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The Best Places To Live on a $50K Salary in Every State

August 7, 2024

9 min Read

Written by Jami Farkas

Edited by Ashleigh Ray

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If you earn $50,000 a year in San Francisco or New York, you undoubtedly will need a roommate — or three — to make ends meet. But in many cities in the United States, $50,000 a year is plenty of money to live on.

So what sort of enclaves against high costs are out there? GOBankingRates compiled the places in each state that are best suited to someone earning $50,000 a year — with a cost of living that will allow them to save for the future and cover costs in the present.

Every state in the U.S. has options on where you can live for less than $50,000. Take a look and see where you could live in your area to stretch your salary that much further.

Alaska

Anchorage

Livability: 77
Median Income: $88,871
Total Annual Necessities: $26,375

Ketchikan

Livability: 76
Median Income: $68,125
Total Annual Necessities: $26,276

Palmer

Livability: 75
Median Income: $62,068
Total Annual Necessities: $28,830

Alabama

Huntsville

Livability: 81
Median Income: $60,959
Total Annual Necessities: $22,806

Florence

Livability: 81
Median Income: $40,944
Total Annual Necessities: $22,073

Vestavia Hills

Livability: 80
Median Income: $118,539
Total Annual Necessities: $23,440

Arizona

Gilbert

Livability: 89
Median Income: $105,733
Total Annual Necessities: $22,822

Mesa

Livability: 89
Median Income: $65,725
Total Annual Necessities: $22,506

Kingman

Livability: 80
Median Income: $52,768
Total Annual Necessities: $23,086

Arkansas

Rogers

Livability: 88
Median Income: $69,582
Total Annual Necessities: $20,568

Bentonville

Livability: 83
Median Income: $89,653
Total Annual Necessities: $20,765

Fayetteville

Livability: 79
Median Income: $52,111
Total Annual Necessities: $20,857

Today’s Top Offers

California

Cupertino

Livability: 88
Median Income: $199,778
Total Annual Necessities: $26,335

Larkspur

Livability: 87
Median Income: $135,260
Total Annual Necessities: $25,702

San Anselmo

Livability: 86
Median Income: $153,381
Total Annual Necessities: $25,715

Colorado

Lafayette

Livability: 89
Median Income: $95,033
Total Annual Necessities: $21,592

Arvada

Livability: 86
Median Income: $96,677
Total Annual Necessities: $22,471

Broomfield

Livability: 85
Median Income: $107,570
Total Annual Necessities: $22,640

Connecticut

New Milford

Livability: 84
Median Income: $65,625
Total Annual Necessities: $24,538

Meriden

Livability: 81
Median Income: $59,792
Total Annual Necessities: $24,572

Bridgeport

Livability: 81
Median Income: $50,597
Total Annual Necessities: $27,989

Delaware

Newark

Livability: 82
Median Income: $61,646
Total Annual Necessities: $23,999

Pike Creek

Livability: 74
Median Income: $131,603
Total Annual Necessities: $24,294

Wilmington Manor

Livability: 74
Median Income: $64,767
Total Annual Necessities: $23,855

Florida

Bay Harbor Islands

Livability: 89
Median Income: $79,824
Total Annual Necessities: $25,343

Seminole

Livability: 89
Median Income: $63,352
Total Annual Necessities: $23,188

Safety Harbor

Livability: 87
Median Income: $96,365
Total Annual Necessities: $23,403

Georgia

Decatur

Livability: 86
Median Income: $123,617
Total Annual Necessities: $23,711

Lawrenceville

Livability: 83
Median Income: $51,242
Total Annual Necessities: $22,196

North Druid Hills

Livability: 82
Median Income: $81,830
Total Annual Necessities: $23,333

Hawaii

East Honolulu

Livability: 87
Median Income: $139,041
Total Annual Necessities: $30,056

Kailua

Livability: 82
Median Income: $79,331
Total Annual Necessities: $28,590

Mililani Town

Livability: 78
Median Income: $108,192
Total Annual Necessities: $29,704

Idaho

Chubbuck

Livability: 86
Median Income: $65,619
Total Annual Necessities: $20,884

Post Falls

Livability: 86
Median Income: $65,592
Total Annual Necessities: $21,058

Idaho Falls

Livability: 85
Median Income: $57,412
Total Annual Necessities: $20,842

Illinois

Edwardsville

Livability: 90
Median Income: $78,298
Total Annual Necessities: $21,749

Western Springs

Livability: 88
Median Income: $196,638
Total Annual Necessities: $23,362

La Grange

Livability: 87
Median Income: $124,292
Total Annual Necessities: $23,315

Indiana

West Lafayette

Livability: 89
Median Income: $28,744
Total Annual Necessities: $20,388

Noblesville

Livability: 85
Median Income: $89,258
Total Annual Necessities: $21,839

Notre Dame

Livability: 85
Median Income: $24,000
Total Annual Necessities: $19,976

Today’s Top Offers

Iowa

Ankeny

Livability: 92
Median Income: $92,959
Total Annual Necessities: $21,639

Ames

Livability: 91
Median Income: $54,339
Total Annual Necessities: $22,350

Urbandale

Livability: 89
Median Income: $100,589
Total Annual Necessities: $21,017

Kansas

Lawrence

Livability: 88
Median Income: $56,536
Total Annual Necessities: $22,586

Lenexa

Livability: 86
Median Income: $96,477
Total Annual Necessities: $22,164

Shawnee

Livability: 86
Median Income: $93,835
Total Annual Necessities: $22,254

Kentucky

Bellevue

Livability: 92
Median Income: $69,135
Total Annual Necessities: $22,171

Fort Thomas

Livability: 91
Median Income: $85,938
Total Annual Necessities: $22,162

Edgewood

Livability: 87
Median Income: $109,909
Total Annual Necessities: $22,451

Louisiana

Metairie

Livability: 83
Median Income: $65,740
Total Annual Necessities: $22,859

Thibodaux

Livability: 82
Median Income: $46,658
Total Annual Necessities: $22,786.80

Elmwood

Livability: 78
Median Income: $75,526
Total Annual Necessities: $22,793

Maine

Brunswick

Livability: 88
Median Income: $65,285
Total Annual Necessities: $21,424

Portland

Livability: 85
Median Income: $66,109
Total Annual Necessities: $21,367

Westbrook

Livability: 83
Median Income: $71,335
Total Annual Necessities: $21,449

Maryland

Lutherville

Livability: 89
Median Income: $129,567
Total Annual Necessities: $22,546

North Kensington

Livability: 86
Median Income: $117,708
Total Annual Necessities: $24,664

Perry Hall

Livability: 85
Median Income: $94,576
Total Annual Necessities: $22,888

Massachusetts

Lexington

Livability: 92
Median Income: $202,852
Total Annual Necessities: $24,179

Winchester

Livability: 90
Median Income: $184,844
Total Annual Necessities: $23,980

Melrose

Livability: 89
Median Income: $125,229
Total Annual Necessities: $23,585

Michigan

Clawson

Livability: 92
Median Income: $76,575
Total Annual Necessities: $21,460

Berkley

Livability: 91
Median Income: $96,993
Total Annual Necessities: $21,771

Farmington

Livability: 90
Median Income: $84,558
Total Annual Necessities: $21,978

Minnesota

Rochester

Livability: 91
Median Income: $79,159
Total Annual Necessities: $20,645

Champlin

Livability: 89
Median Income: $104,200
Total Annual Necessities: $21,592

St. Louis Park

Livability: 88
Median Income: $87,639
Total Annual Necessities: $21,245

Mississippi

Oxford

Livability: 87
Median Income: $51,096
Total Annual Necessities: $20,639

Ocean Springs

Livability: 83
Median Income: $63,653
Total Annual Necessities: $21,565

Madison

Livability: 80
Median Income: $119,662
Total Annual Necessities: $21,709

Today’s Top Offers

Missouri

Maplewood

Livability: 86
Median Income: $52,420
Total Annual Necessities: $21,372

Brentwood

Livability: 85
Median Income: $81,692
Total Annual Necessities: $21,327

Clayton

Livability: 84
Median Income: $117,593
Total Annual Necessities: $21,668

Montana

Bozeman

Livability: 87
Median Income: $67,354
Total Annual Necessities: $21,191

Whitefish

Livability: 82
Median Income: $64,595
Total Annual Necessities: $20,762

Helena

Livability: 80
Median Income: $59,712
Total Annual Necessities: $20,289

Nebraska

Bellevue

Livability: 86
Median Income: $73,534
Total Annual Necessities: $22,916

Papillion

Livability: 84
Median Income: $95,293
Total Annual Necessities: $22,933

Lincoln

Livability: 83
Median Income: $62,566
Total Annual Necessities: $23,749

Nevada

Las Vegas

Livability: 82
Median Income: $61,356
Total Annual Necessities: $23,652

Reno

Livability: 80
Median Income: $67,557
Total Annual Necessities: $21,791

Winchester

Livability: 78
Median Income: $40,672
Total Annual Necessities: $23,652

New Hampshire

Dover

Livability: 88
Median Income: $82,387
Total Annual Necessities: $21,463

Concord

Livability: 88
Median Income: $73,156
Total Annual Necessities: $20,934

Keene

Livability: 86
Median Income: $63,490
Total Annual Necessities: $20,346

New Jersey

Pompton Lakes

Livability: 92
Median Income: $100,906
Total Annual Necessities: $24,596

Ridgewood

Livability: 88
Median Income: $194,256
Total Annual Necessities: $26,386

Highland Park

Livability: 88
Median Income: $85,652
Total Annual Necessities: $25,236

New Mexico

Los Alamos

Livability: 80
Median Income: $118,293
Total Annual Necessities: $19,343

Santa Fe

Livability: 78
Median Income: $61,990
Total Annual Necessities: $20,241

Silver City

Livability: 76
Median Income: $31,451
Total Annual Necessities: $19,323

New York

Niskayuna

Livability: 92
Median Income: $116,148
Total Annual Necessities: $23,697

Malverne

Livability: 88
Median Income: $139,915
Total Annual Necessities: $29,833

Rockville Centre

Livability: 86
Median Income: $131,090
Total Annual Necessities: $30,083.91

North Carolina

Cary

Livability: 90
Median Income: $113,782
Total Annual Necessities: $21,537

Apex

Livability: 87
Median Income: $121,313
Total Annual Necessities: $21,733

Holly Springs

Livability: 85
Median Income: $120,229
Total Annual Necessities: $21,816

Today’s Top Offers

North Dakota

Fargo

Livability: 84
Median Income: $60,243
Total Annual Necessities: $20,692

Grand Forks

Livability: 78
Median Income: $53,611
Total Annual Necessities: $21,235

West Fargo

Livability: 77
Median Income: $93,382
Total Annual Necessities: $20,844

Ohio

Grandview Heights

Livability: 94
Median Income: $89,415
Total Annual Necessities: $21,306

Worthington

Livability: 93
Median Income: $113,559
Total Annual Necessities: $21,543

Bexley

Livability: 91
Median Income: $121,182
Total Annual Necessities: $21,204

Oklahoma

Norman

Livability: 83
Median Income: $59,866
Total Annual Necessities: $22,511

Stillwater

Livability: 81
Median Income: $37,991
Total Annual Necessities: $22,816

Oklahoma City

Livability: 79
Median Income: $59,679
Total Annual Necessities: $22,312

Oregon

Sherwood

Livability: 93
Median Income: $104,651
Total Annual Necessities: $22,874

Cedar Hills

Livability: 90
Median Income: $91,972
Total Annual Necessities: $22,578

Central Point

Livability: 90
Median Income: $73,534
Total Annual Necessities: $21,566

Pennsylvania

Ardmore

Livability: 92
Median Income: $107,087
Total Annual Necessities: $23,727

Dormant

Livability: 92
Median Income: $61,890
Total Annual Necessities: $22,377

Camp Hill

Livability: 91
Median Income: $99,137
Total Annual Necessities: $22,944

Rhode Island

Cranston

Livability: 84
Median Income: $77,145
Total Annual Necessities: $22,841

Providence

Livability: 80
Median Income: $55,787
Total Annual Necessities: $23,064

Newport

Livability: 78
Median Income: $77,092
Total Annual Necessities: $22,486

South Carolina

Simpsonville

Livability: 85
Median Income: $76,412
Total Annual Necessities: $21,412

Mauldin

Livability: 84
Median Income: $73,755
Total Annual Necessities: $20,971

Clemson

Livability: 82
Median Income: $48,335
Total Annual Necessities: $22,025

South Dakota

Brandon

Livability: 86
Median Income: $96,367
Total Annual Necessities: $21,432

Sioux Falls

Livability: 84
Median Income: $66,761
Total Annual Necessities: $21,198

Vermillion

Livability: 82
Median Income: $47,920
Total Annual Necessities: $21,372

Tennessee

Nolensville

Livability: 81
Median Income: $152,500
Total Annual Necessities: $23,264

Clarksville

Livability: 81
Median Income: $58,838
Total Annual Necessities: $21,492

Nashville

Livability: 78
Median Income: $65,565
Total Annual Necessities: $22,514

Texas

The Woodlands

Livability: 90
Median Income: $130,011
Total Annual Necessities: $22,323

Denton

Livability: 86
Median Income: $65,168
Total Annual Necessities: $21,910

Leander

Livability: 85
Median Income: $117,090
Total Annual Necessities: $23,171

Today’s Top Offers

Utah

Kaysville

Livability: 89
Median Income: $110,700
Total Annual Necessities: $21,391

Farmington

Livability: 89
Median Income: $107,559
Total Annual Necessities: $21,485

Orem

Livability: 89
Median Income: $70,412
Total Annual Necessities: $21,459

Vermont

Essex Junction

Livability: 89
Median Income: $79,677
Total Annual Necessities: $25,315

South Burlington

Livability: 84
Median Income: $83,750
Total Annual Necessities: $24,892

Montpelier

Livability: 84
Median Income: $71,163
Total Annual Necessities: $24,414

Virginia

Lynchburg

Livability: 90
Median Income: $54,015
Total Annual Necessities: $21,311

Purcellville

Livability: 89
Median Income: $140,536
Total Annual Necessities: $25,304

Merrifield

Livability: 89
Median Income: $128,361
Total Annual Necessities: $25,084

Washington

Bothell

Livability: 90
Median Income: $116,578
Total Annual Necessities: $23,143

Battle Ground

Livability: 90
Median Income: $85,943
Total Annual Necessities: $22,664

Redmond

Livability: 89
Median Income: $147,006
Total Annual Necessities: $22,666

West Virginia

Charleston

Livability: 83
Median Income: $54,101
Total Annual Necessities: $23,950

Bridgeport

Livability: 82
Median Income: $87,936
Total Annual Necessities: $22,878

Morgantown

Livability: 82
Median Income: $36,991
Total Annual Necessities: $22,818

Wisconsin

Whitefish Bay

Livability: 93
Median Income: $134,324
Total Annual Necessities: $22,034

Shorewood

Livability: 92
Median Income: $81,016
Total Annual Necessities: $22,315

Wausau

Livability: 89
Median Income: $53,800
Total Annual Necessities: $20,644

Wyoming

Cheyenne

Livability: 82
Median Income: $70,705
Total Annual Necessities: $23,964

Gillette

Livability: 79
Median Income: $83,193
Total Annual Necessities: $24,305

Jackson

Livability: 77
Median Income: $83,289
Total Annual Necessities: $25,272

Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the best places to live on $50,000 salary in each state by analyzing cities along the following criteria; [1] cities with at least 5,000 households as sourced from U.S. Census American Consumer Survey, [2] Livability index as sourced from AreaVibes, [3] Average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, and [4] cost of living indexes across grocery, healthcare, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous, as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces. All data was collected and is up to date as of Nov. 15, 2023.

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