The Most Affordable City in Every State for the Middle Class

The idea of the middle class seems to differ in definition depending on where you live or which financial expert you ask. Throughout the United States, some shockingly high average salaries can still land you right in the middle of America’s economic class system — especially in these economically uncertain times of tariffs and the aftermath of pandemic inflation.

GOBankingRates recently conducted a study to determine the most affordable city in every state for those on middle-class incomes. The findings were based on statistics such as monthly expenditures, household income, real estate value and general cost of living.

Here are some key takeaways: 

• What is considered middle-class income will vary from state to state, but it’s typically evaluated as two-thirds to double the median income in an area.
• Though the middle-class income can range from $50,000 to $150,000, for the sake of this survey, the cities included are those where middle-class families can still have healthy savings.
• The highest average household income in this study is $250,000, with both Southlake, Texas, and McLean, Virginia, tied for that top spot.
• The lowest income to still be considered middle class was in Billings, Montana, where the average household income is $71,855.

Affordability is another term that seems completely subjective to the opinions and circumstances of those writing the checks. However, it’s good to know there are many cities throughout the U.S. where you can still live comfortably as part of the middle class. Here are the most affordable cities in every state for those living on a middle-class income.

• Annual cost of living: $92,455
• Median middle-class income: $191,128
• Leftover savings: $98,673

• Annual cost of living: $57,974
• Median middle-class income: $98,152
• Leftover savings: $40,178

• Annual cost of living: $70,814
• Median middle-class income: $134,719
• Leftover savings: $63,905

• Annual cost of living: $47,119
• Median middle-class income: $112,920
• Leftover savings: $65,801

• Annual cost of living: $103,168
• Median middle-class income: $190,000
• Leftover savings: $86,832

• Annual cost of living: $76,490
• Median middle-class income: $163,644
• Leftover savings: $87,154

• Annual cost of living: $57,817
• Median middle-class income: $126,807
• Leftover savings: $68,990

• Annual cost of living: $63,583
• Median middle-class income: $115,252
• Leftover savings: $51,669

• Annual cost of living: $101,880
• Median middle-class income: $200,156
• Leftover savings: $98,276

• Annual cost of living: $47,203
• Median middle-class income: $140,480
• Leftover savings: $93,277

• Annual cost of living: $96,707
• Median middle-class income: $129,260
• Leftover savings:$32,553

• Annual cost of living: $54,940
• Median middle-class income: $93,545
• Leftover savings: $38,605

• Annual cost of living: $91,073
• Median middle-class income: $192,300
• Leftover savings: $101,227

• Annual cost of living: $67,542
• Median middle-class income: $159,126
• Leftover savings: $91,584

• Annual cost of living: $47,663
• Median middle-class income: $113,086
• Leftover savings: $65,433

• Annual cost of living: $75,560
• Median middle-class income: $184,976
• Leftover savings: $109,416

• Annual cost of living: $46,119
• Median middle-class income: $98,653
• Leftover savings: $52,534

• Annual cost of living: $49,895
• Median middle-class income: $115,610
• Leftover savings: $65,715

• Annual cost of living: $54,517
• Median middle-class income: $85,868
• Leftover savings: $31,351

• Annual cost of living: $123,962
• Median middle-class income: $239,205
• Leftover savings: $115,243

• Annual cost of living: $78,054
• Median middle-class income: $161,473
• Leftover savings: $83,419

• Annual cost of living: $79,133
• Median middle-class income: $153,125
• Leftover savings: $73,992

• Annual cost of living: $57,662
• Median middle-class income: $138,119
• Leftover savings: $80,457

• Annual cost of living: $51,010
• Median middle-class income: $120,918
• Leftover savings: $69,908

• Annual cost of living: $62,730
• Median middle-class income: $157,750
• Leftover savings: $95,020

• Annual cost of living: $49,923
• Median middle-class income: $71,855
• Leftover savings: $21,932

• Annual cost of living: $52,390
• Median middle-class income: $109,602
• Leftover savings: $57,212

• Annual cost of living: $51,634
• Median middle-class income: $87,991
• Leftover savings: $36,357

• Annual cost of living: $45,836
• Median middle-class income: $78,183
• Leftover savings: $32,347

• Annual cost of living: $107,490
• Median middle-class income: $217,250
• Leftover savings: $109,760

• Annual cost of living: $36,399
• Median middle-class income: $78,277
• Leftover savings: $41,878

• Annual cost of living: $101,892
• Median middle-class income: $219,636
• Leftover savings: $117,744

• Annual cost of living: $66,766
• Median middle-class income: $138,442
• Leftover savings: $71,676

• Annual cost of living: $46,728
• Median middle-class income: $96,877
• Leftover savings: $50,139

• Annual cost of living: $59,167
• Median middle-class income: $180,931
• Leftover savings: $121,764

• Annual cost of living: $48,093
• Median middle-class income: $104,970
• Leftover savings: $56,877

• Annual cost of living: $81,024
• Median middle-class income: $138,526
• Leftover savings: $57,502

• Annual cost of living: $47,718
• Median middle-class income: $120,685
• Leftover savings: $72,967

• Annual cost of living: $52,909
• Median middle-class income: $87,536
• Leftover savings: $34,627

• Annual cost of living: $61,378
• Median middle-class income: $127,537
• Leftover savings: $66,159

• Annual cost of living: $45,629
• Median middle-class income: $74,714
• Leftover savings: $29,085

• Annual cost of living: $57,573
• Median middle-class income: $144,799
• Leftover savings: $87,226

• Annual cost of living: $112,555
• Median middle-class income: $250,00
• Leftover savings: $137,445

• Annual cost of living: $63,760
• Median middle-class income: $132,459
• Leftover savings: $68,699

• Annual cost of living: $66,381
• Median middle-class income: $97,229
• Leftover savings: $30,848

• Annual cost of living: $139,442
• Median middle-class income: $250,000
• Leftover savings: $100,558

• Annual cost of living: $144,758
• Median middle-class income: 227,273
• Leftover savings: $82,515

• Annual cost of living: $36,216
• Median middle-class income: $64,512
• Leftover savings: $28,296

• Annual cost of living: $68,689
• Median middle-class income: $147,391
• Leftover savings: $78,702

• Annual cost of living: $49,993
• Median middle-class income: $90,699
• Leftover savings: $40,706

Travis Woods contributed to the reporting for this article.

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

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities with populations of at least 20,000 to find the most affordable city in each state — defined as the cities in this group that had the most leftover savings. GOBankingRates used U.S. Census American Community Survey to find all the cities with populations of at least 20,000. With the cities identified, the cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces. Using the cost of living and the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location was calculated. Using Zillow Home Value Index for February 2025 and the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the average cost of living was calculated. The household median income was sourced from the American Community Survey. The middle class is defined by Pew Research as two-thirds to double the median household income. The median household income and the total cost of living were used to find the leftover savings for middle-class households. All data was collected on and is up to date as of March 18, 2025.