To figure out which college towns are most affordable, we looked at costs for housing, food, healthcare, transportation, utilities, and entertainment and compared those costs to the national average. But an influx of out of state residents as well as an emerging number of lower All rights reserved. Northfield itself is a charming Midwestern town characterized by its welcoming, pedestrian-friendly downtown area and lively picturesque neighborhoods. }, Factors affecting the most affordable states to live in. Most of your decision-making will be influenced by personal incentives and preferences, such as the affordability of big cities within those states, or cost of healthcare or transportation. For affordability and housingtwo of the biggest concerns for those looking to move, now more than evertowns in Pennsylvania make up considerable portions of each national top 100, said Bell. Driving through the Crossroads of America is a breeze. Vermont wasnt always so liberal. "@type": "ImageObject", States Its also one of Americas biggest steel pipe makers, since the soil contains limestone, iron ore and coalthe main ingredients for steel. Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit, Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score or Lower, Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower. Where in the U.S. is it the least expensive to live? If you want to lower your living costs but want to live in a big city, Indiana could be a great option. Folks in Indiana also pay around average for transportation and utilities. Housing costs vary greatly depending on where you live. There are also neutral states, usually referred to as swing states because these states could go either Democratic or Republican in an election. Web20 Most Affordable States 1. Conservative States College students living here can expect to pay approximately $830 per month for a one-bedroom apartment. Alabama 5. Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images. Home to about 18,000 full-time residents (70% of whom describe themselves as Democrats), South Hadley, Massachusetts plays host to the students of Mount Holyoke College. With an exceptionally low cost-of-living index score of 83.3, Mississippi is well below the national average of 100. However, students living off-campus should be prepared for living costs averaging slightly higher than the norm. What are some of the factors that influenced your decision? Rural: What's The Difference? 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. A cross-country move costs way more than a cross-state move. 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. Nicknamed The Ville for its picturesque Tudor-style downtown, Swarthmore is a small town with a laid-back ambiance. 36% of voters in California identify as moderate. Are you someone looking to balance your living costs with good healthcare and education? "datePublished": "2022-06-23", Idaho 20. The median income of a family of four in Mississippi is $70,656. That said Im not a tech bro or doctor so I cant live in San Diego or Boston. Kentucky 18. As of August 2022, Mississippi is the least expensive state to live in, according to worldpopulationreview.com. In a different college town, Austin, Texas, you can expect to be on the hook for 50-60% more. "author": { And if you need to get your tires balanced in Bloomington, it will cost you half of what it would in Lafayette, Louisiana. New York and California rank as the second and third most expensive states in whichto live, respectively. If you wish to buy a home, the median price is $146,000. Average costs for food, utilities, transportation, healthcare, and entertainment all trend below or right on par with the national norm. The latest Consumer Price Index for June came in even hotter than expected, at 9.1%. As the second largest city in Massachusetts, Worcester is home to many colleges and universities and their student populations. }, The cheapest part of Alabama is the Anniston-Oxford area, which has a cost of living thats 17% below the national average. 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. With few exceptions, these are liberal small towns in which at least half of the voting population is registered Democrat. Without further ado, the U.S. states with the lowest cost of living are revealed below. Best States for Affordability | US News Best States ], Seventy percent of Claremont residents vote Democrat, and the town is known for its eccentric college-town vibe, a full calendar of local events, and pretty views of snow-capped mountains. The Magnolia State has a cost of living index of 83.3. Where is the cheapest and most liberal place to live and retire in The biggest cost difference is housing, which is 24% higher than the rest of the country. Thats why weve researched to find the 30 most affordable politically liberal college towns. Oklahomas cheapest city is Muskogee. Kansas City is the states most expensive place to live, but its still 4.5% less than most U.S. cities. Youll usually pay about 10% less than normal for things like shampoo and movie tickets. While the location plays a role in an areas popularity, a few key factors are considered when evaluating which states have the cheapest cost of living. Weve rounded up 12 of the cheapest states to live in so you can explore their real estate markets and determine if thats the state for you. Where St. Paul Park stands out in cost of living metrics housing costs, which are considerably less than the national average. 28% of voters identify as conservative, giving Washington a liberal advantage of 3 points. Okay, that one was easy. With a population of about 42,000 people, Burlington is Vermonts largest city. Time to move! A one-bedroom rental in Northfield can be had for an average of $780 per month, about $150 less than the greater Minneapolis/St. "https://www.fortunebuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/most-affordable-states-to-live.jpg" 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. Plus, people in Oklahoma love celebrating their states Native American roots and cowboy culture. A yoga class will cost you about 20% less in Atlanta than it would in Los Angeles. College Values Online | 2023All Rights Reserved. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. We rate the states based on an index of prices for a broad range of goods and services. WebThese are the top countries viewed as affordable by global survey respondents. Maybe you want to move. New York is the fifth-most liberal state in the U.S. 30% of voters identify as liberal in New York versus 27% who identify as conservative, giving New York a 3-point liberal advantage. Berkeleys cost of living is much more reasonable than San Francisco or New York. Here are the top 10 least expensive states to live in, according to worldpopulationreview.com: Pakistan is considered as the country with the lowest average cost of living, according to numbeo.com. Think your eyes might be deceiving you? Regarding the local political scene, approximately 53% of Annandale on Hudson residents vote Democrat. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. Measure of movement of single-family house prices: 305.98. "url": "https://www.thanmerrill.com/" Even though youll likely pay average prices for groceries and health care, housing in Iowa is pretty darn cheap. These towns may not have the international reputation as other beach towns in the country, but thats why they are so coveted they fly below the radar and keep the cost of living low. Take a look: Beyond the numbers, Indiana is surprisingly beautiful. Any state with a housing cost index below 100 is relatively affordable compared to the national average. Costs for healthcare average below the national norm, while housing remains the largest cost difference. "headline": "12 Cheapest States To Live In [Updated 2022]", With an extremely low housing cost index of 61.1, you can expect to buy a home at a median price of $140,800. For affordability and housing, Pennsylvania delivers. Thanks to Middletowns stable economy, college students at Wesleyan University can live off campus and pay 11.2% lower than the national average. Norton is also affordable, with a cost of living averaging just 14% higher than the national norm. :List of the largest-to-smallest continents by land area. Cost of living means exactly what it sounds likethe amount it costs to live somewhere! 2022 Cost of Living Score: 49 out of 50 points (Top States Grade: A+). Show me a home in Columbia, Kansas City or St. Louis, and I'll show you a bargain. A visit to the doctor costs roughly half what it would in Manchester, New Hampshire. 20 Most Affordable States in 2021 With prices of goods and services around the world rising at rates not seen in 40 years, bargain hunting is a national pastime. 33% of voters identify as liberal; however, the liberal advantage is -2 because 35% of voters identify as conservative. Housing, on the other hand, averages 9% lower than the national average! Even its higher cost of living approximately 67% higher than the national average doesnt dull Boulders shine. Our rankings are a great starting point and resource for anyone considering a move, big or small, said Ryan Bell, the principal strategist at Niche. Top 10 spoken languages, globally. 15 Affordable Liberal Cities in America (If you want the flexibility of being able to move any distance,check out PODS. There are also other tax benefits that some states may offer outside of income related taxes. While health care and utilities cost about the same as the average U.S. city, Kansas has really cheap miscellaneous goods and services. A student living in Santa Cruz can expect to pay lower than the national average for costs associated with healthcare and utilities and only slightly more than the norm for food, entertainment, and transportation. Tennessees cost of livingis 9.6% below average. Brownsville, Texas: the affordable city to live in the US. U.S. citizens typically identify as either Democratic or Republican, or liberal or conservative. But they're running about 20% less than in California. Maybe youre curious. With extremely high scores in both of those categories, its clear that Cambridge is an incredible place to live across the board, said Bell. With a full calendar of local events, lively atmospheres, and usually a lower cost of living, college towns make for great places to live. For the gas numbers in our data, we started with Overall costs for utilities, transportation, entertainment, food, and healthcare range from 17% below the national average (healthcare) to 25% above (entertainment). Santa Barbaras median home price hovers just under $1.2 million. If you have a lot of food costs, such as feeding a large family, note that Kentucky residents pay about 9 The Cheapest States to Live Fortunately, things for Poughkeepsies college crowd have vastly improved thanks to the communitys growing relationship with Vassar College, a series of downtown renovation projects, and a historic preservation movement to transform some of the towns oldest buildings. That state also has many urban areas and a highly educated population two factors that strongly contribute to a liberal environment. Find expert agents to help you buy your home. Pictured here: Pittsburgh, which has some of [+] the most affordable areas in the country. The biggest difference in the cost of living is housing. This is about $400 less than the average for the greater San Francisco Bay Area. What is the biggest continent? 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. "url": "https://fb.fortunecdn.com/images/FBLogoDownload.png" Outside of the cost of living, other factors might play a role in how affordable a piece of property might be state by state. Students in Northampton can rent a one-bedroom place for approximately $925 per month, about $300 less than The Bay States average. Most of Marylands liberal base is in the Washington D.C. metro area and Baltimore. Fortunately, Berkeley is full of college students/potential roommates. "description": "FortuneBuilders has determined the 12 states with the most affordable cost of living. Cornell University; Ithaca College. The monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment in Oakland averages just over $1,700. Cheapest Cities to Live in Still Under the Radar - Thrillist Mississippi is the cheapest place to live in the United States, with a cost of living 15.6% 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. (Actually, the guy who invented sliced bread was from there.) A local one-bedroom apartment can be rented for about $1,400 per month. If you're buying a sweet home in Birmingham, you will pay less than a third of what you would for a comparable house in Anaheim, California. Read on for the lists of the best cities to live in the U.S., the most affordable places to live, the best neighborhoods and the best cities for young professionals. Missouri 9. Its about 28.5% higher than the national norm. Popular pastimes include less partying and more hiking and wine tasting around the local area. Next up, Arkansas! The states location alongside the Mississippi River made it a strategic military location during the In terms of politics, Oakland remains one of the most Progressive areas in an already liberal area. WebLast but not least, Kentucky is one of the cheapest states to live in the U.S. "https://www.fortunebuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/what-is-the-cheapest-state-to-live-in.jpg", 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. It will cost you 20% less in Columbia than it would in Lima, Ohio. 2023 Lampo Licensing, LLC. Its hot here all the fucking time and this shit is has both the worst of red conservative politics and the prices of a city like NY or LA so like theres no point staying here after next year. Based on the Cost of Living Index, some of the most expensive states to live in 2022 include: Of the nations cheapest states to live in, Mississippi took the title as most affordable overall. Florida takes the top marks in the rankings, with relatively low costs of living and a high percentage of retirees Maybe! Massachusetts is also the home state of well-known politicians such as Elizabeth Warren, Michael Dukakis, Jill Stein, and the Kennedys. All forms of income are included, such as salaries, investments, retirement funding, and any investment gains. Thats great news for budget-minded students determined to live near the Bay. Ohio 14. With an overall cost of living score of 89.4, you are likely to find a very affordable home in this Southeastern state.