25 Best Cities for Accountants in 2026
Accountants and CPAs are among the most geographically flexible professionals, with demand in virtually every industry and market. The best cities combine strong business activity, competitive compensation, and manageable cost of living, since accounting salaries are relatively uniform nationally and the real differentiator is often what you keep after housing costs.
Methodology
Scoring weights: rent-to-income ratio (35%, inverted), median income (30%), unemployment rate (25%, inverted), violent crime rate (10%, inverted).
Laconia
New Hampshire
Median Income
$97,692
Median Rent
$1,037/mo
Rent/Income
13%
Unemployment
2.1%
Heber
Utah
Median Income
$134,986
Median Rent
$2,434/mo
Rent/Income
22%
Unemployment
2.5%
Lexington Park
Maryland
Median Income
$116,297
Median Rent
$1,718/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.0%
Bismarck
North Dakota
Median Income
$83,440
Median Rent
$951/mo
Rent/Income
14%
Unemployment
2.0%
Concord
New Hampshire
Median Income
$92,110
Median Rent
$1,398/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.0%
Manchester-Nashua
New Hampshire
Median Income
$103,727
Median Rent
$1,668/mo
Rent/Income
19%
Unemployment
2.4%
Keene
New Hampshire
Median Income
$89,314
Median Rent
$1,259/mo
Rent/Income
17%
Unemployment
2.3%
Burlington-South Burlington
Vermont
Median Income
$95,497
Median Rent
$1,604/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Unemployment
1.6%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
California
Median Income
$153,202
Median Rent
$2,773/mo
Rent/Income
22%
Unemployment
3.6%
Ogden
Utah
Median Income
$100,461
Median Rent
$1,528/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.5%
Torrington
Connecticut
Median Income
$91,020
Median Rent
$1,141/mo
Rent/Income
15%
Unemployment
3.0%
Watertown-Fort Atkinson
Wisconsin
Median Income
$82,864
Median Rent
$953/mo
Rent/Income
14%
Unemployment
2.5%
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
Median Income
$76,226
Median Rent
$988/mo
Rent/Income
16%
Unemployment
1.7%
Appleton
Wisconsin
Median Income
$83,966
Median Rent
$1,087/mo
Rent/Income
16%
Unemployment
2.3%
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury
Connecticut
Median Income
$111,058
Median Rent
$1,862/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Unemployment
3.1%
Provo-Orem-Lehi
Utah
Median Income
$100,791
Median Rent
$1,556/mo
Rent/Income
19%
Unemployment
2.7%
Portland-South Portland
Maine
Median Income
$92,117
Median Rent
$1,551/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Unemployment
2.2%
Lebanon-Claremont
New Hampshire
Median Income
$78,937
Median Rent
$1,218/mo
Rent/Income
19%
Unemployment
1.9%
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
Minnesota
Median Income
$95,102
Median Rent
$1,427/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.6%
Kapaa
Hawaii
Median Income
$103,564
Median Rent
$1,816/mo
Rent/Income
21%
Unemployment
2.6%
Fargo
North Dakota
Median Income
$72,889
Median Rent
$989/mo
Rent/Income
16%
Unemployment
1.9%
Decatur
Alabama
Median Income
$72,956
Median Rent
$854/mo
Rent/Income
14%
Unemployment
2.1%
Logan
Utah
Median Income
$85,111
Median Rent
$1,253/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.4%
Sheboygan
Wisconsin
Median Income
$72,902
Median Rent
$895/mo
Rent/Income
15%
Unemployment
2.3%
Grand Forks
North Dakota
Median Income
$71,529
Median Rent
$908/mo
Rent/Income
15%
Unemployment
2.2%
Frequently Asked Questions
Does being a CPA significantly increase accounting salaries?
Yes. CPAs earn 10 to 20 percent more on average than non-certified accountants, and the credential opens doors to senior roles, public accounting partnerships, and CFO tracks.
Is accounting a good career in mid-size cities?
Excellent. Mid-size metros with strong business communities, regional corporate headquarters, and healthcare or manufacturing sectors have consistent accounting demand with lower competition than major hubs.
How is technology changing accounting jobs?
Automation handles routine bookkeeping and transaction processing, shifting demand toward advisory, tax strategy, and forensic accounting. CPAs with data analytics and advisory skills have the strongest long-term prospects.