50 Most Livable Cities That You Can Afford on the East Coast

Mortgage rates in some U.S. cities can seem stratospheric, grocery bills are in the triple digits, gas is increasingly pricey and rent rates continue to increase — all of which can make living in urban areas almost prohibitively expensive, especially on the coasts (where cost of living tends to be more expensive).

GOBankingRates recently compiled a study regarding the East Coast, factoring in such data as median household incomes of East Coast cities, as well as their average monthly mortgage rates balanced against their annual cost of living, all to calculate the overall livability score for over 1,000 cities on the Eastern seaboard. From that list, GOBankingRates has culled the 50 most livable cities you can most easily afford on the East Coast.

• Livability score: 93
• Median household income: $115,273
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,649
• Annual cost of living: $57,863

• Livability score: 92
• Median household income: $119,038
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,868
• Annual cost of living: $61,723

• Livability score: 92
• Median household income: $219,402
• Average monthly mortgage: $8,560
• Annual cost of living: $129,678

• Livability score: 91
• Median household income: $59,808
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,358
• Annual cost of living: $39,190

• Livability score: 91
• Median household income: $79,390
• Average monthly mortgage: $3,966
• Annual cost of living: $74,514

• Livability score: 91
• Median household income: $218,176
• Average monthly mortgage: $8,712
• Annual cost of living: $131,347

• Livability score: 90
• Median household income: $129,399
• Average monthly mortgage: $3,432
• Annual cost of living: $64,729

• Livability score: 90
• Median household income: $126,854
• Average monthly mortgage: $4,899
• Annual cost of living: $85,102

• Livability score: 89
• Median household income: $48,070
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,211
• Annual cost of living: $50,426

• Livability score: 89
• Median household income: $77,335
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,418
• Annual cost of living: $54,331

• Livability score: 89
• Median household income: $123,691
• Average monthly mortgage: $3,822
• Annual cost of living: $73,433

• Livability score: 89
• Median household income: $97,110
• Average monthly mortgage: $3,920
• Annual cost of living: $74,664

• Livability score: 89
• Median household income: $178,188
• Average monthly mortgage: $8,702
• Annual cost of living: $131,202

• Livability score: 88
• Median household income: $83,701
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,434
• Annual cost of living: $52,220

• Livability score: 88
• Median household income: $94,411
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,716
• Annual cost of living: $58,921

• Livability score: 88
• Median household income: $92,748
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,958
• Annual cost of living: $59,203

• Livability score: 88
• Median household income: $101,991
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,996
• Annual cost of living: $64,062

• Livability score: 88
• Median household income: $83,862
• Average monthly mortgage: $3,552
• Annual cost of living: $67,163

• Livability score: 88
• Median household income: $139,515
• Average monthly mortgage: $3,946
• Annual cost of living: $74,660

• Livability score: 88
• Median household income: $130,320
• Average monthly mortgage: $4,406
• Annual cost of living: $78,730

• Livability score: 88
• Median household income: $105,535
• Average monthly mortgage: $5,089
• Annual cost of living: $90,645

• Livability score: 88
• Median household income: $184,113
• Average monthly mortgage: $5,403
• Annual cost of living: $91,292

• Livability score: 88
• Median household income: $141,440
• Average monthly mortgage: $6,085
• Annual cost of living: $99,832

• Livability score: 88
• Median household income: $217,250
• Average monthly mortgage: $5,932
• Annual cost of living: $100,821

• Livability score: 87
• Median household income: $140,480
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,635
• Annual cost of living: $45,859

• Livability score: 87
• Median household income: $68,190
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,691
• Annual cost of living: $55,755

• Livability score: 87
• Median household income: $111,600
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,595
• Annual cost of living: $56,661

• Livability score: 87
• Median household income: $105,813
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,951
• Annual cost of living: $61,006

• Livability score: 87
• Median household income: $138,442
• Average monthly mortgage: $3,330
• Annual cost of living: $63,761

• Livability score: 87
• Median household income: $85,825
• Average monthly mortgage: $3,569
• Annual cost of living: $66,847

• Livability score: 87
• Median household income: $155,526
• Average monthly mortgage: $3,809
• Annual cost of living: $73,773

• Livability score: 87
• Median household income: $112,635
• Average monthly mortgage: $4,442
• Annual cost of living: $79,116

• Livability score: 87
• Median household income: $212,700
• Average monthly mortgage: $6,332
• Annual cost of living: $104,939

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $66,774
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,395
• Annual cost of living: $41,311

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $78,183
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,820
• Annual cost of living: $44,125

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $79,233
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,002
• Annual cost of living: $47,274

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $47,132
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,126
• Annual cost of living: $50,221

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $73,118
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,143
• Annual cost of living: $50,961

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $98,402
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,129
• Annual cost of living: $51,224

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $104,709
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,479
• Annual cost of living: $55,342

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $100,481
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,558
• Annual cost of living: $55,798

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $64,409
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,644
• Annual cost of living: $55,986

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $115,825
• Average monthly mortgage: $3,471
• Annual cost of living: $66,485

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $190,882
• Average monthly mortgage: $4,150
• Annual cost of living: $75,115

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $138,886
• Average monthly mortgage: $3,881
• Annual cost of living: $79,509

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $127,426
• Average monthly mortgage: $3,879
• Annual cost of living: $80,095

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $140,688
• Average monthly mortgage: $4,641
• Annual cost of living: $83,361

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $163,725
• Average monthly mortgage: $4,942
• Annual cost of living: $85,386

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $140,160
• Average monthly mortgage: $5,550
• Annual cost of living: $94,061

• Livability score: 86
• Median household income: $144,516
• Average monthly mortgage: $5,081
• Annual cost of living: $94,326

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

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities in East Coast states to find the cheapest city to retire in each state. First GOBankingRates identified cities in East Coast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, Vermont. Once the cities were identified, GOBankingRates found total population, population ages 65 and over, total households and household median income, all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Using this data, the percentage of the population ages 65 and over was calculated. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and include the grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous cost-of-living indexes. Using the cost-of-living indexes and the national average expenditure costs for retired residents, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for retired residents for each location was calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes for each location. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for November 2024. Using the average home value, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the most recent national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate (sourced from 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 cities with the lowest cost of living for each state were found to determine the cheapest cities for retirees in each state. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Jan. 8, 2025.