25 Best Cities for Teachers in 2026
Teaching is one of the most rewarding and most financially challenging careers in America. The best cities for teachers balance competitive district salaries with an affordable cost of living, since teacher pay is often below the median for college-educated workers. We weighted affordability as the single biggest factor.
Methodology
Scoring weights: rent-to-income ratio (40%, inverted), cost-of-living index (20%, 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%
COL Index
-
Bismarck
North Dakota
Median Income
$83,440
Median Rent
$951/mo
Rent/Income
14%
COL Index
-
Keene
New Hampshire
Median Income
$89,314
Median Rent
$1,259/mo
Rent/Income
17%
COL Index
-
Concord
New Hampshire
Median Income
$92,110
Median Rent
$1,398/mo
Rent/Income
18%
COL Index
-
Lebanon-Claremont
New Hampshire
Median Income
$78,937
Median Rent
$1,218/mo
Rent/Income
19%
COL Index
-
Torrington
Connecticut
Median Income
$91,020
Median Rent
$1,141/mo
Rent/Income
15%
COL Index
-
Manitowoc
Wisconsin
Median Income
$68,297
Median Rent
$752/mo
Rent/Income
13%
COL Index
-
Watertown-Fort Atkinson
Wisconsin
Median Income
$82,864
Median Rent
$953/mo
Rent/Income
14%
COL Index
-
Grand Forks
North Dakota
Median Income
$71,529
Median Rent
$908/mo
Rent/Income
15%
COL Index
-
Grand Island
Nebraska
Median Income
$70,919
Median Rent
$947/mo
Rent/Income
16%
COL Index
-
Fargo
North Dakota
Median Income
$72,889
Median Rent
$989/mo
Rent/Income
16%
COL Index
-
Sheboygan
Wisconsin
Median Income
$72,902
Median Rent
$895/mo
Rent/Income
15%
COL Index
-
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
Median Income
$76,226
Median Rent
$988/mo
Rent/Income
16%
COL Index
-
Lincoln
Nebraska
Median Income
$71,163
Median Rent
$1,018/mo
Rent/Income
17%
COL Index
-
Minot
North Dakota
Median Income
$72,073
Median Rent
$985/mo
Rent/Income
16%
COL Index
-
Tupelo
Mississippi
Median Income
$62,004
Median Rent
$811/mo
Rent/Income
16%
COL Index
-
Appleton
Wisconsin
Median Income
$83,966
Median Rent
$1,087/mo
Rent/Income
16%
COL Index
-
Decatur
Alabama
Median Income
$72,956
Median Rent
$854/mo
Rent/Income
14%
COL Index
-
Manchester-Nashua
New Hampshire
Median Income
$103,727
Median Rent
$1,668/mo
Rent/Income
19%
COL Index
-
Wisconsin Rapids-Marshfield
Wisconsin
Median Income
$66,461
Median Rent
$766/mo
Rent/Income
14%
COL Index
-
Faribault-Northfield
Minnesota
Median Income
$81,455
Median Rent
$1,028/mo
Rent/Income
15%
COL Index
-
Portland-South Portland
Maine
Median Income
$92,117
Median Rent
$1,551/mo
Rent/Income
20%
COL Index
-
Ames
Iowa
Median Income
$72,007
Median Rent
$981/mo
Rent/Income
16%
COL Index
-
Albertville
Alabama
Median Income
$60,298
Median Rent
$724/mo
Rent/Income
14%
COL Index
-
Lewiston-Auburn
Maine
Median Income
$63,404
Median Rent
$997/mo
Rent/Income
19%
COL Index
-
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states pay teachers the most?
New York, California, Massachusetts, and Connecticut lead in raw teacher salaries. However, after adjusting for cost of living, states like Utah, Wyoming, and Iowa often offer stronger purchasing power.
Does school district funding vary a lot by city?
Enormously. Property-tax-funded districts in wealthy suburbs can spend two to three times more per pupil than urban districts. State funding formulas attempt to equalize this, with varying success.
What is loan forgiveness for teachers?
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and Teacher Loan Forgiveness programs can eliminate federal student loan balances for teachers who work in qualifying low-income schools for 5 to 10 years.