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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Digging deeper, Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 111, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. And more often than not, the cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. The practical impact: more room for childcare, savings, or jus…
Rent ranges from $1,010/mo in Evansville to $3,830/mo in San Francisco — a monthly difference of $2,820, or $33,840 per year.
Evansville (index 59) and San Francisco (index 224) sit 165 points apart on the cost index — proof that the US is far from monolithic in affordability.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 285 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
10 of the 10 top-ranked cities are in the Midwest. Rust Belt affordability and steady incomes keep these cities competitive.
Digging deeper, Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 111, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. And more often than not, the cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. The practical impact: more room for childcare, savings, or just breathing room.
Midwest dominates with 10 of top 10. 10 of the 10 top-ranked cities are in the Midwest. Rust Belt affordability and steady incomes keep these cities competitive. We analyzed 286 cities across the country to build this ranking using 2026 federal data. Evansville, IN takes the #1 spot with a cost index of 59 and rent of $1,010/month.
One more thing before the rankings — this context changes everything: $2,820/mo rent gap across the ranking. Rent ranges from $1,010/mo in Evansville to $3,830/mo in San Francisco — a monthly difference of $2,820, or $33,840 per year. That's the sort of advantage that turns renters into homeowners.
Evansville earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 59 cost index sits 52 points below the national baseline, and the $52,251 — we had to double-check this one — median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $194,790 — $272,580 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. It's fine. Not great, not bad. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 59, while Healthcare trails at 92.
On a $150K salary, the key number is $3,750/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Evansville ($1,010/mo, 8%), Toledo ($1,060/mo, 8%), Fargo ($1,096/mo, 9%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $106,558 to $104,908/year across these top picks (that's pre-tax, of course).
Bottom line: Evansville, IN leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Evansville, IN — cost index 59, rent $1,010/mo, income $52,251
$2,820/mo rent gap across the ranking
285 of 286 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EvansvilleIN | $1,010 | 8% | 59 | Details |
| 2 | ToledoOH | $1,060 | 8% | 62 | Details |
| 3 | FargoND | $1,096 | 9% | 64 | Details |
| 4 | WichitaKS | $1,125 | 9% | 66 | Details |
| 5 | AkronOH | $1,134 | 9% | 66 | Details |
| 6 | Des MoinesIA | $1,141 | 9% | 67 | Details |
| 7 | RockfordIL | $1,151 | 9% | 67 | Details |
| 8 | Cedar RapidsIA | $1,158 | 9% | 68 | Details |
| 9 | Fort WayneIN | $1,160 | 9% | 68 | Details |
| 10 | TopekaKS | $1,169 | 9% | 68 | Details |
| 11 | ShreveportLA | $1,170 | 9% | 68 | Details |
| 12 | Little RockAR | $1,171 | 9% | 68 | Details |
| 13 | DaytonOH | $1,186 | 9% | 69 | Details |
| 14 | TulsaOK | $1,207 | 10% | 70 | Details |
| 15 | MaconGA | $1,207 | 10% | 70 | Details |
| 16 | SpringfieldMO | $1,209 | 10% | 71 | Details |
| 17 | MemphisTN | $1,234 | 10% | 72 | Details |
| 18 | AmarilloTX | $1,245 | 10% | 73 | Details |
| 19 | OklahomaOK | $1,255 | 10% | 73 | Details |
| 20 | MobileAL | $1,264 | 10% | 74 | Details |
| 21 | Sioux FallsSD | $1,265 | 10% | 74 | Details |
| 22 | McallenTX | $1,272 | 10% | 74 | Details |
| 23 | BeaumontTX | $1,275 | 10% | 74 | Details |
| 24 | LafayetteLA | $1,279 | 10% | 75 | Details |
| 25 | KilleenTX | $1,280 | 10% | 75 | Details |
115,332 residents · Indiana
Dive into Evansville's numbers: cost index 59 (52 points below national average), rent $1,010/month, income $52,251, and a home price of $194,790. And in practical terms, the city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 59, while Healthcare runs 92. With 115,332 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs (that's pre-tax, of course).
265,304 residents · Ohio
Why Toledo ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. No major red flags in that number. At 62 on the cost index, residents save roughly 49% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,060/month while the median household pulls in $47,532/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 62, though Healthcare (92) lags behind. Home prices average $126,270 — $341,100 below the national median.
133,188 residents · North Dakota
Dive into Fargo's numbers: cost index 64 (47 points below national average), rent $1,096/month, income $66,029, and a home price of $312,872. And broadly, the city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 64, while Healthcare runs 93. With 133,188 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
396,119 residents · Kansas
Wichita earns its position at #4 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And in most cases, the 66 cost index sits 45 points below the national baseline, and the $63,072 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $198,074 — $269,296 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 66, while Healthcare trails at 93.
188,701 residents · Ohio
Dive into Akron's numbers: cost index 66 (45 points below national average), rent $1,134/month, income $48,544, and a home price of $134,376. And on balance, the city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 66, while Healthcare runs 93. With 188,701 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Evansville, IN | 3.05% | 7% | 0.78% | $104,908 |
2Toledo, OH | 3.5% | 7.24% | 1.36% | $104,233 |
3Fargo, ND | 1.95% | 7.04% | 0.94% | $106,558 |
4Wichita, KS | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $100,933 |
5Akron, OH | 3.5% | 7.24% | 1.36% | $104,233 |
6Des Moines, IA | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $100,933 |
7Rockford, IL | 4.95% | 8.83% | 1.73% | $102,058 |
8Cedar Rapids, IA | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $100,933 |
9Fort Wayne, IN | 3.05% | 7% | 0.78% | $104,908 |
10Topeka, KS | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $100,933 |
Yes. On a $150K salary in Evansville, rent would consume about 8% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Evansville (ranked #1) has a cost index of 59 and rent of $1,010/mo, while San Francisco (ranked #286) has a cost index of 224 and rent of $3,830/mo — a 165-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Evansville is $1,010/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $885 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 3.05% state income tax, estimated take-home on $150K in Evansville is approximately $104,908/year ($8,742/month). After median rent of $1,010/month, you'd have roughly $92,788/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Evansville is $194,790, which is 3.7× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.