25 Best Cities for Software Engineers in 2026
Software engineers have the luxury of relocating almost anywhere, which makes finding the right city a real optimization problem. We ranked metros on a composite score balancing high median incomes, strong tech job markets, reasonable cost of living, and low crime rates. A city that pays well but costs a fortune to live in ranks lower than one with a genuinely strong real-wage advantage.
Methodology
Scoring weights: median income (35%), rent-to-income ratio (25%, inverted), unemployment rate (20%, inverted), violent crime rate (15%, inverted), cost-of-living index (5%, 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%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
California
Median Income
$153,202
Median Rent
$2,773/mo
Rent/Income
22%
Unemployment
3.6%
Lexington Park
Maryland
Median Income
$116,297
Median Rent
$1,718/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%
Concord
New Hampshire
Median Income
$92,110
Median Rent
$1,398/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.0%
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury
Connecticut
Median Income
$111,058
Median Rent
$1,862/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Unemployment
3.1%
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%
Ogden
Utah
Median Income
$100,461
Median Rent
$1,528/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.5%
Bismarck
North Dakota
Median Income
$83,440
Median Rent
$951/mo
Rent/Income
14%
Unemployment
2.0%
Portland-South Portland
Maine
Median Income
$92,117
Median Rent
$1,551/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Unemployment
2.2%
Torrington
Connecticut
Median Income
$91,020
Median Rent
$1,141/mo
Rent/Income
15%
Unemployment
3.0%
Kapaa
Hawaii
Median Income
$103,564
Median Rent
$1,816/mo
Rent/Income
21%
Unemployment
2.6%
Provo-Orem-Lehi
Utah
Median Income
$100,791
Median Rent
$1,556/mo
Rent/Income
19%
Unemployment
2.7%
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%
Watertown-Fort Atkinson
Wisconsin
Median Income
$82,864
Median Rent
$953/mo
Rent/Income
14%
Unemployment
2.5%
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
Median Income
$103,131
Median Rent
$2,033/mo
Rent/Income
24%
Unemployment
2.6%
Appleton
Wisconsin
Median Income
$83,966
Median Rent
$1,087/mo
Rent/Income
16%
Unemployment
2.3%
Putnam
Connecticut
Median Income
$88,806
Median Rent
$1,217/mo
Rent/Income
16%
Unemployment
3.3%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford
Connecticut
Median Income
$92,176
Median Rent
$1,397/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
3.2%
Logan
Utah
Median Income
$85,111
Median Rent
$1,253/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.4%
Charlottesville
Virginia
Median Income
$92,265
Median Rent
$1,540/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Unemployment
2.5%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Massachusetts
Median Income
$110,697
Median Rent
$2,000/mo
Rent/Income
22%
Unemployment
3.2%
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cities pay software engineers the most?
San Jose, Seattle, and San Francisco pay the highest nominal salaries. However, after adjusting for cost of living, metros like Austin, Raleigh, and Denver often offer stronger real purchasing power.
Is remote work changing the best cities for software engineers?
Significantly. Many engineers now prioritize affordability and quality of life over proximity to tech hubs. Mid-tier cities like Salt Lake City, Columbus, and Nashville are gaining ground as software talent spreads out.
What makes a city good for software engineers beyond salary?
A strong tech community, good startup ecosystems, low traffic, and a reasonable cost of living all matter. Access to conferences, co-working spaces, and peer networks also influences where engineers thrive long-term.