25 Most Livable Cities for Middle-Class Families

Can you guess which states are home to the most livable cities for middle-class families to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle in?

GOBankingRates was able to determine the answer by analyzing various U.S. cities to find the most livable cities for a middle-class family. Key factors found include each city’s livability index, total population, total households and household median income. Each location’s average expenditure costs were calculated using the cost-of-living indexes and national expenditure costs for a family of four. Other sourced factors also include the average single family home value and average monthly mortgage. Of the 25 cities, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin each had four cities which are considered among the most livable.

In order from least to most livable, keep reading to see which 25 cities are most livable for middle-class families.

• Population total: 14,040
• Household total: 5,711
• Household median income: $109,960
• Average single-family home value: $588,840
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,525
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,700
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,225
• Total annual cost of living: $74,699
• Livability: 90

• Population total: 20,888
• Household total: 7,041
• Household median income: $94,360
• Average single-family home value: $594,828
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,561
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,855
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,416
• Total annual cost of living: $76,995
• Livability: 90

• Population total: 21,864
• Household total: 10,230
• Household median income: $87,333
• Average single-family home value: $613,093
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,670
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,643
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,313
• Total annual cost of living: $75,762
• Livability: 90

• Population total: 36,500
• Household total: 14,268
• Household median income: $144,705
• Average single-family home value: $634,855
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,801
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,602
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,403
• Total annual cost of living: $76,837
• Livability: 90

• Population total: 174,880
• Household total: 66,120
• Household median income: $125,317
• Average single-family home value: $636,366
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,810
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,605
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,414
• Total annual cost of living: $76,972
• Livability: 90

• Population total: 30,295
• Household total: 12,707
• Household median income: $105,819
• Average single-family home value: $721,155
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $4,317
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,645
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,963
• Total annual cost of living: $83,550
• Livability: 90

• Population total: 29,477
• Household total: 12,037
• Household median income: $126,305
• Average single-family home value: $912,597
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $5,463
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,914
• Total monthly cost of living: $8,377
• Total annual cost of living: $100,524
• Livability: 90

• Population total: 79,166
• Household total: 28,910
• Household median income: $56,243
• Average single-family home value: $252,347
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,511
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,510
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,021
• Total annual cost of living: $48,250
• Livability: 91

• Population total: 15,150
• Household total: 6,954
• Household median income: $108,125
• Average single-family home value: $302,634
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,812
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,735
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,547
• Total annual cost of living: $54,562
• Livability: 91

• Population total: 66,265
• Household total: 25,140
• Household median income: $57,428
• Average single-family home value: $315,281
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,887
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,574
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,462
• Total annual cost of living: $53,541
• Livability: 91

• Population total: 11,486
• Household total: 5,207
• Household median income: $92,128
• Average single-family home value: $325,187
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,947
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,767
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,714
• Total annual cost of living: $56,566
• Livability: 91

• Population total: 15,468
• Household total: 7,104
• Household median income: $70,700
• Average single-family home value: $455,150
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,725
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,388
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,113
• Total annual cost of living: $61,353
• Livability: 91

• Population total: 21,195
• Household total: 9,286
• Household median income: $78,676
• Average single-family home value: $511,456
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,062
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,862
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,924
• Total annual cost of living: $71,086
• Livability: 91

• Population total: 11,451
• Household total: 6,226
• Household median income: $81,424
• Average single-family home value: $748,307
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $4,480
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $3,023
• Total monthly cost of living: $7,503
• Total annual cost of living: $90,032
• Livability: 91

• Population total: 11,388
• Household total: 5,806
• Household median income: $82,713
• Average single-family home value: $283,077
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,695
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,686
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,380
• Total annual cost of living: $52,564
• Livability: 92

• Population total: 120,848
• Household total: 50,236
• Household median income: $83,973
• Average single-family home value: $330,334
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,978
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,479
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,456
• Total annual cost of living: $53,476
• Livability: 92

• Population total: 68,392
• Household total: 26,525
• Household median income: $101,151
• Average single-family home value: $344,885
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,065
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,569
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,633
• Total annual cost of living: $55,600
• Livability: 92

• Population total: 13,707
• Household total: 6,681
• Household median income: $87,161
• Average single-family home value: $496,876
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,975
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,732
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,707
• Total annual cost of living: $68,479
• Livability: 92

• Population total: 11,052
• Household total: 4,227
• Household median income: $113,781
• Average single-family home value: $515,834 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,088
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $3,070
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,158
• Total annual cost of living: $73,891
• Livability: 92

• Population total: 13,537
• Household total: 4,750
• Household median income: $138,929
• Average single-family home value: $546,442
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,271
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,575
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,847
• Total annual cost of living: $70,161
• Livability: 92

• Population total: 20,286
• Household total: 6,829
• Household median income: $109,770
• Average single-family home value: $652,353
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,905
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,876
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,781
• Total annual cost of living: $81,375
• Livability: 92

• Population total: 13,649
• Household total: 4,851
• Household median income: $91,960
• Average single-family home value: $263,452
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,577
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,468
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,045
• Total annual cost of living: $48,541
• Livability: 93

• Population total: 14,075
• Household total: 6,305
• Household median income: $117,997
• Average single-family home value: $491,651
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,943
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,889
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,832
• Total annual cost of living: $69,989
• Livability: 93

• Population total: 14,804
• Household total: 5,534
• Household median income: $142,356
• Average single-family home value: $593,904
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,555
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,683
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,239
• Total annual cost of living: $74,862
• Livability: 93

• Population total: 14,997
• Household total: 6,034
• Household median income: $119,408
• Average single-family home value: $477,764
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,860
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,632
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,492
• Total annual cost of living: $65,906
• Livability: 94

Photo disclaimer: Photos are for illustrative purposes only. In many cases, the closest major city outside of the city/county mentioned in the article was used.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities across the United States to find the most livable cities for middle-class families. GOBankingRates found the median national income from the United States Census American Community Survey. The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as two-thirds the median income to double the median income. The median income for each city was found from the Census American Community Survey. For each middle-class city, the livability index was sourced from AreaVibes. All locations with a livability below 90 were removed as the cities with at least a 90 represent only the highest quality-of-life locations. For each remaining location, a number of factors were found, including total population, population ages 65 and over, total households and household median income — all sourced from the Census American Community Survey. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and include the grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous indexes. Using the COL indexes and the national average expenditure costs for a family of four, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for a married couple with kids, the average expenditure cost for each location was calculated. The average single family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for September 2024. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the most recent national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the average cost of living was calculated — both monthly and annually. The cities were sorted to show the highest livability index locations first, showcasing the most livable cities for a middle-class family of four. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Oct. 23, 2024.