50 Safest and Most Affordable US Cities To Live In

Choosing a family-friendly place to live is a significant decision that involves a balancing act between safety and affordability in any big city.

Several cities in America stand out for offering a combination of low crime rates and reasonable cost of living, even when compared to small towns. Whether you’re a young professional, a growing family or a retiree, finding real estate where you feel comfortable — both physically and financially — is crucial for a high quality of life.

GOBankingRates conducted a study based on the costs of living and crime rate averages. They were then ranked from lowest to highest based on these average crime rates and costs, and the ratings were factored by crimes per 1,000 people, then compared to the national average. Here are some key takeaways: 

• Cities in Texas: Of the top 25 cities from GOBankingRate’s study, 11 are located in Texas.
• Cheapest cost of living: Of the top 50 cities listed, the cheapest cost of living is in Brownsville, Texas, with an estimated monthly cost of $2,940.
• Most violent crime: Even though it’s still much safer than other big cities such as New York City or Los Angeles, the highest rate of violent crimes on this list is in Mesa, Arizona.

Keep reading to review the 50 safest and most affordable American cities.

• Median household income: $85,998
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,840
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,008
• Property crimes: 851
• Violent crimes: 215

• Median household income: $125,317
• Household average mortgage cost: $3,814
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,863
• Property crimes: 1,975
• Violent crimes: 142

• Median household income: $115,179
• Household average mortgage cost: $3,499
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,510
• Property crimes: 2,818
• Violent crimes: 323

• Median household income: $117,316
• Household average mortgage cost: $2,216
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,157
• Property crimes: 1,497
• Violent crimes: 126

• Median household income: $83,973
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,967
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,111
• Property crimes: 2,276
• Violent crimes: 271

• Median household income: $132,247
• Household average mortgage cost: $2,715
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,852
• Property crimes: 1,745
• Violent crimes: 97

• Median household income: $111,123
• Household average mortgage cost: $2,257
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,352
• Property crimes: 2,152
• Violent crimes: 117

• Median household income: $93,296
• Household average mortgage cost: $3,131
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,058
• Property crimes: 836
• Violent crimes: 186

• Median household income: $82,547
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,647
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,647
• Property crimes: 1,910
• Violent crimes: 185

• Median household income: $108,077
• Household average mortgage cost: $2,403
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,564
• Property crimes: 1,747
• Violent crimes: 324

• Median household income: $55,710
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,331
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,160
• Property crimes: 9,353
• Violent crimes: 2,123

• Median household income: $87,544
• Household average mortgage cost: $2,468
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,730
• Property crimes: 7,369
• Violent crimes: 400

• Median household income: $67,874
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,709
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,709
• Property crimes: 3,297
• Violent crimes: 654

• Median household income: $75,381
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,810
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,756
• Property crimes: 1,547
• Violent crimes: 272

• Median household income: $113,286
• Household average mortgage cost: $3,153
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,129
• Property crimes: 2,163
• Violent crimes: 238

• Median household income: $144,567
• Household average mortgage cost: $4,137
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,128
• Property crimes: 2,928
• Violent crimes: 225

• Median household income: $84,971
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,427
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,572
• Property crimes: 1,534
• Violent crimes: 770

• Median household income: $60,928
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,253
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,040
• Property crimes: 3,303
• Violent crimes: 814

• Median household income: $58,233
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,378 
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,246
• Property crimes: 6,393
• Violent crimes: 702

• Median household income: $64,600
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,351 
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,297
• Property crimes: 2,059
• Violent crimes: 302

• Median household income: $76,626
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,961 
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,996
• Property crimes: 3,770
• Violent crimes: 405

• Median household income: $105,679
• Household average mortgage cost: $3,217
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,266
• Property crimes: 5,496
• Violent crimes: 458

• Median household income: $95,380
• Household average mortgage cost: $2,583
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,557
• Property crimes: 2,219
• Violent crimes: 276

• Median household income: $56,326
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,351 
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,165
• Property crimes: 2,840
• Violent crimes: 285

• Median household income: $87,756
• Household average mortgage cost: $2,617
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,639
• Property crimes: 2,163
• Violent crimes: 182

• Median household income: $94,362
• Household average mortgage cost: $2,813
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,900
• Property crimes: 2,630
• Violent crimes: 183

• Median household income: $52,397
• Household average mortgage cost: $2,110
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,915
• Property crimes: 2,342
• Violent crimes: 248

• Median household income: $57,943
• Household average mortgage cost: $2,992
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,010
• Property crimes: 1,597
• Violent crimes: 168

• Median household income: $90,448
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,822
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,715
• Property crimes: 2,482
• Violent crimes: 639

• Median household income: $46,735
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,123
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,940
• Property crimes: 3,467
• Violent crimes: 817

• Median household income: $71,921
• Household average mortgage cost: $2,202
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,143
• Property crimes: 3,672
• Violent crimes: 445

• Median household income: $78,546
• Household average mortgage cost: $3,242
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,347
• Property crimes: 2,069
• Violent crimes: 371

• Median household income: $91,888
• Household average mortgage cost: $2,685
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,732
• Property crimes: 2,934
• Violent crimes: 215

• Median household income: $99,374
• Household average mortgage cost: $3,227
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,239
• Property crimes: 5,086
• Violent crimes: 513

• Median household income: $62,849
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,527
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,517
• Property crimes: 3,547
• Violent crimes: 391

• Median household income: $98,554
• Household average mortgage cost: $3,086
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,122
• Property crimes: 2,173
• Violent crimes: 236

• Median household income: $61,633
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,209
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,121
• Property crimes: 2,274
• Violent crimes: 670

• Median household income: $100,876
• Household average mortgage cost: $2,675
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,842
• Property crimes: 4,708
• Violent crimes: 437

• Median household income: $62,688
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,819
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,816
• Property crimes: 3,493
• Violent crimes: 871

• Median household income: $59,254
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,186
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,071
• Property crimes: 2,498
• Violent crimes: 587

• Median household income: $91,151
• Household average mortgage cost: $3,685
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,879
• Property crimes: 3,825
• Violent crimes: 609

• Median household income: $71,293
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,367
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,287
• Property crimes: 2,278
• Violent crimes: 573

• Median household income: $67,846
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,669
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,000
• Property crimes: 8,354
• Violent crimes: 1,123

• Median household income: $73,766
• Household average mortgage cost: $2,695
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,694
• Property crimes: 9,081
• Violent crimes: 2,193

• Median household income: $74,895
• Household average mortgage cost: $2,507 
• Total monthly cost of living: $4,691
• Property crimes: 6,459
• Violent crimes: 810

• Median household income: $115,864
• Household average mortgage cost: $3,899
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,123
• Property crimes: 2,366
• Violent crimes: 364

• Median household income: $66,895
• Household average mortgage cost: $1,217
• Total monthly cost of living: $3,288
• Property crimes: 4,124
• Violent crimes: 433

• Median household income: $112,265
• Household average mortgage cost: $3,905
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,050
• Property crimes: 2,930
• Violent crimes: 254

• Median household income: $124,617
• Household average mortgage cost: $4,101
• Total monthly cost of living: $6,364
• Property crimes: 2,233
• Violent crimes: 209

• Median household income: $99,002
• Household average mortgage cost: $3,253
• Total monthly cost of living: $5,300
• Property crimes: 2,498
• Violent crimes: 386

Methodology: GOBankingRates analyzed the largest cities in the United States by population, as sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, to find the safest and cheapest cities. For each city, a number of factors were found including; total population, total households, and household median income all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, the cost-of-living indexes as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces, the livability as sourced from Livability Index, the violent and property crime count as sourced from the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer for the most recent data year of 2022, and average single-family home value from April 2024 as sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. The average expenditure costs were calculated by using the cost of living indexes and the national average expenditure costs for all residents as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. The average mortgage cost can be calculated by assuming a 10% down payment and using the national 30-year fixed mortgage rate as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data to find the average mortgage cost. Using the total population and crime counts, the crime rates per 1000 residents can be calculated. Using the average expenditure cost and the average mortgage cost, the total average cost of living for each city can be calculated. The cities with any data missing were removed to accurately compare cities and all the cities were sorted to show the lowest violent crime rate to the highest, representing the safest cities. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 3, 2024.