How Far $100K Goes in America’s 22 Best Small Midwest Towns

There are certain Midwestern towns where earning a six-figure salary means enjoying five figures worth of leftover savings. According to GOBankingRates’ in-house research, there are 22 Midwest towns where residents can earn $100,000 annually and have $15,000 (or more) leftover in savings.

For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed small towns with a population between 1,000 and 10,000 residents and a livability index of at least 85 to represent places with the best quality of life. Assuming a $100,000 salary annually and paid bi-weekly with no overtime, the take-home pay was calculated using ADP’s Salary Paycheck Calculator. From there, the take-home pay was calculated and used with the cost of living for necessities to find the leftover savings in each town. We kept the Midwest locales with $15,000 or greater in leftover savings for this article.

Here’s how far $100,000 can go in 22 small Midwest towns. Don’t forget to explore our original study on how far this money goes in America’s 50 best small towns.

• Total population: 1,910
• Annual cost of necessities: $33,723
• Net after taxes on $100K: $70,864
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $37,140

• Total population: 3,737
• Annual cost of necessities: $39,282
• Net after taxes on $100K: $73,062
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $33,781

• Total population: 5,503
• Annual cost of necessities: $37,533
• Net after taxes on $100K: $71,166
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $33,633

• Total population: 3,799
• Annual cost of necessities: $39,791
• Net after taxes on $100K: $73,062
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $33,271

• Total population: 5,380
• Annual cost of necessities: $41,043
• Net after taxes on $100K: $73,062
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $32,020

• Total population: 8,154
• Annual cost of necessities: $41,821
• Net after taxes on $100K: $71,976
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $30,155

• Total population: 7,432
• Annual cost of necessities: $40,863
• Net after taxes on $100K: $70,835
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $29,972

• Total population: 3,259
• Annual cost of necessities: $44,872
• Net after taxes on $100K: $73,062
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $28,191

• Total population: 7,689
• Annual cost of necessities: $45,172
• Net after taxes on $100K: $73,062
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $27,890

• Total population: 7,651
• Annual cost of necessities: $45,470
• Net after taxes on $100K: $73,062
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $27,593

• Total population: 8,335
• Annual cost of necessities: $45,533
• Net after taxes on $100K: $72,464
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $26,931

• Total population: 1,595
• Annual cost of necessities: $45,581
• Net after taxes on $100K: $70,864
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $25,283

• Total population: 2,095
• Annual cost of necessities: $47,898
• Net after taxes on $100K: $73,062
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $25,165

• Total population: 2,386
• Annual cost of necessities: $45,690
• Net after taxes on $100K: $69,870
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $24,180

• Total population: 4,049
• Annual cost of necessities: $47,633
• Net after taxes on $100K: $71,536
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $23,902

• Total population: 8,807
• Annual cost of necessities: $48,933
• Net after taxes on $100K: $70,864
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $21,931

• Total population: 4,796
• Annual cost of necessities: $51,674
• Net after taxes on $100K: $73,062
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $21,388

• Total population: 1,977
• Annual cost of necessities: $52,560
• Net after taxes on $100K: $73,062
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $20,502

• Total population: 7,627
• Annual cost of necessities: $50,848
• Net after taxes on $100K: $70,835
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $19,987

• Total population: 2,136
• Annual cost of necessities: $51,877
• Net after taxes on $100K: $70,835
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $18,958

• Total population: 5,145
• Annual cost of necessities: $52,817
• Net after taxes on $100K: $69,870
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $17,053

• Total population: 8,712
• Annual cost of necessities: $57,534
• Net after taxes on $100K: $73,062
• Leftover savings after cost of living: $15,529

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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 the best small towns across the United States to find out how far a $100,000 salary, after taxes, will go in each city. First the small towns were identified using the U.S. Census 2023 5-year American Community Survey. To qualify as a small town, the total population had to be between 1,000 and 10,000. The total households, population ages 65 and over, and median household income were also sourced from the U.S. Census 2023 5-year ACS. For each city, the livability index was sourced from AreaVibes, and in order to qualify for this study, the livability index had to be at least 85 — representing the places with the best quality of life. The cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces for the remaining best small towns, and using the average expenditure costs for all households as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for all consumer units, the average expenditure costs can be calculated. The average single family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index, and by assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost can be calculated for each city. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living for necessities were calculated for each location. Assuming a $100,000 salary, the take-home pay was calculated using ADP’s Salary Paycheck Calculator. The calculator assumed a $100,000 salary a year paid bi-weekly, with no overtime, filing federal taxes as a single (only works one job), does not have any money coming out for deductions or dependents, is not exempt from any specific federal or state taxes, claims 1 exemption on state taxes, does not pay into insurance, and does pay 4% of their income to a 401(k). Using these filters, the take-home pay in each state was calculated and used with cost of living for necessities to find the leftover savings. The cities were then sorted to show the highest leftover savings first, representing the most affordable among the best small towns. All data was collected on and is up to date as of September 8th, 2025.}