With the rising costs of big-city living, many American families are opting to move to the suburbs to get more bang for their buck. As of 2018, 175 million Americans call suburbia home, with growth happening more rapidly there than in rural and urban areas of the country. In fact, many suburbs are growing twice as fast as their neighboring cities.
Millennials, in particular, are flocking to these greener pastures thanks to unaffordable housing options in the city. This generation is currently moving into a new stage of life, with marriage, children and a white picket fence possibly coming into the picture as they decide where to lay down roots.
However, low costs aren’t the only selling point of a good neighborhood. Factors like amenities, cost of living, schools, crime rates, employment, weather and housing are understandably at the top of people’s lists. It’s important to look at all of these metrics to gain a full understanding of what makes a community thrive.
To find the best neighborhood to buy a home in every state, GOBankingRates analyzed 2019 median home values from Zillow to compile a list of neighborhoods from each state. This study looked at all neighborhoods below the national median home value and cross-referenced this list with AreaVibes’ top 50 neighborhoods from each state. GOBankingRates’ study is in alphabetical order by state, and livability scores are out of 100 total points. You can find the state-by-state overall ranking by average home value on the last slide, which is ranked from highest to lowest home value. Check if your neighborhood is the best place to buy a home in your state.
Last updated: Sept. 11, 2020
