The Salary You Need To Afford Living in America’s Biggest Boomtowns

Boomtown. The word sounds like it’s describing an explosion — and in a way, it is. Boomtowns are considered the fastest-growing cities in America due to rapid business and population growth. An example of such a place is Kirkland, Washington, which saw 46.5% growth between 2012 and 2022.

The cost of living in these boomtowns varies, with some of them being affordable and some already reflecting the fact that many people are flocking to them — with steeper salaries required to cover basic costs.  

To find out the salary you need to afford living in America’s biggest boomtowns, GOBankingRates analyzed the largest 250 cities in America with U.S. Census data to determine total population, total households, median household income and change of population from 2012 to 2022.

Using the 50/30/20 rule that states that needs take up no more than 50% of a household income, GOBankingRates doubled the total cost of living for each city to find the salary needed for each city. 

Read on to find out how much you’d need to make to afford living in America’s biggest boomtowns.

• Population: 99,453 
• Total cost of living: $132,859 
• Median household income: $5,255 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $126,128 

• Population: 117,962 
• Total monthly cost of living: $13,132 
• Median household income: $121,539 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $315,157 

• Population: 78,691 
• Total monthly cost of living: $13,071 
• Median household income: $181,639 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $313,694

• Population: 304,527 
• Total monthly cost of living: $12,893 
• Median household income: $122,948 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $309,441 

• Population: 150,606 
• Total monthly cost of living: $12,273 
• Median household income: $149,551 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $294,556

• Population: 66,586 
• Total monthly cost of living: $12,231 
• Median household income: $215,047 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $293,537 

• Population: 79,092 
• Total monthly cost of living: $11,928 
• Median household income: $166,769 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $286,270 

• Population: 71,068 
• Total monthly cost of living: $11,517 
• Median household income: $191,039 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $276,410 

• Population: 73,728 
• Total monthly cost of living: $11,071 
• Median household income: $155,287 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $265,700 

• Population: 92,015 
• Total monthly cost of living: $10,599 
• Median household income: $135,608 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $254,383

• Population: 66,316 
• Total monthly cost of living: $10,138 
• Median household income: $185,546 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $243,315 

• Population: 235,845 
• Total monthly cost of living: $8,488 
• Median household income: $137,387 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $203,703 

• Population: 94,360 
• Total monthly cost of living: $8,340 
• Median household income: $99,413 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $200,165 

• Population: 734,603 
• Total monthly cost of living: $8,053 
• Median household income: $116,068 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $193,284

• Population: 69,594 
• Total monthly cost of living: $8,039 
• Median household income: $151,615 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $192,927

• Population: 437,825 
• Total monthly cost of living: $7,835 
• Median household income: $94,389 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $188,031 

• Population: 276,103 
• Total monthly cost of living: $101,984 
• Median household income: $7,789 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $186,944

• Population: 83,630 
• Total monthly cost of living: $106,592 
• Median household income: $7,516 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $180,395

• Population: 225,850 
• Total monthly cost of living: $7,349 
• Median household income: $116,186 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $176,377 

• Population: 90,945 
• Total monthly cost of living: $7,294 
• Median household income: $115,167 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $175,068

• Population: 94,027 
• Total monthly cost of living: $7,070 
• Median household income: $111,717 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $169,671 

• Population: 107,221 
• Total monthly cost of living: $7,023 
• Median household income: $93,303 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $168,543

• Population: 105,355 
• Total monthly cost of living: $7,003 
• Median household income: $92,292 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $168,063 

• Population: 670,587 
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,977 
• Median household income: $101,722 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $167,455

• Population: 81,077 
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,941 
• Median household income: $134,935 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $166,591

• Population: 91,008 
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,785 
• Median household income: $99,385 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $162,841

• Population: 157,594 
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,741 
• Median household income: $113,179  
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $161,783

• Population: 99,442 
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,714 
• Median household income: $82,671 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $161,140 

• Population: 97,980 
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,667 
• Median household income: $95,570 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $160,017 

• Population: 65,884 
• Total monthly cost of living: $141,402 
• Median household income: $6,509 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $156,219 

• Population: 68,555 
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,484 
• Median household income: $54,826 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $155,626

• Population: 74,891 
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,417 
• Median household income: $83,823 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $154,003 

• Population: 71,676 
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,405 
• Median household income: $116,006 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $153,719

• Population: 115,016 
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,288 
• Median household income: $90,709 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $150,915

• Population: 135,169 
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,231 
• Median household income: $86,966 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $149,554

• Population: 74,065 
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,212 
• Median household income: $135,985 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $149,090 

• Population: 91,353 
• Total cost of living: $6,204 
• Median household income: $64,026 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $148,897 

• Population: 78,118 
• Total cost of living: $6,177 
• Median household income: $119,822 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $148,243 

• Population: 73,946 
• Total cost of living: $6,161 
• Median household income: $117,541 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $147,873 

• Population: 176,105 
• Total cost of living: $6,156 
• Median household income: $115,864 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $147,742 

• Population: 202,075 
• Total cost of living: $6,152 
• Median household income: $144,567 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $147,644

• Population: 123,066 
• Total cost of living: $6,118 
• Median household income: $106,014 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $146,822 

• Population: 105,821 
• Total cost of living: $6,098 
• Median household income: $84,346 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $146,359 

• Population: 76,419 
• Total cost of living: $6,089 
• Median household income: $98,408 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $146,137 

• Population: 148,879 
• Total cost of living: $6,081 
• Median household income: $112,265 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $145,934 

• Population: 119,420 
• Total cost of living: $6,069 
• Median household income: $98,857 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $145,650

• Population: 710,800 
• Total cost of living: $5,999 
• Median household income: $85,853 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $143,983 

• Population: 85,623 
• Total cost of living: $5,966 
• Median household income: $87,406 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $143,188 

• Population: 101,631 
• Total cost of living: $5,927 
• Median household income: $106,764 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $142,256

• Population: 69,993 
• Total cost of living: $5,915 
• Median household income: $89,788 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $141,956 

• Population: 287,899 
• Total cost of living: $5,903 
• Median household income: $91,151 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $141,672 

• Population: 174,880 
• Total cost of living: $5,900 
• Median household income: $125,317 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $141,601 

• Population: 103,680 
• Total cost of living: $5,855 
• Median household income: $87,871 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $140,511

• Population: 83,897 
• Total cost of living: $5,850 
• Median household income: $89,966 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $140,410

• Population: 98,282 
• Total cost of living: $5,842 
• Median household income: $89,720 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $140,208

• Population: 168,758 
• Total cost of living: $5,830 
• Median household income: $78,977 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $139,930

• Population: 76,630 
• Total cost of living: $5,732 
• Median household income: $154,471 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $137,559

• Population: 69,016 
• Total cost of living: $5,719 
• Median household income: $104,544 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $137,250 

• Population: 100,653 
• Total cost of living: $5,685 
• Median household income: $70,046 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $136,431 

• Population: 65,541 
• Total cost of living: $5,663 
• Median household income: $129,688 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $135,901 

• Population: 70,847 
• Total cost of living: $5,645 
• Median household income: $98,288 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $135,486 

• Population: 78,144 
• Total cost of living: $5,632 
• Median household income: $80,138 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $135,179 

• Population: 87,617 
• Total cost of living: $5,606 
• Median household income: $67,663 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $134,538 

• Population: 70,497 
• Total cost of living: $5,605 
• Median household income: $80,044 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $134,529 

• Population: 77,110 
• Total cost of living: $5,596 
• Median household income: $117,243 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $134,313 

• Population: 78,881 
• Total cost of living: $5,552 
• Median household income: $78,352 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $133,239 

• Population: 267,267 
• Total cost of living: $5,543 
• Median household income: $115,179 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $133,027

• Population: 958,202 
• Total cost of living: $5,514 
• Median household income: $86,556 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $132,330

Despite its nickname “Taxachusetts”, Massachusetts isn’t even close to being the worst state for retirees when it comes to taxes. In fact, it beats out 22 of them. For starters, MA doesn’t tax Social Security benefits — and its 6.25% sales tax rate is lower than in the majority of states. However, its property tax rates are among the highest.

• Population: 79,128 
• Total cost of living: $5,459 
• Median household income: $85,099 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $131,005 

• Population: 149,960 
• Total cost of living: $5,441 
• Median household income: $83,891 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $130,592 

• Population: 135,158 
• Total cost of living: $5,441 
• Median household income: $81,812 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $130,577 

• Population: 74,627 
• Total cost of living: $5,415 
• Median household income: $59,783 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $129,962 

• Population: 265,196 
• Total cost of living: $5,381 
• Median household income: $73,073 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $129,134

• Population: 387,349 
• Total cost of living: $5,363 
• Median household income: $78,685 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $128,704

• Population: 116,383 
• Total cost of living: $5,332 
• Median household income: $99,002 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $127,977 

• Population: 76,500 
• Total cost of living: $81,898 
• Median household income: $5,321 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $127,707 

• Population: 141,799 
• Total cost of living: $5,311 
• Median household income: $95,064 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $127,459

• Population: 275,618 
• Total cost of living: $5,280 
• Median household income: $99,374 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $126,725

• Population: 99,453 
• Total cost of living: $132,859 
• Median household income: $5,255 
• Salary needed to live comfortably: $126,128 

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the largest 250 cities in America in terms of population of occupied households as sourced from the US Census American Community Survey. The total population, total households, median household income, population of occupied households in 2022, population of occupied households in 2017, and population of occupied households in 2012 were also all sourced from the US Census American Community Survey. The average single family home value from March 2024 was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index and using the 30 year national fixed mortgage rate the average mortgage for each city can be calculated. The cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces and using the average expenditure costs for all residents, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure costs for each city can be calculated. The average expenditure cost and the average mortgage cost can be used to calculate the total cost of living for each city. Using the 50/30/20 rule that states that needs take up no more than 50% of a household income, GOBankingRates doubled the total cost of living for each city to find the salary needed for each city. All data was collected on and is up to date as of April 24, 2024.