identify as conservative, giving California a liberal advantage of zero points. Home to three Air Force bases, the state attracts federal government spending on military and research. Its median rent, home value to income ratio, median home value and consumer price index (CPI) of grocery items all increased. Coming in at the top of the list is Cambridge, Massachusetts in the Boston area. For example, a one-bedroom apartment in College Park averages $1,375 per month, while that same apartment would cost nearly $100 more in any of the aforementioned neighboring towns. Top 10 spoken languages, globally. Kalamazoo, a city about two hours from Detroit, is the cheapest place to live among all the states on our countdown. the most affordable areas in the country. "url": "https://fb.fortunecdn.com/images/FBLogoDownload.png" With a population of approximately 76,000 people (74% of whom vote Democrat), Evanston has a solid college population living amongst a wealthier older population. With seemingly endless options and so many things to consider, the search for a new place to call home can be overwhelming.. The cost of living in Missouri is 9.8% lower than the national average. It takes a mere 10.6 percent of the median household income to afford a home in the Hawkeye State. 2022 Cost of Living Score: 45 out of 50 points (Top States Grade: A). Such affordability should leave plenty of pocket money to enjoy the local arts scene, the shops and restaurants of the picturesque downtown, and the nearby natural surroundings. For the first time, Niches rankings include data recorded during the pandemic and released through 2021. Here's how to make a budget in just five steps. The politics are solidly liberal, alternative social lifestyles are embraced, and there is plenty of hiking and skiing to be had in the nearby Rocky Mountains. Iowa 12. 15 Cheapest States to Buy a House 1. We evaluated those dimensions using 51 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Cost of living is the amount of money someone would need to access the minimum standard of living within a particular area. As we would expect, towns that perform well in many of the overall factors rank well, said Bell. Working families are looking to live in places where they get more for their dollar. In the 2016 presidential election, 52.5% of voters voted Democratic. Every other category averages equal to or lower than the norm. "description": "FortuneBuilders has determined the 12 states with the most affordable cost of living. Heres what housing prices, the median annual salary and the job market look like: At 10.5% below the average cost of living, Iowa is another one of the most affordable states. Are you someone looking to balance your living costs with good healthcare and education? A subreddit for people who want to move to a new city, state or province in their country. Transformative Travel: I look at how travel can change lives. Everything else is cheaper, too. "mainEntityOfPage": { Head to the local optometrist, which will cost you about 30% less in Alabama than a visit to the eye doctor in Vero Beach, Florida. West Virginias cost of living index looks at two citiesMorgantown and Charleston. Later, when you want to get your cholesterol checked, your visit to the doctor will cost about half what it would in Dubuque, Iowa. But our home affordability calculator will help you calculate a budget that will work for you. Think your eyes might be deceiving you?