Find the most affordable places to live in the US with our data-driven ranking of housing costs, utilities, and overall value.
This page is generated from OCity’s city database rather than interviews, personal visits or unverified survey claims. It is intended as a transparent starting point for comparing city-level records; review the linked city profiles and current local sources before making a relocation decision.
| Rank | City | State | Population | Median Income | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brownsville ★ Top Pick | TX | 190,166 | $49,920 | |
| 2 | TX | 105,803 | $61,059 | ||
| 3 | TX | 146,599 | $60,200 | ||
| 4 | KS | 125,480 | $52,417 | ||
| 5 | LA | 121,452 | $61,258 | ||
| 6 | LA | 177,225 | $48,486 | ||
| 7 | AZ | 100,861 | $61,977 | ||
| 8 | TX | 252,974 | $60,720 | ||
| 9 | IL | 113,442 | $52,796 | ||
| 10 | GA | 201,877 | $51,835 | ||
| 11 | AR | 203,844 | $59,762 | ||
| 12 | MO | 129,328 | $62,972 | ||
| 13 | IA | 100,361 | $69,595 | ||
| 14 | NM | 114,891 | $55,012 | ||
| 15 | MO | 170,178 | $47,728 |
Eligible rows have more than 100,000 residents plus positive population, median-household-income and cost-of-living fields. Ordering is calculated from the category-specific city fields in the OCity database, with city and state used only as deterministic tie-breakers. These are exploratory screening proxies, not direct measurements of individual outcomes, job openings, venues or neighborhood conditions.
Brownsville, TX ranks #1 in this city-level screening with a population of 190,166 and a median household income of $49,920. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 85.2 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.
Edinburg, TX ranks #2 in this city-level screening with a population of 105,803 and a median household income of $61,059. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 85.6 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.
McAllen, TX ranks #3 in this city-level screening with a population of 146,599 and a median household income of $60,200. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 85.6 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.
Topeka, KS ranks #4 in this city-level screening with a population of 125,480 and a median household income of $52,417. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 85.9 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.
Lafayette, LA ranks #5 in this city-level screening with a population of 121,452 and a median household income of $61,258. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 87 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.
Shreveport, LA ranks #6 in this city-level screening with a population of 177,225 and a median household income of $48,486. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 87.1 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.
Yuma, AZ ranks #7 in this city-level screening with a population of 100,861 and a median household income of $61,977. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 87.5 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.
Laredo, TX ranks #8 in this city-level screening with a population of 252,974 and a median household income of $60,720. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 87.8 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.
Peoria, IL ranks #9 in this city-level screening with a population of 113,442 and a median household income of $52,796. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 88.6 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.
Columbus, GA ranks #10 in this city-level screening with a population of 201,877 and a median household income of $51,835. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 88.8 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.
Little Rock, AR ranks #11 in this city-level screening with a population of 203,844 and a median household income of $59,762. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 89.1 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.
Columbia, MO ranks #12 in this city-level screening with a population of 129,328 and a median household income of $62,972. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 89.3 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.
Davenport, IA ranks #13 in this city-level screening with a population of 100,361 and a median household income of $69,595. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 89.3 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.
Las Cruces, NM ranks #14 in this city-level screening with a population of 114,891 and a median household income of $55,012. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 89.3 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.
Springfield, MO ranks #15 in this city-level screening with a population of 170,178 and a median household income of $47,728. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 89.3 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.
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