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18 Amazing Midwest Cities With Affordable Housing

In a housing market as hot as the current one, finding a good, affordable location may be growing harder and harder. For people who are less attached to where they live, and more interested in choosing a place where they can rent at an affordable price, the Midwest is shaping up to be an excellent location.
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Of 18 Midwestern cities with affordable housing, Indiana topped the list with four cities, while Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, and North Dakota followed suit with two cities each.
To determine these amazingly affordable cities, GOBankingRates drew on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), ApartmentList and AreaVibes to narrow down Midwestern cities where the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment was no more than 30% of average monthly income. We also looked for cities where the cost of living index was no more than 10% higher than the national average, and which had good livability scores.
18. Madison, Wisconsin
- Average monthly state income: $4,196
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $1,233
- Population: 254,977
- Cost of living index: 99.5
- Livability index: 74
17. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Average monthly state income: $4,616
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $1,213
- Population: 120,735
- Cost of living index: 99.3
- Livability index: 83
16. St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Average monthly state income: $4,996
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $780
- Population: 68,001
- Cost of living index: 95.4
- Livability index: 66
15. Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Average monthly state income: $4,616
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $900
- Population: 198,401
- Cost of living index: 93.7
- Livability index: 67
14. Bloomington, Indiana
- Average monthly state income: $4,128
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $969
- Population: 84,116
- Cost of living index: 92.4
- Livability index: 66
13. Columbus, Ohio
- Average monthly state income: $4,392
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $996
- Population: 878,553
- Cost of living index: 93.9
- Livability index: 73
12. Indianapolis, Indiana
- Average monthly state income: $4,128
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $892
- Population: 864,447
- Cost of living index: 90.2
- Livability index: 65
11. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Average monthly state income: $3,860
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $844
- Population: 177,117
- Cost of living index: 92.8
- Livability index: 70
10. Rochester, Minnesota
- Average monthly state income: $4,996
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $949
- Population: 115,557
- Cost of living index: 97.3
- Livability index: 84
9. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Average monthly state income: $4,392
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $797
- Population: 301,394
- Cost of living index: 92.4
- Livability index: 68
8. Omaha, Nebraska
- Average monthly state income: $4,068
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $890
- Population: 475,862
- Cost of living index: 92.9
- Livability index: 72
7. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Average monthly state income: $4,068
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $828
- Population: 283,839
- Cost of living index: 94.7
- Livability index: 78
6. Des Moines, Iowa
- Average monthly state income: $4,060
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $763
- Population: 215,636
- Cost of living index: 91.7
- Livability index: 75
5. Fargo, North Dakota
- Average monthly state income: $4,304
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $753
- Population: 121,889
- Cost of living index: 91.4
- Livability index: 76
4. Davenport, Iowa
- Average monthly state income: $4,060
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $806
- Population: 102,169
- Cost of living index: 87.2
- Livability index: 69
3. Grand Forks, North Dakota
- Average monthly state income: $4,304
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $672
- Population: 56,500
- Cost of living index: 90.7
- Livability index: 74
2. Columbus, Indiana
- Average monthly state income: $4,128
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $943
- Population: 48,150
- Cost of living index: 89.1
- Livability index: 78
1. Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Average monthly state income: $4,128
- Average rent for a 1 bedroom: $846
- Population: 265,752
- Cost of living index: 86.8
- Livability index: 75
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Methodology: GoBankingRates first determined (1) average monthly wages in Q3 2021 for North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) County Employment and Wages news release. GOBankingRates then (2) found cities within the selected states where the average April 2022 rent for a one-bedroom apartment, sourced from ApartmentList, was no greater than 30% of state resident average monthly income (the housing budget guideline recommended by professionals); and (3) the corresponding populations for each city, sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cities included in the ranking had (4) an overall cost of living index, sourced from AdvisorSmith, no greater than 10% higher than the national average; and (5) livability scores, sourced from Areavibes, above 65. All data was collected and is up to date as of May 9, 2022.
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About the Author
Jordan Rosenfeld
Jordan Rosenfeld is a freelance writer and author of nine books. She holds a B.A. from Sonoma State University and an MFA from Bennington College. Her articles and essays about finances and other topics has appeared in a wide range of publications and clients, including The Atlantic, The Billfold, Good Magazine, GoBanking Rates, Daily Worth, Quartz, Medical Economics, The New York Times, Ozy, Paypal, The Washington Post and for numerous business clients. As someone who had to learn many of her lessons about money the hard way, she enjoys writing about personal finance to empower and educate people on how to make the most of what they have and live a better quality of life.
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