18 Amazing Midwest Cities With Affordable Housing

In a housing market as hot as the current one, finding a good, affordable location may be growing harder and harder. For people who are less attached to where they live, and more interested in choosing a place where they can rent at an affordable price, the Midwest is shaping up to be an excellent location.

Of 18 Midwestern cities with affordable housing, Indiana topped the list with four cities, while Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, and North Dakota followed suit with two cities each.

To determine these amazingly affordable cities, GOBankingRates drew on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), ApartmentList and AreaVibes to narrow down Midwestern cities where the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment was no more than 30% of average monthly income. We also looked for cities where the cost of living index was no more than 10% higher than the national average, and which had good livability scores.

Here are the top 18 most affordable Midwestern cities.

• Average monthly state income: $4,196
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $1,233
• Population: 254,977
• Cost of living index: 99.5
• Livability index: 74

• Average monthly state income: $4,616
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $1,213
• Population: 120,735
• Cost of living index: 99.3
• Livability index: 83

• Average monthly state income: $4,996
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $780
• Population: 68,001
• Cost of living index: 95.4
• Livability index: 66

• Average monthly state income: $4,616
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $900
• Population: 198,401
• Cost of living index: 93.7
• Livability index: 67

• Average monthly state income: $4,128
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $969
• Population: 84,116
• Cost of living index: 92.4
• Livability index: 66

• Average monthly state income: $4,392
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $996
• Population: 878,553
• Cost of living index: 93.9
• Livability index: 73

• Average monthly state income: $4,128
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $892
• Population: 864,447
• Cost of living index: 90.2
• Livability index: 65

• Average monthly state income: $3,860
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $844
• Population: 177,117
• Cost of living index: 92.8
• Livability index: 70

• Average monthly state income: $4,996
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $949
• Population: 115,557
• Cost of living index: 97.3
• Livability index: 84

• Average monthly state income: $4,392
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $797
• Population: 301,394
• Cost of living index: 92.4
• Livability index: 68

• Average monthly state income: $4,068
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $890
• Population: 475,862
• Cost of living index: 92.9
• Livability index: 72

• Average monthly state income: $4,068
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $828
• Population: 283,839
• Cost of living index: 94.7
• Livability index: 78

• Average monthly state income: $4,060
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $763
• Population: 215,636
• Cost of living index: 91.7
• Livability index: 75

• Average monthly state income: $4,304
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $753
• Population: 121,889
• Cost of living index: 91.4
• Livability index: 76

• Average monthly state income: $4,060
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $806
• Population: 102,169
• Cost of living index: 87.2
• Livability index: 69

• Average monthly state income: $4,304
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $672
• Population: 56,500
• Cost of living index: 90.7
• Livability index: 74

• Average monthly state income: $4,128
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $943
• Population: 48,150
• Cost of living index: 89.1
• Livability index: 78

• Average monthly state income: $4,128
• Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $846
• Population: 265,752
• Cost of living index: 86.8
• Livability index: 75