What is the cheapest and safest city in America?

There's no single "cheapest and safest" city, as rankings vary, but top contenders often include Midwestern and Southern cities like Overland Park, KS, Edmond, OK, Roswell, GA, and Johns Creek, GA, alongside some Colorado and Arizona suburbs, offering low crime rates with affordable housing, especially in the Ohio, Indiana, and Kansas areas, with specific mentions for New Philadelphia, OH, and Joliet, IL, as great affordable, safe bets in different report analyses.

Where is the cheapest but safest place to live in America?

The cheapest and safest places to live in the U.S. often blend low crime rates with affordable housing, with top contenders frequently including small cities in Ohio (like New Philadelphia), Georgia (Roswell, Johns Creek), Texas (Mission, Brownsville), Michigan (Grand Rapids, Bay City), and Oklahoma (Enid, Edmond), offering good cost of living, low property values, and stable economies, though "safest" and "cheapest" can vary by ranking source. 

What is the #1 safest city in the US?

There's no single #1 safest city, as rankings vary by study, but Warwick, Rhode Island, frequently tops lists like WalletHub's 2025 report for overall safety (combining crime, natural disasters, financial), while San Jose, California, often leads studies focusing on large cities' low violent crime rates, notes USA Today,. Other top contenders include Overland Park, Kansas and Burlington, Vermont,.
 

Which US city has the lowest cost of living?

1. Harlingen, Texas. Harlingen, Texas, clinches the title as the cheapest place to live in America, per Kiplinger. In this town situated on Texas' southernmost tip, the cost of living is 24.4 percent below average in the U.S.

Where can I live that is warm and cheap?

Best affordable warm states with soaring home prices

• Texas. Texas is ideal for millennials and Gen Z buyers who want affordable housing, strong job opportunities, and a good quality of life without the sky-high prices of coastal cities. ...
• Florida. ...
• Arizona. ...
• Georgia. ...
• South Carolina.

The Only Affordable Cities Left In America: A Complete List

Where can you live on $1200 a month?

Varna, Bulgaria—one of the cities highlighted in a new report on the world's most affordable places to live or retire for as little as $1,200 a month. That financial reality has more people exploring the idea of moving abroad—whether for retirement, remote work or a lifestyle change.

What is the cheapest but best state to live in?

The best affordable states to live in consistently include Southern and Midwestern options like Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and West Virginia, known for low housing costs, low taxes (sometimes), and lower overall cost of living indexes compared to the national average, though job opportunities and specific amenities vary, with some states offering strong sectors in manufacturing, healthcare, or logistics. 

What is America's happiest city?

According to recent studies, Fremont, California, is frequently named the happiest city in the U.S., noted for high life satisfaction, financial stability, low depression, strong community, and ample green space. Other cities like San Jose, Irvine, and Sioux Falls also rank highly, with happiness often linked to economic well-being, good mental health, strong social connections, and access to nature and recreation, though rankings vary slightly by study. 

What US city is selling homes for $1?

Louisville, KY, is trying a new approach to neighborhood revival: selling $1 homes in blighted areas. The city hopes new owners will restore the properties and bring life back to these communities. The program, run by Louisville's Landbank Authority, focuses on putting vacant and abandoned homes back into use.

Where is the cheapest place to start a new life?

Most Affordable Places to Live in the U.S. in 2025-2026

• Decatur, IL.
• Enid, OK.
• Springfield, IL.
• Mission, TX.
• Bay City, MI.
• Eagle Pass, TX.

What is the #1 most violent city in the US?

While rankings vary by source and year, Memphis, Tennessee, frequently appears as the #1 most dangerous city in America based on recent violent crime rates (per 100,000 people) for cities with populations over 100,000, followed by cities like Detroit, Oakland, and Baltimore, according to reports from 2024 and 2025. These lists consider factors like homicides, assaults, and property crimes, with Memphis often leading due to high rates of violent offenses. 

What is the most peaceful city in America?

While "most peaceful" varies, Fort Collins, Colorado is frequently cited as America's most peaceful city by rankings from Insider Monkey and Travel + Leisure, due to its low noise levels (like rustling leaves) and high access to outdoor spaces like parks and reservoirs, offering a serene environment. Other contenders for peacefulness or safety include Hopkinton, MA, for low crime and focus on well-being, and Warwick, RI, recognized for overall safety (physical, natural, financial) by Newsweek, though rankings depend on the criteria used (noise, crime, nature access). 

What is the #1 best place to live in the US?

There's no single #1 best place; it depends on what you value, but recent studies highlight Johns Creek, GA (U.S. News 2025-26 for overall quality/value), Naperville, IL (Forbes 2025 for affordability/family), and Fremont, CA (happiest city) as top contenders, alongside states like Massachusetts for quality of life, with mid-sized metros like Green Bay, WI, and Raleigh, NC, also praised for balance. 

Where is the safest and most affordable place to retire?

The safest and most affordable places to retire blend low cost of living with low crime, often found in smaller U.S. cities or abroad, with top contenders including Fargo, ND (tax-friendly, low housing), Jonesborough, TN, Brandon, MS, and Midland, MI, while international options like Cuenca, Ecuador, or Coimbra, Portugal, offer vibrant cultures and big savings, but consider factors like healthcare access, taxes, and personal lifestyle preferences. 

Where can Americans afford to live alone in 2025?

These are the U.S. cities where Americans can actually afford to live on a single person's income—and the ones out-of-budget for singletons

• Budget-friendly options came down to these locations. ...
• 1) Wichita, Kansas. ...
• 2) Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ...
• 3) Lincoln, Nebraska. ...
• 4) Des Moines, Iowa. ...
• 5) Akron, Ohio.

What US city has the lowest crime rate?

There isn't one single "lowest crime city" as rankings vary by methodology (population size, metrics like violent vs. property crime), but recent studies (2024-2025) often highlight places like Weston, FL, or smaller cities like Warwick, RI, Overland Park, KS, Burlington, VT, and Juneau, AK as having very low overall crime, while large cities like Irvine, CA, Virginia Beach, VA, and Gilbert, AZ are frequently cited for low violent crime rates. 

Where's the cheapest place in the US to buy a house?

The cheapest places to buy a house in the U.S. are generally found in the Midwest and South, with West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Ohio, Indiana, and Alabama frequently topping lists for low median home prices and high affordability ratios, though specific cities like Pittsburgh, PA, and Toledo, OH, offer particularly low entry points. Factors like lower property taxes, rural settings, and a slower job market contribute to these low costs, but it's essential to balance affordability with local income opportunities. 

Is it legal to buy a house for $1?

Giving someone a house as a gift — or selling it to them for $1 — is legally equivalent to selling it to them at fair market value. The home is now the property of the giftee and they may do with it as they wish.

How much money do you need to buy a $1 m house?

To afford a $1 million house, you generally need an annual income of $225,000 to $300,000+, depending on your down payment (aim for 20% or $200k), current mortgage rates, property taxes, insurance, and other debts, using the common guideline of spending no more than 28-36% of your gross income on housing. A smaller down payment or higher interest rates will increase your required income, potentially necessitating a jumbo loan. 

What state is #1 in quality of life?

There isn't one single answer, as it depends on the study, but recent reports often name Massachusetts, Vermont, or New Jersey as #1 for Quality of Life, with Massachusetts leading in overall metrics (health, education) and Vermont shining in specific areas like low crime and natural environment. Other top contenders include Idaho, Minnesota, and New York, highlighting that rankings vary based on whether they emphasize healthcare, economy, safety, or environment. 

Where do the kindest people in America live?

While "nicest" is subjective, studies and surveys often point to Minnesota, known for "Minnesota Nice," along with Southern states like Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia, and Midwestern states like Iowa, as having very friendly and polite people, often characterized by strong community spirit and helpfulness. Other frequently mentioned spots include Hawaii, Colorado, and Wisconsin, known for relaxed attitudes or deep-rooted hospitality. 

What state are people happiest after moving to?

Hawaii is the happiest state in America for the second year in a row. Hawaii landed the top spot on WalletHub's list with an overall score of 65.50. It ranked third for emotional and physical well-being, 16th for work environment and 13th for community and environment.

What state has the friendliest people?

While subjective, studies and surveys consistently rank Minnesota, Tennessee, and South Carolina as some of the friendliest U.S. states, often followed by Texas and Wyoming, with general "Southern hospitality" and Midwest politeness often cited, though perceptions of "niceness" (like Minnesota's reserved style) can vary.
 

Where am I supposed to live if I can't afford rent?

Explore Government Assistance Programs

Local state and federal programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provide housing that includes units with rents affordable to low-income tenants and vouchers that help offset rent payments at privately owned housing.

Which state is worth moving to?

The study found the best states to move to are Utah, New Hampshire, Idaho and Virginia. According to the list, worst states to move to are California, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oregon.