The Best Places To Live on a $50K Salary in Every State
If you earn $50,000 a year in San Francisco or New York, you undoubtedly will need a roommate — or three — to make ends meet. But in many cities in the United States, $50,000 a year is plenty to live on.
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So what sort of enclaves against high costs are out there? GOBankingRates compiled the places in each state that are best suited to someone earning $50,000 a year — with a cost of living that will allow them to save for the future and cover costs in the present.
Every state in the U.S. has options on where you can live for less than $50,000. Take a look and see where you could live in your area to stretch your salary that much further.
Alaska
Anchorage
Livability: 77
Median Income: $88,871
Total Annual Necessities: $26,375
Ketchikan
Livability: 76
Median Income: $68,125
Total Annual Necessities: $26,276
Palmer
Livability: 75
Median Income: $62,068
Total Annual Necessities: $28,830
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Alabama
Huntsville
Livability: 81
Median Income: $60,959
Total Annual Necessities: $22,806
Florence
Livability: 81
Median Income: $40,944
Total Annual Necessities: $22,073
Vestavia Hills
Livability: 80
Median Income: $118,539
Total Annual Necessities: $23,440
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Arizona
Gilbert
Livability: 89
Median Income: $105,733
Total Annual Necessities: $22,822
Mesa
Livability: 89
Median Income: $65,725
Total Annual Necessities: $22,506
Kingman
Livability: 80
Median Income: $52,768
Total Annual Necessities: $23,086
Arkansas
Rogers
Livability: 88
Median Income: $69,582
Total Annual Necessities: $20,568
Bentonville
Livability: 83
Median Income: $89,653
Total Annual Necessities: $20,765
Fayetteville
Livability: 79
Median Income: $52,111
Total Annual Necessities: $20,857
California
Cupertino
Livability: 88
Median Income: $199,778
Total Annual Necessities: $26,335
Larkspur
Livability: 87
Median Income: $135,260
Total Annual Necessities: $25,702
San Anselmo
Livability: 86
Median Income: $153,381
Total Annual Necessities: $25,715
Colorado
Lafayette
Livability: 89
Median Income: $95,033
Total Annual Necessities: $21,592
Arvada
Livability: 86
Median Income: $96,677
Total Annual Necessities: $22,471
Broomfield
Livability: 85
Median Income: $107,570
Total Annual Necessities: $22,640
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Connecticut
New Milford
Livability: 84
Median Income: $65,625
Total Annual Necessities: $24,538
Meriden
Livability: 81
Median Income: $59,792
Total Annual Necessities: $24,572
Bridgeport
Livability: 81
Median Income: $50,597
Total Annual Necessities: $27,989
Delaware
Newark
Livability: 82
Median Income: $61,646
Total Annual Necessities: $23,999
Pike Creek
Livability: 74
Median Income: $131,603
Total Annual Necessities: $24,294
Wilmington Manor
Livability: 74
Median Income: $64,767
Total Annual Necessities: $23,855
Florida
Bay Harbor Islands
Livability: 89
Median Income: $79,824
Total Annual Necessities: $25,343
Seminole
Livability: 89
Median Income: $63,352
Total Annual Necessities: $23,188
Safety Harbor
Livability: 87
Median Income: $96,365
Total Annual Necessities: $23,403
Georgia
Decatur
Livability: 86
Median Income: $123,617
Total Annual Necessities: $23,711
Lawrenceville
Livability: 83
Median Income: $51,242
Total Annual Necessities: $22,196
North Druid Hills
Livability: 82
Median Income: $81,830
Total Annual Necessities: $23,333
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Hawaii
East Honolulu
Livability: 87
Median Income: $139,041
Total Annual Necessities: $30,056
Kailua
Livability: 82
Median Income: $79,331
Total Annual Necessities: $28,590
Mililani Town
Livability: 78
Median Income: $108,192
Total Annual Necessities: $29,704
Idaho
Chubbuck
Livability: 86
Median Income: $65,619
Total Annual Necessities: $20,884
Post Falls
Livability: 86
Median Income: $65,592
Total Annual Necessities: $21,058
Idaho Falls
Livability: 85
Median Income: $57,412
Total Annual Necessities: $20,842
Illinois
Edwardsville
Livability: 90
Median Income: $78,298
Total Annual Necessities: $21,749
Western Springs
Livability: 88
Median Income: $196,638
Total Annual Necessities: $23,362
La Grange
Livability: 87
Median Income: $124,292
Total Annual Necessities: $23,315
Indiana
West Lafayette
Livability: 89
Median Income: $28,744
Total Annual Necessities: $20,388
Noblesville
Livability: 85
Median Income: $89,258
Total Annual Necessities: $21,839
Notre Dame
Livability: 85
Median Income: $24,000
Total Annual Necessities: $19,976
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Iowa
Ankeny
Livability: 92
Median Income: $92,959
Total Annual Necessities: $21,639
Ames
Livability: 91
Median Income: $54,339
Total Annual Necessities: $22,350
Urbandale
Livability: 89
Median Income: $100,589
Total Annual Necessities: $21,017
Kansas
Lawrence
Livability: 88
Median Income: $56,536
Total Annual Necessities: $22,586
Lenexa
Livability: 86
Median Income: $96,477
Total Annual Necessities: $22,164
Shawnee
Livability: 86
Median Income: $93,835
Total Annual Necessities: $22,254
Kentucky
Bellevue
Livability: 92
Median Income: $69,135
Total Annual Necessities: $22,171
Fort Thomas
Livability: 91
Median Income: $85,938
Total Annual Necessities: $22,162
Edgewood
Livability: 87
Median Income: $109,909
Total Annual Necessities: $22,451
Louisiana
Metairie
Livability: 83
Median Income: $65,740
Total Annual Necessities: $22,859
Thibodaux
Livability: 82
Median Income: $46,658
Total Annual Necessities: $22,786.80
Elmwood
Livability: 78
Median Income: $75,526
Total Annual Necessities: $22,793
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Maine
Brunswick
Livability: 88
Median Income: $65,285
Total Annual Necessities: $21,424
Portland
Livability: 85
Median Income: $66,109
Total Annual Necessities: $21,367
Westbrook
Livability: 83
Median Income: $71,335
Total Annual Necessities: $21,449
Maryland
Lutherville
Livability: 89
Median Income: $129,567
Total Annual Necessities: $22,546
North Kensington
Livability: 86
Median Income: $117,708
Total Annual Necessities: $24,664
Perry Hall
Livability: 85
Median Income: $94,576
Total Annual Necessities: $22,888
Massachusetts
Lexington
Livability: 92
Median Income: $202,852
Total Annual Necessities: $24,179
Winchester
Livability: 90
Median Income: $184,844
Total Annual Necessities: $23,980
Melrose
Livability: 89
Median Income: $125,229
Total Annual Necessities: $23,585
Michigan
Clawson
Livability: 92
Median Income: $76,575
Total Annual Necessities: $21,460
Berkley
Livability: 91
Median Income: $96,993
Total Annual Necessities: $21,771
Farmington
Livability: 90
Median Income: $84,558
Total Annual Necessities: $21,978
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Minnesota
Rochester
Livability: 91
Median Income: $79,159
Total Annual Necessities: $20,645
Champlin
Livability: 89
Median Income: $104,200
Total Annual Necessities: $21,592
St. Louis Park
Livability: 88
Median Income: $87,639
Total Annual Necessities: $21,245
Mississippi
Oxford
Livability: 87
Median Income: $51,096
Total Annual Necessities: $20,639
Ocean Springs
Livability: 83
Median Income: $63,653
Total Annual Necessities: $21,565
Madison
Livability: 80
Median Income: $119,662
Total Annual Necessities: $21,709
Missouri
Maplewood
Livability: 86
Median Income: $52,420
Total Annual Necessities: $21,372
Brentwood
Livability: 85
Median Income: $81,692
Total Annual Necessities: $21,327
Clayton
Livability: 84
Median Income: $117,593
Total Annual Necessities: $21,668
Montana
Bozeman
Livability: 87
Median Income: $67,354
Total Annual Necessities: $21,191
Whitefish
Livability: 82
Median Income: $64,595
Total Annual Necessities: $20,762
Helena
Livability: 80
Median Income: $59,712
Total Annual Necessities: $20,289
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Nebraska
Bellevue
Livability: 86
Median Income: $73,534
Total Annual Necessities: $22,916
Papillion
Livability: 84
Median Income: $95,293
Total Annual Necessities: $22,933
Lincoln
Livability: 83
Median Income: $62,566
Total Annual Necessities: $23,749
Nevada
Las Vegas
Livability: 82
Median Income: $61,356
Total Annual Necessities: $23,652
Reno
Livability: 80
Median Income: $67,557
Total Annual Necessities: $21,791
Winchester
Livability: 78
Median Income: $40,672
Total Annual Necessities: $23,652
New Hampshire
Dover
Livability: 88
Median Income: $82,387
Total Annual Necessities: $21,463
Concord
Livability: 88
Median Income: $73,156
Total Annual Necessities: $20,934
Keene
Livability: 86
Median Income: $63,490
Total Annual Necessities: $20,346
New Jersey
Pompton Lakes
Livability: 92
Median Income: $100,906
Total Annual Necessities: $24,596
Ridgewood
Livability: 88
Median Income: $194,256
Total Annual Necessities: $26,386
Highland Park
Livability: 88
Median Income: $85,652
Total Annual Necessities: $25,236
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New Mexico
Los Alamos
Livability: 80
Median Income: $118,293
Total Annual Necessities: $19,343
Santa Fe
Livability: 78
Median Income: $61,990
Total Annual Necessities: $20,241
Silver City
Livability: 76
Median Income: $31,451
Total Annual Necessities: $19,323
New York
Niskayuna
Livability: 92
Median Income: $116,148
Total Annual Necessities: $23,697
Malverne
Livability: 88
Median Income: $139,915
Total Annual Necessities: $29,833
Rockville Centre
Livability: 86
Median Income: $131,090
Total Annual Necessities: $30,083.91
North Carolina
Cary
Livability: 90
Median Income: $113,782
Total Annual Necessities: $21,537
Apex
Livability: 87
Median Income: $121,313
Total Annual Necessities: $21,733
Holly Springs
Livability: 85
Median Income: $120,229
Total Annual Necessities: $21,816
North Dakota
Fargo
Livability: 84
Median Income: $60,243
Total Annual Necessities: $20,692
Grand Forks
Livability: 78
Median Income: $53,611
Total Annual Necessities: $21,235
West Fargo
Livability: 77
Median Income: $93,382
Total Annual Necessities: $20,844
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Ohio
Grandview Heights
Livability: 94
Median Income: $89,415
Total Annual Necessities: $21,306
Worthington
Livability: 93
Median Income: $113,559
Total Annual Necessities: $21,543
Bexley
Livability: 91
Median Income: $121,182
Total Annual Necessities: $21,204
Oklahoma
Norman
Livability: 83
Median Income: $59,866
Total Annual Necessities: $22,511
Stillwater
Livability: 81
Median Income: $37,991
Total Annual Necessities: $22,816
Oklahoma City
Livability: 79
Median Income: $59,679
Total Annual Necessities: $22,312
Oregon
Sherwood
Livability: 93
Median Income: $104,651
Total Annual Necessities: $22,874
Cedar Hills
Livability: 90
Median Income: $91,972
Total Annual Necessities: $22,578
Central Point
Livability: 90
Median Income: $73,534
Total Annual Necessities: $21,566
Pennsylvania
Ardmore
Livability: 92
Median Income: $107,087
Total Annual Necessities: $23,727
Dormant
Livability: 92
Median Income: $61,890
Total Annual Necessities: $22,377
Camp Hill
Livability: 91
Median Income: $99,137
Total Annual Necessities: $22,944
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Rhode Island
Cranston
Livability: 84
Median Income: $77,145
Total Annual Necessities: $22,841
Providence
Livability: 80
Median Income: $55,787
Total Annual Necessities: $23,064
Newport
Livability: 78
Median Income: $77,092
Total Annual Necessities: $22,486
South Carolina
Simpsonville
Livability: 85
Median Income: $76,412
Total Annual Necessities: $21,412
Mauldin
Livability: 84
Median Income: $73,755
Total Annual Necessities: $20,971
Clemson
Livability: 82
Median Income: $48,335
Total Annual Necessities: $22,025
South Dakota
Brandon
Livability: 86
Median Income: $96,367
Total Annual Necessities: $21,432
Sioux Falls
Livability: 84
Median Income: $66,761
Total Annual Necessities: $21,198
Vermillion
Livability: 82
Median Income: $47,920
Total Annual Necessities: $21,372
Tennessee
Nolensville
Livability: 81
Median Income: $152,500
Total Annual Necessities: $23,264
Clarksville
Livability: 81
Median Income: $58,838
Total Annual Necessities: $21,492
Nashville
Livability: 78
Median Income: $65,565
Total Annual Necessities: $22,514
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Texas
The Woodlands
Livability: 90
Median Income: $130,011
Total Annual Necessities: $22,323
Denton
Livability: 86
Median Income: $65,168
Total Annual Necessities: $21,910
Leander
Livability: 85
Median Income: $117,090
Total Annual Necessities: $23,171
Utah
Kaysville
Livability: 89
Median Income: $110,700
Total Annual Necessities: $21,391
Farmington
Livability: 89
Median Income: $107,559
Total Annual Necessities: $21,485
Orem
Livability: 89
Median Income: $70,412
Total Annual Necessities: $21,459
Vermont
Essex Junction
Livability: 89
Median Income: $79,677
Total Annual Necessities: $25,315
South Burlington
Livability: 84
Median Income: $83,750
Total Annual Necessities: $24,892
Montpelier
Livability: 84
Median Income: $71,163
Total Annual Necessities: $24,414
Virginia
Lynchburg
Livability: 90
Median Income: $54,015
Total Annual Necessities: $21,311
Purcellville
Livability: 89
Median Income: $140,536
Total Annual Necessities: $25,304
Merrifield
Livability: 89
Median Income: $128,361
Total Annual Necessities: $25,084
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Washington
Bothell
Livability: 90
Median Income: $116,578
Total Annual Necessities: $23,143
Battle Ground
Livability: 90
Median Income: $85,943
Total Annual Necessities: $22,664
Redmond
Livability: 89
Median Income: $147,006
Total Annual Necessities: $22,666
West Virginia
Charleston
Livability: 83
Median Income: $54,101
Total Annual Necessities: $23,950
Bridgeport
Livability: 82
Median Income: $87,936
Total Annual Necessities: $22,878
Morgantown
Livability: 82
Median Income: $36,991
Total Annual Necessities: $22,818
Wisconsin
Whitefish Bay
Livability: 93
Median Income: $134,324
Total Annual Necessities: $22,034
Shorewood
Livability: 92
Median Income: $81,016
Total Annual Necessities: $22,315
Wausau
Livability: 89
Median Income: $53,800
Total Annual Necessities: $20,644
Wyoming
Cheyenne
Livability: 82
Median Income: $70,705
Total Annual Necessities: $23,964
Gillette
Livability: 79
Median Income: $83,193
Total Annual Necessities: $24,305
Jackson
Livability: 77
Median Income: $83,289
Total Annual Necessities: $25,272
Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting for this article.
Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the best places to live on $50,000 salary in each state by analyzing cities along the following criteria; [1] cities with at least 5,000 households as sourced from U.S. Census American Consumer Survey, [2] Livability index as sourced from AreaVibes, [3] Average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, and [4] cost of living indexes across grocery, healthcare, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous, as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces. All data was collected and is up to date as of Nov. 15, 2023.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Best Places To Live on a $50K Salary in Every State