Best affordable place to live in every state

Frederick Reese
Classic American homes lining the street with white fences.
Beanykin // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B+
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 58,335
- Median household income: $131,436
- Median home value: $367,900

Alabama: Madison
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An aerial view of the Kenai River in the mountains.
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- Overall Niche grade: B
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: B
- Population: 7,562
- Median household income: $74,907
- Median home value: $249,400

Alaska: Kenai
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Lyman Lake Reservoir, St. Johns, Arizona.
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- Overall Niche grade: A
- Cost of living grade: B+
- Public schools grade: A
- Population: 3,409
- Median household income: $128,920
- Median home value: $180,900

Arizona: St. Johns
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Modern brick homes.
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- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 56,326
- Median household income: $108,465
- Median home value: $370,700

Arkansas: Bentonville
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Ridgecrest from the hills above.
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- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: B+
- Population: 28,138
- Median household income: $88,107
- Median home value: $235,800

California: Ridgecrest
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Angled sandstone cliffs and nearby homes.
Patrick Poendl // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A-
- Population: 9,365
- Median household income: $167,671
- Median home value: $648,100

Colorado: Roxborough Park
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A white and black historic home.
Rachel Rose Boucher // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 7,860
- Median household income: $133,450
- Median home value: $367,000

Connecticut: Glastonbury Center
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An artist painting in a park.
John Greim/LightRocket // Getty Images

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B
- Public schools grade: A
- Population: 13,608
- Median household income: $172,695
- Median home value: $550,200

Delaware: Hockessin
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Golfers walking across the course.
Mike Ehrmann // Getty Images

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A
- Population: 24,818
- Median household income: $120,070
- Median home value: $491,300

Florida: Westchase
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An aerial view of homes and townhouses in Fall.
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- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 82,115
- Median household income: $160,185
- Median home value: $583,700

Georgia: Johns Creek
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An aerial view of the turquoise water and shoreline.
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- Overall Niche grade: B-
- Cost of living grade: grade
- Public schools grade: C+
- Population: 3,721
- Median household income: $76,944
- Median home value: $335,200

Hawaii: Kaunakakai
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A country road winding through purple flowers and quaint homes.
Sergey Zaykov // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: B
- Population: 5,251
- Median household income: $78,278
- Median home value: $267,200

Idaho: Rigby
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An aerial view of Naperville.
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 149,424
- Median household income: $150,937
- Median home value: $509,900

Illinois: Naperville
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A small downtown street scene in Carmel.
Little Vignettes Photo // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 100,501
- Median household income: $134,602
- Median home value: $455,500

Indiana: Carmel
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A white picket fence on a residential street.
trekandshoot // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A
- Population: 1,232
- Median household income: $105,172
- Median home value: $393,200

Iowa: University Heights
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People ice skating.
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- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 33,844
- Median household income: $184,976
- Median home value: $620,400

Kansas: Leawood
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A tudor-style home.
Nicholas J Kline // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: A-
- Public schools grade: A-
- Population: 3,155
- Median household income: $102,112
- Median home value: $274,200

Kentucky: Park Hills
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An aerial view of suburbs.
Trong Nguyen // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A
- Cost of living grade: B+
- Public schools grade: A
- Population: 35,010
- Median household income: $115,610
- Median home value: $302,200

Louisiana: Prairieville
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Visitors at Cumberland Fair.
Enrico Della Pietra // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A
- Population: 8,546
- Median household income: $154,375
- Median home value: $554,100

Maine: Cumberland
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A sidewalk leading to large modern homes in North Potomac.
Benjamin C Tankersley/For The Washington Post // Getty Images

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 23,994
- Median household income: $186,438
- Median home value: $793,200

Maryland: North Potomac
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The view of Fall leaves from Mount Holyoke.
Dan Schreiber // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A
- Population: 1,332
- Median household income: $121,667
- Median home value: $412,800

Massachusetts: Pelham
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An aerial view of Okemos.
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 25,503
- Median household income: $97,603
- Median home value: $336,800

Michigan: Okemos
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Happy people at the State Fair.
Debra Anderson // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A-
- Population: 5,145
- Median household income: $93,233
- Median home value: $366,800

Minnesota: Falcon Heights
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A beautiful home by a lake in Fall.
Jane Karren Baker // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 27,775
- Median household income: $120,918
- Median home value: $334,700

Mississippi: Madison
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The front door of a brick home.
Joseph Hendrickson // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 8,151
- Median household income: $86,641
- Median home value: $276,100

Missouri: Brentwood
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A person on horseback with mountains in the background.
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: B
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: B
- Population: 2,553
- Median household income: $47,348
- Median home value: $158,400

Montana: Conrad
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An aerial view of Papillion.
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A
- Cost of living grade: B
- Public schools grade: A-
- Population: 24,063
- Median household income: $109,602
- Median home value: $290,900

Nebraska: Papillion
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A quiet downtown street with mountains in the background.
Sandra Foyt // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: B
- Cost of living grade: B+
- Public schools grade: C
- Population: 3,941
- Median household income: $86,389
- Median home value: $201,500

Nevada: Ely
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An aerial view of Hanover.
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- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 11,702
- Median household income: $163,654
- Median home value: $755,700

New Hampshire: Hanover
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A train station in Princeton Junction.
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- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 1,842
- Median household income: $219,375
- Median home value: $669,100

New Jersey: Princeton Junction
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A mailbox at sunset.
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- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: B
- Population: 6,122
- Median household income: $81,227
- Median home value: $278,100

New Mexico: Edgewood
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Two cyclists on a wooded trail.
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- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 5,005
- Median household income: $250,001
- Median home value: $792,900

New York: Ardsley
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An aerial view of Cary.
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- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A
- Population: 176,686
- Median household income: $129,399
- Median home value: $525,200

North Carolina: Cary
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A historic street in West Fargo.
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- Overall Niche grade: A
- Cost of living grade: B+
- Public schools grade: B
- Population: 39,325
- Median household income: $96,877
- Median home value: $302,200

North Dakota: West Fargo
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A tree-lined neighborhood.
Kirk Fisher // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 13,374
- Median household income: $116,663
- Median home value: $365,700

Ohio: Blue Ash
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An aerial view of sunny, green Edmond.
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- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 95,618
- Median household income: $102,032
- Median home value: $324,900

Oklahoma: Edmond
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A historic downtown street in Lakeview.
Ian Dewar Photography // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: B
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: B-
- Population: 3,043
- Median household income: $70,436
- Median home value: $198,000

Oregon: Lakeview
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An aerial view of Chesterbrook.
Erik Gonzalez // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 5,439
- Median household income: $140,972
- Median home value: $432,200

Pennsylvania: Chesterbrook
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A small path and homes on the water.
Faina Gurevich // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 14,407
- Median household income: $149,577
- Median home value: $612,100

Rhode Island: East Greenwich
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A man walking dogs on a nature trail.
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- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 13,267
- Median household income: $141,037
- Median home value: $494,500

South Carolina: Tega Cay
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An aerial view of Brandon.
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A
- Cost of living grade: B+
- Public schools grade: A
- Population: 10,996
- Median household income: $104,806
- Median home value: $317,300

South Dakota: Brandon
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A rustic wooden rocking chair and pumpkins on a porch.
Wirestock Collection // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 14,545
- Median household income: $170,068
- Median home value: $695,100

Tennessee: Nolensville
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An aerial view of homes in Cinco Ranch.
Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle // Getty Images

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 19,139
- Median household income: $157,395
- Median home value: $459,500

Texas: Cinco Ranch
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Two adirondack chairs on a wooden deck overlooking a forest.
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- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A-
- Population: 1,864
- Median household income: $82,019
- Median home value: $281,400

Utah: Benson
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A historic building and wooden fence surrounded by Fall foliage.
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- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 3,628
- Median household income: $140,139
- Median home value: $576,300

Vermont: Norwich
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A walking path next to a lake.
Leo Colbert // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B
- Public schools grade: A
- Population: 8,559
- Median household income: $130,534
- Median home value: $445,600

Virginia: Innsbrook
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The sun setting over a highway winding through wheat fields.
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- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Cost of living grade: B-
- Public schools grade: A
- Population: 2,785
- Median household income: $56,929
- Median home value: $246,300

Washington: Colfax
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A residential street in Fall.
Matt LaVigne // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B+
- Public schools grade: A
- Population: 1,894
- Median household income: $62,031
- Median home value: $256,800

West Virginia: Star City
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Charming homes on a sunny day.
Nicholas J Kline // Shutterstock

- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Cost of living grade: B
- Public schools grade: A+
- Population: 2,136
- Median household income: $135,688
- Median home value: $369,300

Wisconsin: Kohler
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Homes in Fall leaves.
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- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Cost of living grade: A-
- Public schools grade: A-
- Population: 2,788
- Median household income: $74,375
- Median home value: $173,100

Data reporting by Rob Powell. Additional writing by Ali Hickerson.

Wyoming: Kemmerer
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Pretty homes in a quaint neighborhood.
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