It can be difficult to find a neighborhood that offers both affordable housing and well-paying jobs. American families assume that a place with a good income also offers expensive housing. But fortunately, there are many cities that offer both.
GOBankingRates compiled data on the 200 largest housing markets in the U.S. to identify places in the country with lots of jobs and affordable housing, according to Zillow. They gathered information on the usual house value and monthly rent as of February 2023, as well as the unemployment rate for the Metro Statistical Area based on December 2022 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The ten cities in the final ranking all have values that are lower than the overall average for the United States. The American Community Survey and AreaVibes provided additional information on labor force participation and livability score. All statistics were gathered on March 14, 2023, and were current as of that day.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- The average home is worth $302,956.
- The average rent is $1,178.
- The unemployment rate in 2022: 2%
- Participation in the labor force: 74.4%
- The median household income is $85,908
- Livability score: 70
Lincoln, Nebraska
- The average home is worth $259,208.
- The average rent is $1,199.
- The unemployment rate in 2022: 2.1%
- Participation in the labor force: 71.1%
- The median household income is $83,418.
- Livability score: 78
Huntsville, Alabama
- The average home is worth $257,800.
- The average rent is $1,434 per month.
- The unemployment rate in 2022: 1.8%
- Participation in the labor force: 62.2%
- The median household income is $84,059
- Livability score: 79
Indianapolis, Indiana
- The average home is worth $216,351.
- The average rent is $1,307 per month.
- The unemployment rate in 2022 is 2.2%.
- Participation in the labor force: 67.8%
- The median household income is $68,575
- Livability score: 65
Springfield, Missouri
- The average home is worth $213,892.
- The average rent is $1,227.
- The unemployment rate in 2022: 1.9%
- Participation in the labor force: 63.8%
- The median household income is $55,156.
- Livability score: 62
Fort Wayne, Indiana
- The average home is worth $202,934.
- The average rent is $1,121.
- The unemployment rate in 2022: 2.2%
- 64.9% of the population is in the labor force.
- The median household income is $67,090.
- Livability score: 75
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- The average home is worth $173,931.
- The average rent in 2022 is $1,160,
- The unemployment rate is 2.4%.
- 64.1% of the population is in the labor force.
- The median household income is $52,784.
- Livability score: 61
Evansville, Indiana
- The average home is worth $168,401.
- The average rent is $826.
- The unemployment rate in 2022: 2.3%
- Participation in the labor force: 62.3%
- The median household income is $57,321
- Livability score: 58
Montgomery, Alabama
- The average home is worth $127,789.
- The average rent is $1,168.
- The unemployment rate in 2022: 2.5%
- 59.6% of the population is in the labor force.
- The average household income is $60,908 per year.
- Livability score: 65
Birmingham, Alabama
- The average home is worth $90,289
- The average rent is $1,184.
- The unemployment rate in 2022: 2.0
- Participation in the labor force: 58.9%
- The median household income is $51,254.
- Livability score: 65