I Asked ChatGPT Which US Cities Offer the Best Mix of Safety and Affordability — Here’s What It Said
Written by
Marc Guberti
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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If you’re curious about some of the best U.S. cities to live for safety and affordability, you could turn to ChatGPT for some ideas. The artificial intelligence (AI) bot has become a valuable virtual assistant for people who need access to information, basic coaching and help with performing tasks.
GOBankingRates recently asked ChatGPT for the optimal U.S. cities that are affordable and safe, and it gave a good mix of places across the U.S. instead of leaning exclusively into one part of the country.
Cary, North Carolina
ChatGPT ranked Cary, North Carolina, as the safest city that is still priced at a reasonable level. The AI bot said that property crime and violent crime are both below the national average, per Idcide, and the cost of living is moderate.
The median listing home price is $600,000, according to Realtor.com. However, the median sold home price is just $580,000, suggesting that buyers have some negotiating power.
Overland Park, Kansas
Overland Park, Kansas, was the second-best city on ChatGPT’s list, and it’s no surprise to find a Midwestern city near the top. Much of the Midwest features more affordable housing. The lower quantity of large metropolises, combined with frigid winters, helps to make Overland Park another area with lower violent crime and property crime rates than the national average.
Realtor.com lists the median listing home price at $630,000, but the median sold home price only comes in at $505,200. It’s a wide range that suggests buyers have some negotiating power. Overland Park’s $218 median listing home price per square foot is more affordable than Cary’s.
Olathe, Kansas
ChatGPT didn’t look far for its third top pick, with Olathe, Kansas, earning a spot due to its low property crime rates and a modest cost of living. ChatGPT said you can find even lower house prices if you look at houses in small towns that surround Olathe.
The $227 median listing home price per square foot is higher than Overland Park, but it also has lower housing costs, per Realtor.com. The median listing home price is $579,000. The largest property on the market is an 11,581-square-foot home that you can get for $3.2 million. It’s impossible to find that type of deal in New York City.
Naperville, Illinois
There’s a lot more to Illinois than Chicago, and Naperville, Illinois, delivers on safety and affordability. It’s located a little less than two hours away from the Windy City, and ChatGPT cited the city’s “low property crime rate” when giving the recommendation.
The prices in Naperville are a little more expensive than the other listed cities since it’s near one of the most well-known cities in the country. However, Naperville has a median listing home price of $599,900, and the median sold home price is $520,900, according to Realtor.com. A 1,582-square-foot home in the area recently sold for $329,900.
Westminster, Colorado
We go out West for the final city on ChatGPT’s list and find ourselves in Westminster, Colorado. ChatGPT said that it ranks as the safest city among mid-to-large cities, according to Good Men Project. It’s nestled in the middle of Denver and Boulder, being less than 30 minutes away from both cities.
You’ll have to brave through cold winters, but the city has plenty of reasonably priced homes. The median listing home price is $539,900, according to Realtor.com. However, the median sold home price is just $517,500.
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