25 Best Cities for Nurses in 2026
Nurses are in demand virtually everywhere, but some cities offer far better pay, lower cost of living, and stronger healthcare infrastructure than others. We ranked metros weighting income and affordability equally, since nursing salaries vary significantly by state and locale, and cost of living can make or break a nursing career financially.
Methodology
Scoring weights: median income (30%), rent-to-income ratio (30%, inverted), unemployment rate (20%, inverted), violent crime rate (20%, inverted).
Laconia
New Hampshire
Median Income
$97,692
Median Rent
$1,037/mo
Rent/Income
13%
Violent Crime
107/100k
Heber
Utah
Median Income
$134,986
Median Rent
$2,434/mo
Rent/Income
22%
Violent Crime
232/100k
Manchester-Nashua
New Hampshire
Median Income
$103,727
Median Rent
$1,668/mo
Rent/Income
19%
Violent Crime
107/100k
Concord
New Hampshire
Median Income
$92,110
Median Rent
$1,398/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Violent Crime
107/100k
Keene
New Hampshire
Median Income
$89,314
Median Rent
$1,259/mo
Rent/Income
17%
Violent Crime
107/100k
Lexington Park
Maryland
Median Income
$116,297
Median Rent
$1,718/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Violent Crime
426/100k
Bismarck
North Dakota
Median Income
$83,440
Median Rent
$951/mo
Rent/Income
14%
Violent Crime
267/100k
Torrington
Connecticut
Median Income
$91,020
Median Rent
$1,141/mo
Rent/Income
15%
Violent Crime
150/100k
Burlington-South Burlington
Vermont
Median Income
$95,497
Median Rent
$1,604/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Violent Crime
210/100k
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury
Connecticut
Median Income
$111,058
Median Rent
$1,862/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Violent Crime
150/100k
Portland-South Portland
Maine
Median Income
$92,117
Median Rent
$1,551/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Violent Crime
102/100k
Ogden
Utah
Median Income
$100,461
Median Rent
$1,528/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Violent Crime
232/100k
Lebanon-Claremont
New Hampshire
Median Income
$78,937
Median Rent
$1,218/mo
Rent/Income
19%
Violent Crime
107/100k
Provo-Orem-Lehi
Utah
Median Income
$100,791
Median Rent
$1,556/mo
Rent/Income
19%
Violent Crime
232/100k
Kapaa
Hawaii
Median Income
$103,564
Median Rent
$1,816/mo
Rent/Income
21%
Violent Crime
187/100k
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
California
Median Income
$153,202
Median Rent
$2,773/mo
Rent/Income
22%
Violent Crime
508/100k
Watertown-Fort Atkinson
Wisconsin
Median Income
$82,864
Median Rent
$953/mo
Rent/Income
14%
Violent Crime
289/100k
Putnam
Connecticut
Median Income
$88,806
Median Rent
$1,217/mo
Rent/Income
16%
Violent Crime
150/100k
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
Minnesota
Median Income
$95,102
Median Rent
$1,427/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Violent Crime
261/100k
Appleton
Wisconsin
Median Income
$83,966
Median Rent
$1,087/mo
Rent/Income
16%
Violent Crime
289/100k
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford
Connecticut
Median Income
$92,176
Median Rent
$1,397/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Violent Crime
150/100k
Logan
Utah
Median Income
$85,111
Median Rent
$1,253/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Violent Crime
232/100k
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
Median Income
$76,226
Median Rent
$988/mo
Rent/Income
16%
Violent Crime
350/100k
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
Median Income
$103,131
Median Rent
$2,033/mo
Rent/Income
24%
Violent Crime
187/100k
Faribault-Northfield
Minnesota
Median Income
$81,455
Median Rent
$1,028/mo
Rent/Income
15%
Violent Crime
261/100k
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states pay nurses the most?
California consistently leads with average RN salaries above $120k due to strong union contracts and high cost of living adjustments. Hawaii, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Alaska also rank near the top for nursing compensation.
Is there a nursing shortage in certain cities?
Yes. Rural areas and many Midwestern cities face persistent nursing shortages, which creates hiring bonuses and accelerated career advancement. Urban coastal markets can be more competitive.
How do travel nursing opportunities affect city rankings?
Cities with large hospital systems offer more opportunities for travel nurses seeking premium contracts. Crisis contracts in high-demand markets can pay significantly above the standard rate shown in metro-level income data.