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
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.