Required Income Levels for Homeownership in the Top 50 Most Livable Cities

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Top 50 Most Livable American Cities Revealed

GOBankingRates recently identified the 50 most livable cities in the U.S. by analyzing 1,500 cities with populations over 5,000. This research incorporated cost-of-living indexes and national average spending to determine the minimum salary needed to purchase a home in each location.

The study sourced the average home values, accounting for factors like a 10% down payment and the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate. This provided insights into the required salaries for homeownership in these cities.

Worthington, Ohio

  • Livability score: 94
  • Salary needed: $57,750
  • Median household income: $124,734
  • Average home value: $479,963
  • Average monthly mortgage: $2,836

Grandview Heights, Ohio

  • Livability score: 94
  • Salary needed: $61,586
  • Median household income: $113,862
  • Average home value: $538,615
  • Average monthly mortgage: $3,183

Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin

  • Livability score: 93
  • Salary needed: $66,459
  • Median household income: $154,255
  • Average home value: $595,722
  • Average monthly mortgage: $3,520

University Heights, Ohio

  • Livability score: 93
  • Salary needed: $40,625
  • Median household income: $98,474
  • Average home value: $258,982
  • Average monthly mortgage: $1,530

Pompton Lake, New Jersey

  • Livability score: 92
  • Salary needed: $64,248
  • Median household income: $119,038
  • Average home value: $520,949
  • Average monthly mortgage: $3,078

Lexington, Massachusetts

  • Livability score: 92
  • Salary needed: $141,375
  • Median household income: $219,402
  • Average home value: $1,613,525
  • Average monthly mortgage: $9,535

Sherwood, Oregon

  • Livability score: 92
  • Salary needed: $72,351
  • Median household income: $110,616
  • Average home value: $658,881
  • Average monthly mortgage: $3,894






Top Affordable Cities in the U.S. for Homebuyers

Top Affordable Cities in the U.S. for Homebuyers

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

  • Livability score: 92
  • Annual income needed: $91,142
  • Median household income: $87,218
  • Average home value: $925,505
  • Average monthly mortgage: $5,469

Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

  • Livability score: 92
  • Annual income needed: $46,558
  • Median household income: $110,938
  • Average home value: $307,958
  • Average monthly mortgage: $1,820

Shorewood, Wisconsin

  • Livability score: 92
  • Annual income needed: $60,373
  • Median household income: $89,135
  • Average home value: $504,534
  • Average monthly mortgage: $2,981

Clawson, Michigan

  • Livability score: 92
  • Annual income needed: $43,814
  • Median household income: $86,630
  • Average home value: $279,149
  • Average monthly mortgage: $1,650

Bellevue, Kentucky

  • Livability score: 92
  • Annual income needed: $40,277
  • Median household income: $67,143
  • Average home value: $229,614
  • Average monthly mortgage: $1,357

Ankeny, Iowa

  • Livability score: 92
  • Annual income needed: $47,905
  • Median household income: $106,603
  • Average home value: $345,944
  • Average monthly mortgage: $2,044

Bexley, Ohio

  • Livability score: 92
  • Annual income needed: $61,980
  • Median household income: $152,526
  • Average home value: $545,915
  • Average monthly mortgage: $3,226

Rochester, Minnesota

  • Livability score: 92
  • Annual income needed: $46,013
  • Median household income: $87,767
  • Average home value: $330,550
  • Average monthly mortgage: $1,953

Wilton Manors, Florida

  • Livability score: 91
  • Annual income needed: $78,021
  • Median household income: $79,390
  • Average home value: $720,629
  • Average monthly mortgage: $4,258


# Top Cities in the U.S. for High Livability Scores and Incomes

## Winchester, Massachusetts
– **Livability score:** 91
– **Annual salary needed:** $143,026
– **Median household income:** $218,176
– **Average home value:** $1,639,042
– **Average monthly mortgage:** $9,686

## Milwaukie, Oregon
– **Livability score:** 91
– **Annual salary needed:** $61,690
– **Median household income:** $82,422
– **Average home value:** $509,845
– **Average monthly mortgage:** $3,013

## Farmington, Michigan
– **Livability score:** 91
– **Annual salary needed:** $47,500
– **Median household income:** $94,115
– **Average home value:** $321,731
– **Average monthly mortgage:** $1,901

## Berkley, Michigan
– **Livability score:** 91
– **Annual salary needed:** $45,639
– **Median household income:** $113,103
– **Average home value:** $299,196
– **Average monthly mortgage:** $1,768

## Fort Thomas, Kentucky
– **Livability score:** 91
– **Annual salary needed:** $47,820
– **Median household income:** $100,819
– **Average home value:** $336,341
– **Average monthly mortgage:** $1,988

## Ames, Iowa
– **Livability score:** 91
– **Annual salary needed:** $45,818
– **Median household income:** $60,102
– **Average home value:** $312,816
– **Average monthly mortgage:** $1,849

## Lynchburg, Virginia
– **Livability score:** 91
– **Annual salary needed:** $40,621
– **Median household income:** $59,808
– **Average home value:** $249,954
– **Average monthly mortgage:** $1,477

## Traverse City, Michigan
– **Livability score:** 91
– **Annual salary needed:** $52,622
– **Median household income:** $71,731
– **Average home value:** $437,972
– **Average monthly mortgage:** $2,588

## Melrose, Massachusetts
– **Livability score:** 90
– **Annual salary needed:** $90,563
– **Median household income:** $126,854
– **Average home value:** $906,036
– **Average monthly mortgage:** $4,740

US Cities with High Livability Scores and Cost of Living

Battle Ground, Washington

  • Livability score: 90
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $68,256
  • Median household income: $100,185
  • Average home value: $604,393
  • Average monthly mortgage: $3,572

Verona, Wisconsin

  • Livability score: 90
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $66,661
  • Median household income: $119,148
  • Average home value: $595,474
  • Average monthly mortgage: $3,519

Marquette, Michigan

  • Livability score: 90
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $45,488
  • Median household income: $55,825
  • Average home value: $297,657
  • Average monthly mortgage: $1,759

Middleton, Wisconsin

  • Livability score: 90
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $67,327
  • Median household income: $85,526
  • Average home value: $611,349
  • Average monthly mortgage: $3,613

Lafayette, Colorado

  • Livability score: 90
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $75,764
  • Median household income: $110,431
  • Average home value: $730,821
  • Average monthly mortgage: $4,319

Edwardsville, Illinois

  • Livability score: 90
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $45,434
  • Median household income: $92,671
  • Average home value: $304,242
  • Average monthly mortgage: $1,798

Cary, North Carolina

  • Livability score: 90
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $68,474
  • Median household income: $129,399
  • Average home value: $633,556
  • Average monthly mortgage: $3,744

Upper Arlington, Ohio

  • Livability score: 90
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $69,062
  • Median household income: $150,993
  • Average home value: $642,785
  • Average monthly mortgage: $3,798

Key Financial Data on Housing Costs Across Various U.S. Cities

Central Point, Oregon

  • Livability score: 90
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $52,234
  • Median household income: $80,450
  • Average home value: $408,576
  • Average monthly mortgage: $2,414

Solon, Ohio

  • Livability score: 90
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $53,275
  • Median household income: $135,180
  • Average home value: $429,191
  • Average monthly mortgage: $2,536

Urbandale, Iowa

  • Livability score: 90
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $47,794
  • Median household income: $113,086
  • Average home value: $354,619
  • Average monthly mortgage: $2,096

Perrysburg, Ohio

  • Livability score: 90
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $45,622
  • Median household income: $105,226
  • Average home value: $328,168
  • Average monthly mortgage: $1,939

Wausau, Wisconsin

  • Livability score: 90
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $37,505
  • Median household income: $61,877
  • Average home value: $214,506
  • Average monthly mortgage: $1,268

West Lafayette, Indiana

  • Livability score: 90
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $47,561
  • Median household income: $33,497
  • Average home value: $359,002
  • Average monthly mortgage: $2,121

Malverne, New York

  • Livability score: 89
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $86,011
  • Median household income: $146,585
  • Average home value: $747,174
  • Average monthly mortgage: $4,415

Purcellville, Virginia

  • Livability score: 89
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $90,222
  • Median household income: $162,981
  • Average home value: $875,066
  • Average monthly mortgage: $5,171

Norwood, Massachusetts

  • Livability score: 89
  • Salary needed (annual cost of living): $79,552
  • Median household income: data unavailable

# Financial Overview: Minimum Salary and Home Values in Top US Cities

## Key Statistics

– **Household Income:** $97,110
– **Average Home Value:** $732,238
– **Average Monthly Mortgage:** $4,327

## Springfield, Virginia

– **Livability Score:** 89
– **Required Salary (Annual):** $78,732
– **Median Household Income:** $123,691
– **Average Home Value:** $721,508
– **Average Monthly Mortgage:** $4,264

## Belmont, Massachusetts

– **Livability Score:** 89
– **Required Salary (Annual):** $142,501
– **Median Household Income:** $178,188
– **Average Home Value:** $1,631,865
– **Average Monthly Mortgage:** $9,643

## Western Springs, Illinois

– **Livability Score:** 89
– **Required Salary (Annual):** $80,284
– **Median Household Income:** $218,839
– **Average Home Value:** $762,371
– **Average Monthly Mortgage:** $4,505

## Doctor Phillips, Florida

– **Livability Score:** 89
– **Required Salary (Annual):** $66,369
– **Median Household Income:** $101,540
– **Average Home Value:** $568,032
– **Average Monthly Mortgage:** $3,357

## Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

– **Livability Score:** 89
– **Required Salary (Annual):** $59,079
– **Median Household Income:** $117,330
– **Average Home Value:** $465,623
– **Average Monthly Mortgage:** $2,752

## Downingtown, Pennsylvania

– **Livability Score:** 89
– **Required Salary (Annual):** $65,455
– **Median Household Income:** $82,292
– **Average Home Value:** $557,625
– **Average Monthly Mortgage:** $3,295

## Brookfield, Illinois

– **Livability Score:** 89
– **Required Salary (Annual):** $48,517
– **Median Household Income:** $108,429
– **Average Home Value:** $321,208
– **Average Monthly Mortgage:** $1,898

## Gladstone, Oregon

– **Livability Score:** 89
– **Required Salary (Annual):** $62,124
– **Median Household Income:** $90,395
– **Average Home Value:** $514,236
– **Average Monthly Mortgage:** $3,039

## Methodology

GOBankingRates analyzed cities across the U.S. with the highest livability indexes sourced from AreaVibes. Cities had to have a population of at least 5,000 and provide complete data. Key factors analyzed included household income, cost of living, and housing values, with sources from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Sperling’s BestPlaces, Zillow, and the Federal Reserve.

Note: All financial figures are accurate as of May 14, 2025.

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