America’s Best Suburbs: Here Are the 12 Most Affordable To Live Comfortably

The cost of a comfortable life in the 12 best suburbs in America requires earning at least $85,000 on an annual basis. 

GOBankingRates was able to determine America’s best suburbs and the cost of living in each one by analyzing data from Niche.com, the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Sperling’s BestPlaces and the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Using the 50/30/20 rule that states that needs should not exceed 50% of household income, the total cost of living was doubled to find the household income needed to live comfortably in America’s best suburbs. A full methodology is available at the end of this story.

Find out how much you would need to earn to reside in these suburbs.

• Household median income: $85,155
• Household income needed for comfortable living (monthly): $7,176
• Household income needed for comfortable living (annually): $86,117

• Household median income: $108,125
• Household income needed for comfortable living (monthly): $7,364
• Household income needed for comfortable living (annually): $88,373

• Household median income: $73,931
• Household income needed for comfortable living (monthly): $7,378
• Household income needed for comfortable living (annually): $88,535

• Household median income: $89,688
• Household income needed for comfortable living (monthly): $7,518
• Household income needed for comfortable living (annually): $90,216

• Household median income: $129,992
• Household income needed for comfortable living (monthly): $7,707
• Household income needed for comfortable living (annually): $92,485

• Household median income: $94,384
• Household income needed for comfortable living (monthly): $7,809
• Household income needed for comfortable living (annually): $93,712

• Household median income: $88,298
• Household income needed for comfortable living (monthly): $8,130
• Household income needed for comfortable living (annually): $97,556

• Household median income: $171,250
• Household income needed for comfortable living (monthly): $8,141
• Household income needed for comfortable living (annually): $97,689

• Household median income: $118,647
• Household income needed for comfortable living (monthly): $8,349
• Household income needed for comfortable living (annually): $100,191

• Household median income: $105,930
• Household income needed for comfortable living (monthly): $8,364
• Household income needed for comfortable living (annually): $100,373

• Household median income: $128,470
• Household income needed for comfortable living (monthly): $8,407
• Household income needed for comfortable living (annually): $100,881

• Household median income: $126,548
• Household income needed for comfortable living (monthly): $8,748
• Household income needed for comfortable living (annually): $104,980

Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed suburbs to find the household salary needed to live comfortably in America’s best suburbs. First, GOBankingRates found the best 120 suburbs according to Niche.com’s 2024 Best Suburbs in America. For each location, GOBankingRates found total population, population ages 65 and over, total households and household median income — all sourced from the U.S. 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 cost of living indexes. Using the cost-of-living indexes for groceries, healthcare, utilities, transportation, and miscellaneous as well as the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location was calculated. Using the average single-family home value 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. Using the 50/30/20 rule that states that needs should not exceed 50% of household income, the total cost of living can be doubled in order to find the household income needed to live comfortably in America’s best suburbs. In order to qualify for this study, the suburbs had to have all data available. The suburbs were then sorted to show the cheapest to most expensive total cost of living. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Nov. 12, 2024.