Yahoo Finance Don’t Overlook These Hidden Gem Cities With a High Quality of Life
Homebuyers often have their sights set on living and investing in large metropolitan areas boasting a ton of amenities. But today, with still-high housing prices -- and with 30-year fixed mortgage rates still over 6% -- bigger cities might be out of the reach of some. And it begs the question: Is life in the big city still worth the exorbitant cost for the average homebuyer?
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Smaller cities can offer the same amenities as larger metropolises, sometimes at a lower cost of living and a better quality of life. There are plenty of underrated and charming towns that homebuyers might be missing out on. Some could be a financial stretch, but others are below May's average U.S. home value of $339,048, as reported by Zillow.
To find these "hidden gems" in every state, GOBankingRates analyzed cities with a population between 10,000 and 75,000, according to data sourced from AreaVibes and have information on the average 2023 single-family home value in their area available from Zillow. If there were too few cities within the state that met this criterion, the population requirement was relaxed to include cities with a population of over 5,000. States for which the population requirement was relaxed: Alaska and Vermont. The study also looked at the median list price of homes within the area. States are listed in alphabetical order, with the five hidden gem cities in each state ranked in order of highest livability score.
If you're tired of dealing with high prices, traffic and crowds in the city, it's worth looking elsewhere for affordable cities you'll love to live in. Check out these cities that offer a high quality of life.
Alabama
Madison
2023 average home value: $361,353
Livability score: 89
Vestavia Hills
2023 average home value: $520,147
Livability score: 87
Daphne
2023 average home value: $313,390
Livability score: 84
Mountain Brook
2023 average home value: $877,425
Livability score: 83
Chelsea
2023 average home value: $363,888
Livability score: 82
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Alaska
Kodiak
2023 average home value: $421,486
Livability score: 72
Sitka
2023 average home value: $483,718
Livability score: 71
Juneau
2023 average home value: $491,733
Livability score: 66
Palmer
2023 average home value: $360,967
Livability score: 65
Homer
2023 average home value: $373,701
Livability score: 64
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Arizona
Goodyear
2023 average home value: $468,653
Livability score: 83
Oro Valley
2023 average home value: $497,577
Livability score: 83
Queen Creek
2023 average home value: $605,403
Livability score: 82
Maricopa
2023 average home value: $363,036
Livability score: 82
Anthem
2023 average home value: $545,992
Livability score: 82
Arkansas
Bentonville
2023 average home value: $420,119
Livability score: 92
Bella Vista
2023 average home value: $315,140
Livability score: 82
Centerton
2023 average home value: $312,415
Livability score: 81
Rogers
2023 average home value: $318,547
Livability score: 81
Maumelle
2023 average home value: $288,960
Livability score: 80
California
Lafayette
2023 average home value: $1,958,337
Livability score: 86
Los Gatos
2023 average home value: $2,659,493
Livability score: 86
Sierra Madre
2023 average home value: $1,359,157
Livability score: 86
Los Altos
2023 average home value: $4,060,609
Livability score: 86
Danville
2023 average home value: $1,873,184
Livability score: 85
Colorado
Parker
2023 average home value: $702,818
Livability score: 88
Superior
2023 average home value: $877,975
Livability score: 87
Erie
2023 average home value: $751,679
Livability score: 85
Firestone
2023 average home value: $574,915
Livability score: 84
Lafayette
2023 average home value: $739,317
Livability score: 83
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Connecticut
Middletown
2023 average home value: $310,097
Livability score: 83
Newington
2023 average home value: $308,646
Livability score: 83
West Hartford
2023 average home value: $412,860
Livability score: 82
Greenwich
2023 average home value: $2,106,551
Livability score: 82
Westport
2023 average home value: $1,612,527
Livability score: 81
Delaware
Hockessin
2023 average home value: $555,533
Livability score: 83
Middletown
2023 average home value: $490,938
Livability score: 74
Newark
2023 average home value: $332,332
Livability score: 71
Bear
2023 average home value: $384,619
Livability score: 71
Smyrna
2023 average home value: $369,594
Livability score: 70
Florida
Oldsmar
2023 average home value: $449,813
Livability score: 92
Westchase
2023 average home value: $577,959
Livability score: 91
Fleming Island
2023 average home value: $447,905
Livability score: 91
North Palm Beach
2023 average home value: $878,278
Livability score: 89
Destin
2023 average home value: $660,734
Livability score: 89
Georgia
Vinings
2023 average home value: $692,503
Livability score: 91
Woodstock
2023 average home value: $420,036
Livability score: 90
Duluth
2023 average home value: $416,441
Livability score: 90
Suwanee
2023 average home value: $556,319
Livability score: 90
Kennesaw
2023 average home value: $397,777
Livability score: 89
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Hawaii
Kailua
2023 average home value: $1,538,080
Livability score: 77
Pearl City
2023 average home value: $972,839
Livability score: 70
Kaneohe
2023 average home value: $1,142,807
Livability score: 70
Wailuku
2023 average home value: $914,626
Livability score: 70
Kapolei
2023 average home value: $907,684
Livability score: 68
Idaho
Ammon
2023 average home value: $401,002
Livability score: 87
Eagle
2023 average home value: $799,972
Livability score: 86
Chubbuck
2023 average home value: $359,158
Livability score: 85
Post Falls
2023 average home value: $494,149
Livability score: 81
Moscow
2023 average home value: $436,885
Livability score: 81
Illinois
Grayslake
2023 average home value: $303,515
Livability score: 89
Columbia
2023 average home value: $284,595
Livability score: 88
Lake in the Hills
2023 average home value: $311,306
Livability score: 87
Algonquin
2023 average home value: $340,085
Livability score: 87
Roscoe
2023 average home value: $253,107
Livability score: 86
Indiana
Brownsburg
2023 average home value: $331,130
Livability score: 89
Zionsville
2023 average home value: $565,672
Livability score: 88
Munster
2023 average home value: $340,676
Livability score: 88
Plainfield
2023 average home value: $308,405
Livability score: 87
Dyer
2023 average home value: $331,493
Livability score: 87
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Iowa
Ankeny
2023 average home value: $333,297
Livability score: 97
Urbandale
2023 average home value: $333,983
Livability score: 96
Waukee
2023 average home value: $355,478
Livability score: 93
Pella
2023 average home value: $300,462
Livability score: 91
Clive
2023 average home value: $404,688
Livability score: 91
Kansas
Prairie Village
2023 average home value: $407,141
Livability score: 94
Lenexa
2023 average home value: $414,722
Livability score: 85
Leawood
2023 average home value: $665,125
Livability score: 81
Shawnee
2023 average home value: $369,941
Livability score: 80
Hays
2023 average home value: $223,307
Livability score: 79
Kentucky
Fort Thomas
2023 average home value: $309,865
Livability score: 95
Mount Washington
2023 average home value: $288,143
Livability score: 87
Berea
2023 average home value: $192,475
Livability score: 80
Burlington
2023 average home value: $295,272
Livability score: 79
Danville
2023 average home value: $213,049
Livability score: 79
Louisiana
Mandeville
2023 average home value: $353,849
Livability score: 89
River Ridge
2023 average home value: $301,125
Livability score: 86
Youngsville
2023 average home value: $262,440
Livability score: 85
Broussard
2023 average home value: $263,155
Livability score: 83
Prairieville
2023 average home value: $301,365
Livability score: 80
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Maine
Brunswick
2023 average home value: $450,602
Livability score: 82
Saco
2023 average home value: $456,393
Livability score: 79
South Portland
2023 average home value: $465,987
Livability score: 79
Portland
2023 average home value: $493,751
Livability score: 74
Auburn
2023 average home value: $269,099
Livability score: 72
Maryland
North Potomac
2023 average home value: $825,399
Livability score: 81
Bethesda
2023 average home value: $1,219,461
Livability score: 81
North Bethesda
2023 average home value: $801,190
Livability score: 79
Bel Air
2023 average home value: $435,398
Livability score: 79
Perry Hall
2023 average home value: $424,893
Livability score: 78
Massachusetts
Belmont
2023 average home value: $1,457,566
Livability score: 89
Winchester
2023 average home value: $1,462,186
Livability score: 87
Arlington
2023 average home value: $1,006,381
Livability score: 87
Lexington
2023 average home value: $1,397,314
Livability score: 86
Brookline
2023 average home value: $2,107,694
Livability score: 86
Michigan
Berkley
2023 average home value: $284,807
Livability score: 95
Novi
2023 average home value: $486,899
Livability score: 94
Grosse Pointe Park
2023 average home value: $451,589
Livability score: 94
East Grand Rapids
2023 average home value: $572,267
Livability score: 94
Farmington
2023 average home value: $304,439
Livability score: 94
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Minnesota
Champlin
2023 average home value: $354,481
Livability score: 92
North Mankato
2023 average home value: $278,836
Livability score: 91
Stillwater
2023 average home value: $416,482
Livability score: 89
Elk River
2023 average home value: $369,783
Livability score: 88
Chaska
2023 average home value: $441,459
Livability score: 87
Mississippi
Brandon
2023 average home value: $262,988
Livability score: 86
Petal
2023 average home value: $198,949
Livability score: 86
Madison
2023 average home value: $365,096
Livability score: 84
Clinton
2023 average home value: $217,878
Livability score: 84
Ocean Springs
2023 average home value: $243,111
Livability score: 83
Missouri
Webster Groves
2023 average home value: $374,937
Livability score: 93
Ballwin
2023 average home value: $382,541
Livability score: 93
Eureka
2023 average home value: $364,361
Livability score: 90
Kirkwood
2023 average home value: $428,982
Livability score: 90
Clayton
2023 average home value: $949
Montana
Bozeman
2023 average home value: $697,609
Livability score: 83
Missoula
2023 average home value: $515,288
Livability score: 67
Kalispell
2023 average home value: $508,811
Livability score: 66
Great Falls
2023 average home value: $286,428
Livability score: 64
Helena
2023 average home value: $430,566
Livability score: 63
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Nebraska
Papillion
2023 average home value: $371,030
Livability score: 93
Norfolk
2023 average home value: $217,037
Livability score: 88
La Vista
2023 average home value: $281,286
Livability score: 86
Hastings
2023 average home value: $173,245
Livability score: 85
Columbus
2023 average home value: $238,655
Livability score: 85
Nevada
Henderson
2023 average home value: $476,749
Livability score: 84
Boulder City
2023 average home value: $452,400
Livability score: 81
Mesquite
2023 average home value: $394,225
Livability score: 75
Carson City
2023 average home value: $451,893
Livability score: 71
Elko
2023 average home value: $315,522
Livability score: 65
New Hampshire
Portsmouth
2023 average home value: $702,739
Livability score: 88
Dover
2023 average home value: $465,545
Livability score: 85
Derry
2023 average home value: $470,382
Livability score: 82
Concord
2023 average home value: $390,445
Livability score: 82
Durham
2023 average home value: $582,653
Livability score: 81
New Jersey
Pompton Lakes
2023 average home value: $418,043
Livability score: 88
Summit
2023 average home value: $1,068,567
Livability score: 86
Hoboken
2023 average home value: $1,470,891
Livability score: 85
New Providence
2023 average home value: $739,342
Livability score: 85
Princeton
2023 average home value: $820,727
Livability score: 85
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New Mexico
Los Alamos
2023 average home value: $501,458
Livability score: 82
Lovington
2023 average home value: $132,803
Livability score: 74
Alamogordo
2023 average home value: $195,308
Livability score: 72
Artesia
2023 average home value: $200,120
Livability score: 68
Carlsbad
2023 average home value: $196,727
Livability score: 67
New York
North Tonawanda
2023 average home value: $229,331
Livability score: 87
Depew
2023 average home value: $220,433
Livability score: 85
Garden City
2023 average home value: $1,024,602
Livability score: 84
Saratoga Springs
2023 average home value: $502,828
Livability score: 84
Dobbs Ferry
2023 average home value: $841,133
Livability score: 83
North Carolina
Apex
2023 average home value: $565,717
Livability score: 90
Cornelius
2023 average home value: $522,519
Livability score: 89
Holly Springs
2023 average home value: $532,324
Livability score: 89
Wake Forest
2023 average home value: $501,514
Livability score: 88
Morrisville
2023 average home value: $484,120
Livability score: 88
North Dakota
West Fargo
2023 average home value: $310,683
Livability score: 91
Jamestown
2023 average home value: $179,801
Livability score: 85
Dickinson
2023 average home value: $278,183
Livability score: 80
Bismarck
2023 average home value: $349,670
Livability score: 78
Mandan
2023 average home value: $299,772
Livability score: 74
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Ohio
Worthington
2023 average home value: $450,828
Livability score: 97
Westerville
2023 average home value: $428,384
Livability score: 95
Hilliard
2023 average home value: $375,506
Livability score: 95
Shaker Heights
2023 average home value: $310,706
Livability score: 95
Mason
2023 average home value: $468,089
Livability score: 92
Oklahoma
Bixby
2023 average home value: $303,920
Livability score: 84
Yukon
2023 average home value: $249,851
Livability score: 80
Jenks
2023 average home value: $316,027
Livability score: 80
Weatherford
2023 average home value: $196,569
Livability score: 80
Owasso
2023 average home value: $287,516
Livability score: 80
Oregon
West Linn
2023 average home value: $768,910
Livability score: 86
Sherwood
2023 average home value: $640,966
Livability score: 85
Lake Oswego
2023 average home value: $944,827
Livability score: 84
Wilsonville
2023 average home value: $650,472
Livability score: 80
La Grande
2023 average home value: $264,752
Livability score: 79
Pennsylvania
Bethel Park
2023 average home value: $276,119
Livability score: 94
Hershey
2023 average home value: $352,460
Livability score: 88
Murrysville
2023 average home value: $308,405
Livability score: 88
Ardmore
2023 average home value: $442,367
Livability score: 87
Lower Burrell
2023 average home value: $165,142
Livability score: 85
Rhode Island
East Providence
2023 average home value: $359,026
Livability score: 75
Westerly
2023 average home value: $523,322
Livability score: 71
Newport
2023 average home value: $841,148
Livability score: 69
Pawtucket
2023 average home value: $331,061
Livability score: 64
Woonsocket
2023 average home value: $325,491
Livability score: 59
South Carolina
Mauldin
2023 average home value: $279,934
Livability score: 86
Fort Mill
2023 average home value: $486,688
Livability score: 85
Lexington
2023 average home value: $284,386
Livability score: 83
Clemson
2023 average home value: $362,377
Livability score: 83
Bluffton
2023 average home value: $469,236
Livability score: 82
South Dakota
Brookings
2023 average home value: $274,180
Livability score: 84
Watertown
2023 average home value: $256,601
Livability score: 83
Huron
2023 average home value: $176,154
Livability score: 82
Vermillion
2023 average home value: $231,994
Livability score: 80
Aberdeen
2023 average home value: $212,594
Livability score: 78
Tennessee
Collierville
2023 average home value: $485,892
Livability score: 88
Franklin
2023 average home value: $836,841
Livability score: 87
Hendersonville
2023 average home value: $477,006
Livability score: 86
Spring Hill
2023 average home value: $500,608
Livability score: 86
Brentwood
2023 average home value: $1,197,165
Livability score: 86
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Texas
Cinco Ranch
2023 average home value: $505,073
Livability score: 93
Trophy Club
2023 average home value: $660,927
Livability score: 93
Keller
2023 average home value: $614,172
Livability score: 93
Live Oak
2023 average home value: $259,166
Livability score: 92
Coppell
2023 average home value: $599,369
Livability score: 91
Utah
South Ogden
2023 average home value: $415,796
Livability score: 87
Kaysville
2023 average home value: $613,924
Livability score: 84
North Ogden
2023 average home value: $483,985
Livability score: 84
Centerville
2023 average home value: $562,616
Livability score: 83
Bountiful
2023 average home value: $553,696
Livability score: 83
Vermont
Middlebury
2023 average home value: $378,626
Livability score: 79
South Burlington
2023 average home value: $519,325
Livability score: 75
Montpelier
2023 average home value: $379,189
Livability score: 72
Bennington
2023 average home value: $207,462
Livability score: 70
Burlington
2023 average home value: $507,690
Livability score: 69
Virginia
Bon Air
2023 average home value: $361,671
Livability score: 86
McLean
2023 average home value: $1,413,365
Livability score: 85
Reston
2023 average home value: $671,115
Livability score: 83
Manassas Park
2023 average home value: $419,655
Livability score: 83
Tuckahoe
2023 average home value: $381,213
Livability score: 83
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Washington
Bainbridge Island
2023 average home value: $1,236,063
Livability score: 87
Mercer Island
2023 average home value: $2,238,287
Livability score: 85
Sammamish
2023 average home value: $1,504,412
Livability score: 85
Redmond
2023 average home value: $1,363,189
Livability score: 85
Mill Creek
2023 average home value: $949,494
Livability score: 84
West Virginia
Vienna
2023 average home value: $170,454
Livability score: 83
Weirton
2023 average home value: $127,525
Livability score: 80
Morgantown
2023 average home value: $264,378
Livability score: 79
South Charleston
2023 average home value: $153,643
Livability score: 78
Clarksburg
2023 average home value: $95,397
Livability score: 71
Wisconsin
De Pere
2023 average home value: $323,962
Livability score: 91
Greendale
2023 average home value: $326,315
Livability score: 90
Grafton
2023 average home value: $370,178
Livability score: 90
Whitefish Bay
2023 average home value: $519,974
Livability score: 90
Port Washington
2023 average home value: $298,928
Livability score: 88
Wyoming
Sheridan
2023 average home value: $393,516
Livability score: 83
Green River
2023 average home value: $257,507
Livability score: 83
Rock Springs
2023 average home value: $251,366
Livability score: 82
Gillette
2023 average home value: $303,904
Livability score: 80
Jackson
2023 average home value: $1,733,996
Livability score: 79
Jordan Rosenfeld and Alexandria Bova contributed to the reporting for this article.
Methodology: GOBankingRates looked at the cities in every state that meet the following criteria; (1) have a population between 10,000 and 75,000 according to AreaVibes and (2) have information available for 2023 single-family residence home value from Zillow. GOBankingRates then ranked the cities in every state that met the above criteria by their livability scores from AreaVibes. This allowed GOBankingRates to identify the five hidden gem cities in every state with the highest livability scores. The population requirement was relaxed to include cities with a population of over 5,000 in states where there were no cities matching the 10,000 to 75,000 population. All cities were found within the top 25 livability-scored cities of each state. States for which the population requirement was relaxed: Alaska and Vermont. All data was collected and is up to date as of May 11, 2023.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Don’t Overlook These Hidden Gem Cities With a High Quality of Life
