25 Most Affordable Cities to Live in 2026
Housing affordability is at a generational low in many major metros. This ranking finds the bright spots: cities where rent is low, home prices are manageable, and your dollar stretches furthest relative to what locals earn.
Methodology
Scoring weights: median rent (35%), median home value (35%), cost-of-living index (20%), rent-to-income ratio (10%).
Guayama
Puerto Rico
Median Rent
$479/mo
Median Home Value
$97,200
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
27%
Mayagüez
Puerto Rico
Median Rent
$468/mo
Median Home Value
$109,600
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
27%
Olean
New York
Median Rent
$715/mo
Median Home Value
$105,500
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
16%
Ponce
Puerto Rico
Median Rent
$502/mo
Median Home Value
$98,200
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
29%
Opelousas
Louisiana
Median Rent
$658/mo
Median Home Value
$114,100
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
19%
Johnstown
Pennsylvania
Median Rent
$725/mo
Median Home Value
$121,800
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
16%
Arecibo
Puerto Rico
Median Rent
$565/mo
Median Home Value
$112,700
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
25%
Talladega-Sylacauga
Alabama
Median Rent
$728/mo
Median Home Value
$144,600
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
14%
Laurel
Mississippi
Median Rent
$670/mo
Median Home Value
$154,700
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
17%
Marion
Indiana
Median Rent
$734/mo
Median Home Value
$121,800
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
17%
Fort Payne
Alabama
Median Rent
$659/mo
Median Home Value
$156,800
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
18%
Mount Airy
North Carolina
Median Rent
$697/mo
Median Home Value
$181,800
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
14%
North Wilkesboro
North Carolina
Median Rent
$655/mo
Median Home Value
$182,600
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
17%
Weirton-Steubenville
West Virginia
Median Rent
$760/mo
Median Home Value
$126,200
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
17%
Marinette
Wisconsin
Median Rent
$743/mo
Median Home Value
$159,000
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
15%
Paducah
Kentucky
Median Rent
$754/mo
Median Home Value
$157,600
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
15%
Rio Grande City-Roma
Texas
Median Rent
$747/mo
Median Home Value
$89,600
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
22%
Meadville
Pennsylvania
Median Rent
$764/mo
Median Home Value
$150,500
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
15%
Parkersburg-Vienna
West Virginia
Median Rent
$735/mo
Median Home Value
$162,300
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
16%
San Juan-Bayamón-Caguas
Puerto Rico
Median Rent
$592/mo
Median Home Value
$145,000
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
25%
Gallup
New Mexico
Median Rent
$768/mo
Median Home Value
$71,000
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
23%
Massena-Ogdensburg
New York
Median Rent
$789/mo
Median Home Value
$130,200
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
17%
Wisconsin Rapids-Marshfield
Wisconsin
Median Rent
$766/mo
Median Home Value
$174,500
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
14%
Corbin
Kentucky
Median Rent
$731/mo
Median Home Value
$126,200
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
20%
Athens
Tennessee
Median Rent
$668/mo
Median Home Value
$216,200
COL Index
-
Rent/Income
15%
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a "good" rent-to-income ratio?
Financial advisors recommend keeping housing costs below 30% of gross income. Metros where median rent is below 25% of median income are considered very affordable.
Does affordable housing mean lower wages?
Not necessarily. Several Midwest and Southeast metros combine below-average housing costs with above-average wages in healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics.
How is the cost-of-living index calculated?
The COL index compares metro-area prices for housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare to a national baseline of 100. Scores below 100 indicate below-average costs.