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GOBankingRates
The Most Livable City in Each State — Could You Afford a Home There?
By J. David Herman,
19 hours ago
Feverpitched / iStock.com
Could you manage to buy a home in the “nicest” city in your state?
It may depend on how you define “nicest,” which doesn’t necessarily mean “most expensive.” On the contrary, data-driven outlets like AreaVibes generally include affordability as they calculate livability scores. Other common factors include crime rates, health and safety, commutes, school ratings, environmental quality and weather.
Based on the most recent zero-to-100 livability scores from AreaVibes — combined with cost-of-living data from Sperlings BestPlaces, Zillow and other sources — average mortgage costs vary widely for the most livable cities in each state. In one state’s most livable city, an average mortgage will run you just $757 a month. In another state, it’s $19,061.
GOBankingRates has combined all of this data into a state-by-state list highlighting each state’s most livable spot, according to AreaVibes. The list also includes total population, the average value of a single-family home, the aforementioned average monthly mortgage cost and the average total monthly cost of living.
As for the livability ratings themselves, they range from 75 in Washington (the only option for the District of Columbia) to more sparkling 94s in the two states with the highest-rated cities.
If you’re thinking of moving to one of these locales, keep your eyes on housing prices. Word gets around when cities earn publicity for high livability scores, which can drive housing costs up.
Average value of a single-family home : $3,199,416
Average monthly mortgage cost : $19,061
Average total monthly cost of living : $21,237
Colorado: Lafayette
Livability score : 90
Total population : 30,295
Average value of a single-family home : $744,320
Average monthly mortgage cost : $4,434
Average total monthly cost of living : $6,221
Connecticut: New Milford
Livability score : 85
Total population : 7,095
Average value of a single-family home : $475,530
Average monthly mortgage cost : $2,833
Average total monthly cost of living : $4,866
Delaware: Newark
Livability score : 83
Total population : 30,655
Average value of a single-family home : $352,939
Average monthly mortgage cost : $2,103
Average total monthly cost of living : $4,155
District of Columbia: Washington
Livability score : 75
Total population : 670,587
Average value of a single-family home : $732,079
Average monthly mortgage cost : $4,361
Average total monthly cost of living : $6,469
Florida: Wilton Manors
Livability score : 91
Total population : 11,451
Average value of a single-family home : $769,550
Average monthly mortgage cost : $4,585
Average total monthly cost of living : $6,588
Georgia: Avondale Estates
Livability score : 87
Total population : 3,507
Average value of a single-family home : $597,840
Average monthly mortgage cost : $3,562
Average total monthly cost of living : $5,563
Hawaii: Kailua
Livability score : 83
Total population : 40,323
Average value of a single-family home : $1,551,469
Average monthly mortgage cost : $9,243
Average total monthly cost of living : $11,616
Idaho: Post Falls
Livability score : 88
Total population : 40,002
Average value of a single-family home : $502,415
Average monthly mortgage cost : $2,993
Average total monthly cost of living : $4,739
Illinois: Jerome
Livability score : 92
Total population : 2,194
Average value of a single-family home : $141,152
Average monthly mortgage cost : $841
Average total monthly cost of living : $2,664
Indiana: West Lafayette
Livability score : 90
Total population : 44,861
Average value of a single-family home : $359,679
Average monthly mortgage cost : $2,143
Average total monthly cost of living : $3,835
Iowa: Ankeny
Livability score : 92
Total population : 68,392
Average value of a single-family home : $348,897
Average monthly mortgage cost : $2,079
Average total monthly cost of living : $3,873
Kansas: Lawrence
Livability score : 88
Total population : 95,103
Average value of a single-family home : $313,306
Average monthly mortgage cost : $1,867
Average total monthly cost of living : $3,851
Kentucky: Bellevue
Livability score : 92
Total population : 5,596
Average value of a single-family home : $232,956
Average monthly mortgage cost : $1,388
Average total monthly cost of living : $3,225
Louisiana: Metairie
Livability score : 85
Total population : 140,046
Average value of a single-family home : $294,384
Average monthly mortgage cost : $1,754
Average total monthly cost of living : $3,645
Maine: Freeport
Livability score : 88
Total population : 1,848
Average value of a single-family home : $656,489
Average monthly mortgage cost : $3,911
Average total monthly cost of living : $5,708
Maryland: University Park
Livability score : 93
Total population : 2,610
Average value of a single-family home : $676,458
Average monthly mortgage cost : $4,030
Average total monthly cost of living : $6,030
Massachusetts: Lexington
Livability score : 92
Total population : 34,221
Average value of a single-family home : $1,678,221
Average monthly mortgage cost : $9,998
Average total monthly cost of living : $12,000
Michigan: Clawson
Livability score : 92
Total population : 11,388
Average value of a single-family home : $286,904
Average monthly mortgage cost : $1,709
Average total monthly cost of living : $3,484
Minnesota: Rochester
Livability score : 92
Total population : 120,848
Average value of a single-family home : $333,946
Average monthly mortgage cost : $1,989
Average total monthly cost of living : $3,701
Mississippi: Oxford
Livability score : 88
Total population : 25,713
Average value of a single-family home : $355,918
Average monthly mortgage cost : $2,120
Average total monthly cost of living : $3,892
Missouri: Maplewood
Livability score : 87
Total population : 8,205
Average value of a single-family home : $262,801
Average monthly mortgage cost : $1,566
Average total monthly cost of living : $3,336
Montana: Bozeman
Livability score : 87
Total population : 53,500
Average value of a single-family home : $840,552
Average monthly mortgage cost : $5,008
Average total monthly cost of living : $6,940
Nebraska: Bellevue
Livability score : 87
Total population : 63,336
Average value of a single-family home : $287,896
Average monthly mortgage cost : $1,715
Average total monthly cost of living : $3,613
Nevada: Las Vegas
Livability score : 82
Total population : 644,835
Average value of a single-family home : $445,368
Average monthly mortgage cost : $2,653
Average total monthly cost of living : $4,609
New Hampshire: Concord
Livability score : 88
Total population : 44,049
Average value of a single-family home : $443,470
Average monthly mortgage cost : $2,642
Average total monthly cost of living : $4,379
New Jersey: Pompton Lakes
Livability score : 92
Total population : 11,052
Average value of a single-family home : $505,802
Average monthly mortgage cost : $3,013
Average total monthly cost of living : $5,047
New Mexico: Los Alamos
Livability score : 81
Total population : 13,460
Average value of a single-family home : $583,906
Average monthly mortgage cost : $3,479
Average total monthly cost of living : $5,084
New York: Pittsford
Livability score : 93
Total population: 1,644
Average value of a single-family home : $469,157
Average monthly mortgage cost : $2,795
Average total monthly cost of living : $4,710
North Carolina: Cary
Livability score : 90
Total population : 174,880
Average value of a single-family home : $648,080
Average monthly mortgage cost : $3,861
Average total monthly cost of living : $5,646
North Dakota: Fargo
Livability score : 84
Total population : 127,319
Average value of a single-family home : $305,933
Average monthly mortgage cost : $1,823
Average total monthly cost of living : $3,539
Ohio: Grandview Heights
Livability score : 94
Total population : 8,258
Average value of a single-family home : $559,580
Average monthly mortgage cost : $3,334
Average total monthly cost of living : $5,101
Oklahoma: Norman
Livability score : 83
Total population : 127,701
Average value of a single-family home : $257,825
Average monthly mortgage cost : $1,536
Average total monthly cost of living : $3,401
Oregon: Sherwood
Livability score : 92
Total population : 20,286
Average value of a single-family home : $667,107
Average monthly mortgage cost : $3,974
Average total monthly cost of living : $5,864
Pennsylvania: Jenkintown
Livability score : 94
Total population : 4,703
Average value of a single-family home : $517,453
Average monthly mortgage cost : $3,083
Average total monthly cost of living : $5,039
Rhode Island: Cranston
Livability score : 85
Total population : 82,691
Average value of a single-family home : $424,290
Average monthly mortgage cost : $2,528
Average total monthly cost of living : $4,419
South Carolina: Simpsonville
Livability score : 86
Total population : 24,133
Average value of a single-family home : $368,773
Average monthly mortgage cost : $2,197
Average total monthly cost of living : $3,973
South Dakota: Brandon
Livability score : 87
Total population : 10,919
Average value of a single-family home : $381,333
Average monthly mortgage cost : $2,272
Average total monthly cost of living : $4,050
Tennessee: Clarksville
Livability score : 83
Total population : 167,882
Average value of a single-family home : $306,831
Average monthly mortgage cost : $1,828
Average total monthly cost of living : $3,609
Texas: The Woodlands
Livability score : 91
Total population : 118,402
Average value of a single-family home : $517,000
Average monthly mortgage cost : $3,080
Average total monthly cost of living : $4,929
Utah: Kaysville
Livability score : 89
Total population : 32,714
Average value of a single-family home : $645,458
Average monthly mortgage cost : $3,845
Average total monthly cost of living : $5,618
Vermont: Essex Junction
Livability score : 90
Total population : 10,646
Average value of a single-family home : $515,992
Average monthly mortgage cost : $3,074
Average total monthly cost of living : $5,173
Virginia: Lynchburg
Livability score : 91
Total population : 79,166
Average value of a single-family home : $254,394
Average monthly mortgage cost : $1,516
Average total monthly cost of living : $3,283
Washington: Monroe North
Livability score : 91
Total population : 1,880
Average value of a single-family home : $736,600
Average monthly mortgage cost : $4,388
Average total monthly cost of living : $6,176
West Virginia: Nutter Fort
Livability score : 87
Total population : 1,700
Average value of a single-family home : $127,002
Average monthly mortgage cost : $757
Average total monthly cost of living : $2,644
Wisconsin: Whitefish Bay
Livability score : 93
Total population : 14,804
Average value of a single-family home : $600,376
Average monthly mortgage cost : $3,577
Average total monthly cost of living : $5,402
Wyoming: Cheyenne
Livability score : 83
Total population : 64,795
Average value of a single-family home : $368,600
Average monthly mortgage cost : $2,196
Average total monthly cost of living : $4,183
Methodology : For this study, GOBankingRates first sourced the highest livability city in each state from AreaVibes. A number of factors were determined for each city, including total population, total households and household median income (all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey); cost-of-living indexes (sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces) and the average single-family home value from May 2024 (sourced from the Zillow Home Value Index). Average mortgage costs were calculated assuming a 10% downpayment and using the 30-year fixed mortgage rate as sourced from Federal Reserve Economic Data. The total cost of living was calculated by combining the average monthly mortgage and average monthly expenditures. All data was collected on and is up to date as of July 9, 2024.
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