Go Iowa State Cyclones! Fortunately, the other cities on Georgias cost of living index range from 8% to 17% below the average U.S. city. 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. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Learning how to budget might seem overwhelming, but hear this: You can do it. It enjoys a cost of living slightly higher than the rest of The Bay State but far lower than nearby Cambridge (also on our list of the most affordable liberal college towns). Without further ado, the U.S. states with the lowest cost of living are revealed below. "author": { Report Ranks Americas 15 Safest (And Most Dangerous) Cities For 2023, Quit Your Job And Move Abroad: 10 Cheapest Places To Live, This is a BETA experience. As with any city, the cost of living varies with each section of town but generally averages about 2% higher than the rest of the country. The cost of living here is 17.5% higher than the national average. But where should you go? Massachusetts is hardly the most affordable state in the Union, but thankfully, Northampton is a town with a cost of living much more appealing to the college crowd. Compare this years list to the best (and most affordable) places to live in America in 2022, as well as the cheapest places to live in the U.S. in 2021. Home to the University of Vermont, plus a handful of smaller colleges, Burlington enjoys a youthful vibe. How about a mountain of Southern fried chicken in The Mountain State? Oregon has a liberal advantage of -4 points due to 32% of voters identifying as conservative; however, 35% of voters identify as moderate. Washington state, Nevada, Montana and Washington, D.C., came in between $402,900 and $487,500. Move there, and you can enjoy a cost of living thats a whopping 21% below average! Top 10 spoken languages, globally. Nestled in Californias picturesque San Gabriel foothills, Claremont is home to the prestigious consortium of Claremont colleges. "mainEntityOfPage": { 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. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. Transportation costs are notably affordable, about 8 percent less than the national average. In the 2016 presidential election, 46.8% of voters voted Democratic, only a 0.3% lead over those who voted Republican (46.5%). These are the liberal cities with low living costs in 2020 and beyond. Students at the nearby colleges will have plenty to see and do in Northfield and the surrounding areas, especially since the local cost of living is right on par with the national average. 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. The exception? With a population of about 42,000 people, Burlington is Vermonts largest city. How to Make a Budget: Your Step-by-Step Guide. "@type": "Article", But living there still costs 2% less than in the average U.S. city. "description": "FortuneBuilders has determined the 12 states with the most affordable cost of living. How about something without a home field advantage? Lets head west! Head over to Knoxville, where the cost of living is about 16% lower than average. Those looking to stay in town longer term should expect a median home cost of about $783,700. Bermuda is ranked No.1 as the the mostexpensive country to live in, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. With an exceptionally low cost-of-living index score of 83.3, Mississippi is well below the national average of 100. Rent 3 bedrooms Center/Outside Center: $2,724.11 /$1,913.70. This means students looking to live outside of a dorm room will likely spend about $2,014 per month on a one-bedroom apartment. Take a look: Beyond the numbers, Indiana is surprisingly beautiful. 1 To get a complete picture of each citys living costs, we recorded how much rent, 2 food, 3 gas, 4 and utilities 5 cost on average in every city. There are also other tax benefits that some states may offer outside of income related taxes. 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. Coming in third for overall cost of living at 87.8, Arkansas has a lot to offer for those looking to slash their budget. In the 2016 presidential election, 60% of voters voted Democratic. Located at the head of Narragansett Bay near the Rhode Island border, Norton, Massachusetts, is a charming college town of about 19,000 full-time residents. 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. We're here to help with life's everyday questions, Mississippi is the least expensive state to live in, nearly one-fifth of Mississippiresidents live at or below the poverty line. Cornell University; Ithaca College. :List of the largest-to-smallest continents by land area. 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. Cheapest States West Virginias cost of living index looks at two citiesMorgantown and Charleston. America's Top States for Business 2022: The full rankings, By putting partisanship aside, North Carolina ranks No. Oaklands large and diverse population ensures local college students enjoy a unique college experience. Notice that all of these cities are in blue states. You can expect to buy a home at around $193,200. 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. But unlike Missourior anywhere elseyou can actually find real diamonds in Arkansas at Crater of Diamonds State Park. Cheapest State to Buy a House The Best (And Cheapest) Places To Live The city is also the best city for young professionals (and has been in the number one spot on that list since 2018). Tennessee 8. 28% of voters identify as conservative, giving Washington a liberal advantage of 3 points. Now, lets compare housing prices, salaries and unemployment rates in Kansas to the rest of the country: With low home prices, low unemployment rates and high salaries, Kansas is one of the best states to live in financially. ]. And Georgia has alot to offerlike the Appalachian Mountains, sandy beaches along the Atlantic, beautiful architecture and Southern charm. This state also grows lots of popcornso bring your movie collection along. Inflation is almost impossible to escape nowadays, but some states are more affordable than others. Ramsey Solutions has been committed to helping people regain control of their money, build wealth, grow their leadership skills, and enhance their lives through personal development since 1992. Healthcare, utilities, transportation, and entertainment costs all hover slightly above the national average. 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. Norton is also affordable, with a cost of living averaging just 14% higher than the national norm. 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. With a full calendar of local events, lively atmospheres, and usually a lower cost of living, college towns make for great places to live. The most affordable liberal college town is Oberlin, Ohio. Of these 12 most affordable states to live in, which one would you choose? Overall costs for utilities, transportation, entertainment, food, and healthcare range from 17% below the national average (healthcare) to 25% above (entertainment). These cities tend to have high minority populations and public expressions of LGBTQ+ acceptance. It is also ranked as one of the best places to live. You can get a nice two bedroom for well under $1,000 per month. For example, the score of 100 would be the national average for housing costs. A student living off campus at UC Santa Barbara should expect to shell out about $2,100 for a one-bedroom apartment each month. }, Factors affecting the most affordable states to live in. (Actually, the guy who invented sliced bread was from there.) These are the poorest cities in every state in the US. Cost of living averages only about 6% higher than the national average. Oregon is the most expensive state to buy a house in 2022. 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. 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. A whopping 90% of College Park residents vote Democrat, so Progressive students looking for a solidly liberal college town should take a good look at College Park. Outside of the cost of living, other factors might play a role in how affordable a piece of property might be state by state. Located near fellow liberal college town Berkeley, Oakland is home to myriad colleges, including Mills College, Holy Names University, and California College of the Arts. Colonial Village has seen quite the rise in the past few years, said Bell. The Cheapest States to Live Think your eyes might be deceiving you? But on the bright side, salaries are close to the national median. Expect to pay a low monthly rent of about $629 for a one-bedroom if you prefer to rent. This state offers low housing, health care, and transportation costs. In comparison, the U.S., as a whole, has a cost of living index of70.13 and is ranked as the 26thmost expensive country to live in. In fact, Sperlings Best Places lists the cost of living as one of the pros to living in Amherst, along with the many local museums and the easy access to nearby mountains. Lets see how Charleston and Morgantown compares to the rest of the U.S.: West Virginia has a big mining industry and beautiful outdoor areas. Cambridge is also famously home to several world-renowned universities, including MIT (our number one Best College in America in 2023) and Harvard (our number three), making it an appealing choice for young professionals.. You may opt-out by. Mothers Day Gift Guide: The Best Tech Gifts For Business Travelers, Philippines Fest, The First Filipino Street Food Festival Founded In New York City, Runs Every Month Until October, Unexplored Greenland - How Pata Degermans Expeditions Transform Nature, Body, Mind And Spirit, Mothers Day Gift Guide: The Best Tech For Travelers, Green Attitude: Hotel Metropole Monte Carlos Environmental Policy, Heckfield Place Has A New Luxury Spa Thats Worth Traveling For, Hyde Park - Spanishtown Creek Tampa, Florida. 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. We want to hear from you. 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. Still, Oberlin students hoping to live off campus will be happy to know that housing costs are a whopping 42% less than the rest of the country! Bonus points of close to nature, and walkable. What is the cheapest state to live in? The cheapest states to live in New Mexico, otherwise known as the Land of Enchantment, is the third most affordable place to live, with an overall cost of living index of 89.6. Its known for its vibrant local arts scene, the prestigious Sarah Lawrence College, and its liberal politics. Seventy percent of Burlingtons population vote Democrat. Measure of movement of single-family house prices: 305.98. Cheap cities in solidly blue states : r/SameGrassButGreener And finally! That said, its important to live somewhere you can actually affordso you should definitely find out if the cheapest states to live in will fit you and your family. Average costs for food, utilities, transportation, healthcare, and entertainment all trend below or right on par with the national norm. Most of Marylands liberal base is in the Washington D.C. metro area and Baltimore. 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. Pictured here: Pittsburgh, which has some of [+] the most affordable areas in the country. 1 in America's Top States for Business, with the nations strongest economy, These 10 states are leading America in creating a crypto economy. And how much does housing cost? This quality factors into the overall U.S. News Best Countries rankings and Quality of Life subranking. 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. In the 2016 presidential election, 59% of voters voted Democratic. A one-bedroom apartment in Bronxville will set one back $1,658 a month. Maine is one of the few states where moderates do not outnumber liberals or conservatives, with 29% of voters identifying as moderate. Even its higher cost of living approximately 67% higher than the national average doesnt dull Boulders shine. Lets dive in! Students living in Ithaca often comment on how the town feels more sophisticated than the stereotypical college town. (If you want the flexibility of being able to move any distance,check out PODS. Even the most expensive city, Birmingham, is still 8% below average. The Council for Community and Economic Research is an organization that measures cost of living across the United States. Transformative Travel: I look at how travel can change lives. And whats up with the job market? 28% of voters in Hawaii identify as liberal, and 22% identify as conservative, giving Hawaii a liberal advantage of 6 points, the second-highest in the country. Olympia may be the capital of Washington, but with a population of only 50,000 people, it enjoys a small college-town feel. The most liberal state in the country is Massachusetts, where the equally progressive city of Boston is located. In 2016, 62.2% of Hawaii voters voted Democratic in the presidential election. Maryland voters are 29% conservative, giving the state a -1 point liberal advantage. 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. Cost of livingindex measures theaverage cost of living in the U.S. as a baseline of 100, saysworldpopulationreview.com. Home to Michigans Big Blue, Ann Arbor is the quintessential college town. 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. This includes food, utilities, transportation, clothing, and healthcare costs. 2022 Cost of Living Score: 43 out of 50 points (Top States Grade: A-), Average home price (Morgantown): $329,832. Vermont is the third-most liberal state in the country, with 32% of voters identifying as liberal. Cost of living for retirees: 6.1% below the national average. Like everywhere else, gas prices here are high. There are also neutral states, usually referred to as swing states because these states could go either Democratic or Republican in an election. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. Located just across the bridge from San Francisco, Berkeley has been synonymous with Progressive politics for decades. Atlanta drives that number down a bit, with a cost of living thats 2%higherthan average. The country has a cost ofliving index of 19.92. Swannanoa boasts an overall cost of living that is only 3.1% higher than the national average. A can of peaches in the state that's known for them will cost about 30% less in Georgia than in Southern California. Part college town and part beach town, Santa Cruz has long attracted hippies and other Progressive folks. Both scores are very low compared to national averages. Nicknamed The Ville for its picturesque Tudor-style downtown, Swarthmore is a small town with a laid-back ambiance. But they're running about 20% less than in California. Mississippi is the cheapest place to live in the United States, with a cost of living 15.6% lower than the national average. 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. Even though youll likely pay average prices for groceries and health care, housing in Iowa is pretty darn cheap. If you were to relocate to Tennessee, you would enjoy the lack of state income tax, as well as low grocery costs. Florida. The median home price in St. Paul Park is $204,800, while you can find a place to rent for just $891. 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. Let us know in the comments below! 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. Your home will cost about one-sixth as much in the Midwestern Manhattan as it would on the famous island back east. Outdoor-loving college students are sure to love living in Boulder. Well talk a little about each states culture too. "https://www.fortunebuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cheap-states-to-live.jpg", Make a confident decision by considering these 15 factors that will impact your life. "datePublished": "2022-06-23", Learn More. Indianas cost of living is 10% less than the U.S. average. Regarding the local political scene, approximately 53% of Annandale on Hudson residents vote Democrat. 2023 CNBC LLC. Top 10 spoken languages, globally. 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. These ten states were the cheapest to live in over the past year. The Democratic Party is considered to be the liberal political party of the United States. Fortunately, Berkeley is full of college students/potential roommates. Here are the top 10 cheapest states to live in, according to WalletHubs report. Illinois States with Best Home Price to Income Ratio 1. Keep reading to take a quick tour of the United States, as we make a pit stop at 12 different states to explore why they are the most affordable in the nation. Michiganders do payaboveaverage for utilities and transportation, and car insurance is more expensive there than almost anywhere else in America. Taxes: Taxes vary from state to state, so its a good idea to look at the tax rates and any tax benefits that those states may offer. 1. Cheapest States to Live MOST CONSERVATIVE States In America, 2020 - HomeSnacks Pound for pound, it will cost you less than half what it would in Seattle, where it wouldn't exactly be "Southern" fried chicken anyway. New Hampshire is the sixth-most liberal state in a tie with New York at 30%. If you have a lot of food costs, such as feeding a large family, note that Kentucky residents pay about 9 When picking a place to settle down, you may consider several factors, such as education, climate or job opportunities. The median home price is $186,500. List of the largest-to-smallest continents by land area. The state economy runs on agriculture and trade, and it helps that transportation costs are so low. Maybe! On the flip side, the cost of living is likely even cheaper than Morgantown in the mountains of southern and western West Virginia. 2022 Cost of Living Score: 42 out of 50 points (Top States Grade: A-), Consumer Price Index (May, Midwest Region): Up 8.8%, Average home price (Bloomington): $408,649. Time to move! So, how much does housing cost in Georgia, and how much do most people make? However, students living off-campus should be prepared for living costs averaging slightly higher than the norm. See for yourself: Georgias average housing costs definitely arent cheap. 2022 Cost of Living Score: 46 out of 50 points (Top States Grade: A), Average home price (Chattanooga): $357,465. Urban Vs. The scores can change year-over-year and do not consider personal preferences such as available industries or climate. All Rights Reserved. The monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment in Oakland averages just over $1,700. Theyre top-performing agents who live and work all over the country. This is evidenced by the fact that more than 75% of Santa Cruzs population votes blue. A one-bedroom apartment in Norton can be rented for about $890 per month almost $350 less than the average for Massachusetts as a whole.