Leaving behind your home to start a new life is not an easy decision. Before moving to a new vicinity in the United States, you must consider several factors. Moreover, one of the most vital aspects to consider before looking for a new home is financing it.
Survival has turned expensive with rising inflation, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you are trying to find an affordable new home, you must conduct some thorough research first.
Amidst all this, maintaining a good quality of life is also crucial. House-hunting can be tricky when you do not have enough time or knowledge. So, we have made the process easy for you by listing various low-cost places to live in the USA.
6 Cheapest Places In USA For Family Life
This section lists the seven best cities in the US to raise a family. Besides a lower cost of living, the cities in this list check the various boxes required to raise a family.
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Fort Wayne, IN
- Average Rent: $915
- Median Income Per House: $62,635
- Median Age: 35 years
- Taxes: Light
- Population: 343,000
- City Size: 110.8 sq. mi.
Firstly, Fort Wayne city is our top pick for every family in Indiana. Fort Wayne has affordable housing, a reasonable living cost, and other attractions. For example, tourist spots like the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo would be a great educational spot for kids.
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Kalamazoo, MI
- Average Rent: $1,199
- Median Income Per House: $58,722
- Median Age: 26.5 years
- Taxes: Heavy
- Population: 73,466
- City Size: 25.11 sq. mi.
Another one of the most important cities on our list of affordable places is Kalamazoo in Michigan. The city has a steady local economy and also the prestigious Western Michigan University for your kid’s future education.
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Kansas City, MO
- Average Rent: $1,043
- Median Income Per House: $75,173
- Median Age: 31.5 years
- Taxes: Moderate
- Population: 1,711,000
- City Size: 319 sq. mi.
This is another one of the most affordable cities in the USA to move to with the family. Kansas City offers a quiet country life and also gives you some great job options.
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Toledo, OH
- Average Rent: $703
- Median Income Per House: $50,988
- Median Age: 33.6 years
- Taxes: Light
- Population: 509,000
- City Size: 83.83 sq. mi.
Our next city is in the Buckeye state of Ohio. Toledo is a small, private city, despite its large population. While the city offers some of the best parks and restaurants in Ohio, Toledo still remains affordable.
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Brownsville, TX
- Average Rent: $822
- Median Income Per House: $53,996
- Median Age: 30.6 years
- Taxes: Light
- Population: 187,831
- City Size: 145.2 sq. mi.
It is the perfect place to settle with a family in tax-friendly Texas. Brownsville helps you further save money in your everyday life with its low cost of living. Having some unusually quiet neighborhoods for the Lone Ranger state, Texas, Brownsville also offers you much privacy and relaxation.
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Pigeon Forge, TN
- Average Rent: $1,150
- Median Income Per House: $51,969
- Median Age: 44.3 years
- Taxes: Light
- Population: 6,437
- City Size: 13.35 sq. mi.
While the Great Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge’s vicinity are enough to attract inhabitants, it still attracts people with its minimal cost of living.
6 Most Low-Cost Places In USA For Students
Whether you live in a college hostel or other student housing, these cities are ideal for the student’s budget.
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San Diego, CA
- Average School Fees: $5,000-$19,000
- Median Income Per House: $83,000
- Median Age: 34.9 years
- Population: 3,295,000
- City Size: 372.4 sq. mi.
San Diego is a very diverse city since it houses a large number of international students. Whether you are a local or a foreigner, the city offers affordable and high-quality education to all.
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Atlanta, GA
- Average School Fees: $4,000-$7,500
- Median Income Per House: $52,097
- Median Age: 33.3 years
- Population: 6,144,050
- City Size: 136.3 sq. mi.
This blooming city is home to many of the country’s top colleges, such as Georgia State and Georgia Tech.
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Houston, TX
- Average School Fees: $6,000-$27,000
- Median Income Per House: $53,600
- Median Age: 33 years
- Population: 6,603,000
- City Size: 665 sq. mi.
Houston also offers some of the most incredible educational opportunities at a low price. You can further reap its benefits by applying for scholarships and student aid.
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Chicago, IL
- Average School Fees: $41,000-$80,000 ($10,000-$30,000 with financial aid)
- Median Income Per House: $64,097
- Median Age: 34.6 years
- Population: 8,901,000
- City Size: 234.5 sq. mi.
While the regular tuition fees in the city are very high, it offers some excellent chances for meritorious students to earn financial aid.
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Baltimore, MD
- Average School Fees: $12,000-$19,000
- Median Income Per House: $74,246
- Median Age: 35.4 years
- Population: 2,343,000
- City Size: 92.28 sq. mi.
Since this city is small, it is over 20% less expensive than the state average. It also offers a strong job market and healthcare. Hence, surviving in Baltimore on a student budget is easy.
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Philadelphia, PA
- Average School Fees: $10,000-$30,000
- Median Income Per House: $49,127
- Median Age: 34.4 years
- Population: 5,756,000
- City Size: 141.7 sq. mi.
Besides cheap studies, students can explore the authentic American culture in this city without straining their pockets. Moreover, there is art everywhere in the city, from murals to street sculptures.
6 Cheapest Cities In The USA For Young Professionals
These cities are perfect if you are young and looking to move for a new job but also want to save money.
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Durham, NC
- Average Rent: $1,504
- Median Income Per House: $35,164
- Median Age: 34.1 years
- Taxes: Moderate
- Population: 429,000
- City Size: 300.9 sq. mi.
Durham is one of the best places to live in North Carolina and also has record-low unemployment. While it is a thriving metro city, it is quite green, with various recreational outdoor parks. Further, the city gives various opportunities to fresh graduates and young adults.
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Atlanta, GA
- Average Rent: $1,861
- Median Income Per House: $52,097
- Median Age: 33.3 years
- Taxes: Moderate
- Population: 6,144,050
- City Size: 136.3 sq. mi.
Atlanta has endless activities for you to perform during your job hunt. You can brush your existing skills or also pick up new interests in the city’s unique culture. While the city might have a lower average income than some states, it allows minimal expenses for survival.
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Fort Wayne, IN
- Average Rent: $915
- Median Income Per House: $62,635
- Median Age: 35 years
- Taxes: Light
- Population: 343,000
- City Size: 110.8 sq. mi.
Fort Wayne is a top city for families and also for young bachelors exploring their options. The city also has various monumental spots where one can learn more, like the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.
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Tulsa, OK
- Average Rent: $904
- Median Income Per House: $29,159
- Median Age: 35.2 years
- Taxes: Light
- Population: 783,000
- City Size: 201.8 sq. mi.
Tulsa has an excellent job market, which is ideal for newcomers due to its low rent rates and tax-friendly policies.
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New Orleans, LA
- Average Rent: $1,336
- Median Income Per House: $26,607
- Median Age: 36.8 years
- Taxes: Light
- Population: 1,005,000
- City Size: 349.8 sq. mi.
Since New Orleans is one of the most culturally rich cities in the USA, it offers various job options for those pursuing creative fields. The city also has several openings and learning opportunities for architecture students. Further, it is the birthplace of jazz and is home to Mardi Gras, the largest party of the year.
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Jacksonville, FL
- Average Rent: $1,530
- Median Income Per House: $30,958
- Median Age: 35.9 years
- Taxes: Moderate
- Population: 1,314,000
- City Size: 874.3 sq. mi.
Since this top metro city in Florida is the largest city in the USA, it offers various job opportunities.
6 Most Affordable Places In The USA To Retire
This section will help you select your ideal retirement plan while keeping your wallet safe.
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Hot Springs, AR
- Average Cost of Living For Retirees: 7.3% under the usual
- Median Age: 41.9 years
- Taxes: Very light
- Population: 100,226
- Population Over 65: 21.3%
Hot Springs, Arkansas, should be your top retirement plan for various reasons. Firstly, it is a small, private space that does not require you to travel much. However, the region’s natural beauty makes up for the lack of space. Moreover, the low living costs and healthcare should suffice.
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Sandy Springs, GA
- Average Cost of Living For Retirees: 5% under the usual
- Median Age: 36.5 years
- Taxes: Very light
- Population: 110,926
- Population Over 65: 10.8%
Retirees can perform various activities during their stay here. Sandy Springs’ main attractions include birding and fishing. So, the small city promises to keep its residents engaged.
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Boise, ID
- Average Cost of Living For Retirees: 7.8% under the usual
- Median Age: 36.6 years
- Taxes: Moderate
- Population: 462,000
- Population Over 65: 11.2%
Retirees can always keep their minds sharp in the northwest corner of the US. Boise offers various mind-stimulating study programs which can help senior citizens gain further knowledge. It is also the cheapest place to study in your latter years.
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Decatur, AL
- Average Cost of Living For Retirees: 11% under the usual
- Median Age: 36.8 years
- Taxes: Light
- Population: 57,804
- Population Over 65: 14.5%
This city has a minimal cost of living and also offers one of the best state income tax deals. Retirees can also spend their time doing various recreational tasks, for example, fishing in the nearby Tennessee River.
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Sherman, TX
- Average Cost of Living For Retirees: 13% under the usual
- Median Age: 34.8 years
- Taxes: Light
- Population: 44,872
- Population Over 65: 13.2%
As we mentioned earlier, the state of Texas levies no income tax. Sherman further offers various other savings opportunities with its low cost of living and below-average home value.
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New Orleans, LA
- Average Cost of Living For Retirees: 4.3% under the usual
- Median Age: 36.8 years
- Taxes: Very light
- Population: 1,005,000
- Population Over 65: 10.9%
This popular tourist spot is an ideal home for young people and retirees. The city’s regional center also holds various events throughout the year. Hence, it is considered one of the most lively cities in the country.
What We Looked For?
As we mentioned earlier, there are many factors one looks for while searching for a place to live. Hence, our study can give you some helpful ideas to help your search. However, there is no single correct choice regarding these matters. Since everyone has unique needs, we all have different ideas of a dream home.
Finding a cheap living place does also include finding professional real estate companies who offer cheaper prices or mortgages. Hence, it would help if you also looked for affordable living costs like water and energy bills.
After intricate research, our team developed some general criteria to narrow down your options. So, here are the factors we looked for in all of our list items to ensure the best quality of life for you:
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Facilities
The first thing we searched for in every city was whether it could efficiently fulfill your basic human needs. Hence, every place we suggest in this article has a proper power supply, water supply, and sewage system. Moreover, you will not go through any extreme hardships in these cities due to the lack of basic facilities.
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Safety
Another vital part of our search was ensuring your safety due to the recent rise in crime rate and natural calamities. So, we carefully selected places where you can safely settle with your family without fear.
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Affordable Living Costs
The main factors that these cities have are low rents and their minimal cost of living. However, even the cheapest places have an optimal life quality.
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Education
Since knowledge is the key to success, our next concern was looking for good schools and colleges for your kids. Whether you are newlyweds with toddlers or have teenagers, all parents want a bright future for their kids. Hence, you will find several places with good school districts and education systems on our list.
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Employment
Finally, we looked at the employment rates in all these cities. Moving to a new city usually means finding a new job. So, we tried our best to give you options that make this final task easier for you. The cities on our list have various job opportunities that require different skills and areas of interest. Hence, you can select one that is most fitting for you.
Conclusion: The Best And Cheapest Places To Live In USA
Finding a cheap place to live in a thriving country like the USA can be tough. However, with the correct means and research, you can find the perfect place for you. So, whether you are a young graduate, a family man, or a retiree, our list has an in-budget home for all.
