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15 Cheapest, Safest Places To Live in the US

September 8, 2025

5 min Read

Written by J. David Herman

Edited by Ashleigh Ray

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The words “affordable” and “safe” don’t always go together, especially considering the ever-rising cost of living. However, there are at least 15 cities and towns across the United States that offer the best combination of both worlds.

GOBankingRates’ analysis of the nation’s safest cities sourced various factors to find the cities with the cheapest total cost of living, which represent the cheapest and safest cities. Seven of these cities are in Ohio, the most cities from any one state to rank in the top 15.

You may not have heard of all of these towns; but, based on our research, you won’t find better combinations of low crime rates and affordable living.

1. New Philadelphia, Ohio

Total population: 17,563
Average single family home value: $186,258
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,101
Total cost of living annually: $35,549
Livability: 76
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.69
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.50

2. New Ulm, Minnesota

Total population: 14,066
Average single family home value: $222,693
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,316
Total cost of living annually: $36,361
Livability: 82
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.29
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.07

3. Parma Heights, Ohio

Total population: 20,616
Average single family home value: $196,742
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,163
Total cost of living annually: $36,575
Livability: 71
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.39
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.76

4. San Elizario, Texas

Total population: 10,123
Average single family home value: $167,333
Average monthly mortgage cost: $989
Total cost of living annually: $36,738
Livability: 62
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.10
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.08

5. Yorktown, Indiana

Total population: 11,617
Average single family home value: $218,330
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,290
Total cost of living annually: $37,332
Livability: 69
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.42
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.10

6. Berea, Ohio

Total population: 18,330
Average single family home value: $220,573
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,303
Total cost of living annually: $37,768
Livability: 77
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.60
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.69

7. Mount Vernon, Ohio

Total population: 16,802
Average single family home value: $225,575
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,333
Total cost of living annually: $37,928
Livability: 75
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.42
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.23

8. Columbus, Indiana

Total population: 51,104
Average single family home value: $261,995
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,548
Total cost of living annually: $40,402
Livability: 76
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.19
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.12

9. Butler, Pennsylvania

Total population: 13,306
Average single family home value: $229,211
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,354
Total cost of living annually: $40,446
Livability: 71
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.20
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.29

10. Trenton, Michigan

Total population: 18,242
Average single family home value: $231,232
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,366
Total cost of living annually: $41,641
Livability: 86
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.33
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.20

11. Hamilton, Ohio

Total population: 63,124
Average single family home value: $279,890
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,654
Total cost of living annually: $42,726
Livability: 71
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.39
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.43

12. Orono, Maine

Total population: 10,699
Average single family home value: $295,752
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,748
Total cost of living annually: $44,036
Livability: 71
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.18
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.30

13. Brunswick, Ohio

Total population: 35,284
Average single family home value: $300,042
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,773
Total cost of living annually: $44,251
Livability: 78
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.48
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.67

14. North Ridgeville, Ohio

Total population: 36,043
Average single family home value: $313,398
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,852
Total cost of living annually: $44,415
Livability: 75
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.56
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.88

15. Edwardsville, Illinois

Total population: 26,543
Average single family home value: $302,677
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,789
Total cost of living annually: $45,323
Livability: 90
Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.30
Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.79

Heather Taylor contributed to the reporting for this piece.

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

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the safest cities to find the cities cheapest total cost of living, representing the cheapest and safest cities. Using property and violent crime rates from the FBI’s Quarterly Crime Statistics, the safest 150 cities with a population of at least 10,000 were identified. Other data was sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Sperling’s BestPlaces, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, Zillow Home Value Index for January 2025, the Federal Reserve Economic Data and AreaVibes. The violent crimes and property crimes reported were sourced from the FBI’s quarterly crime statistics. With the safest 110 cities identified, the cities were sorted to show the cheapest total cost of living. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Feb. 24, 2025.

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