When we think about which city in the U.S. we’d like to live in, our minds may turn to what the city has to offer in terms of livability. Is there low crime? Does it have clean air? Is transportation safe and convenient? How are the schools? The list goes on.
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And then, of course, there are the financial issues. Is housing reasonably priced? What about all the other factors that go into cost of living, like healthcare, food and utilities? Livability comprises all the factors that determine whether you’re likely to have a prosperous life, both in terms of money and other meaningful matters.
For this study, GOBankingRates found the most livable city in each state and how much it costs to live there. To do this, GOBankingRates found the livability index for each city recording the city with the highest livability index. For each city, a number of factors were found including, the household median income, the average expenditure cost and the average monthly mortgage cost to determine the total monthly average cost of living in these most livable cities.
Cities are ranked from highest to lowest total cost of living monthly. Keep reading to find out the most livable city in your state.
Cupertino, California
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Household median income: $223,667
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Livability: 88
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,412
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $19,061
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Total cost of living monthly: $21,472
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Lexington, Massachusetts
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Household median income: $206,323
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Livability: 92
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,191
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $9,998
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Total cost of living monthly: $12,189
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Kailua, Hawaii
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Household median income: $138,363
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Livability: 83
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,583
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $9,243
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Total cost of living monthly: $11,826
Bozeman, Montana
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Household median income: $74,113
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Livability: 87
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,102
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $5,008
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Total cost of living monthly: $7,109
Wilton Manors, Florida
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Household median income: $81,424
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Livability: 91
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,210
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $4,585
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Total cost of living monthly: $6,794
Lafayette, Colorado
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Household median income: $105,819
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Livability: 90
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,946
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $4,434
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Total cost of living monthly: $6,380
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University Park, Maryland
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Household median income: $191,205
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Livability: 93
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,236
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $4,030
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Total cost of living monthly: $6,266
Sherwood, Oregon
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Household median income: $109,770
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Livability: 92
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,102
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,974
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Total cost of living monthly: $6,076
Freeport, Maine
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Household median income: $76,012
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Livability: 88
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,928
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,911
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Total cost of living monthly: $5,839
Cary, North Carolina
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Household median income: $125,317
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Livability: 90
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,915
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,861
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Total cost of living monthly: $5,776
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Avondale Estates, Georgia
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Household median income: $136,250
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Livability: 87
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,212
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,562
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Total cost of living monthly: $5,773
Pictured: Decatur, Georgia
Kaysville, Utah
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Household median income: $121,867
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Livability: 89
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,887
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,845
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Total cost of living monthly: $5,733
Battle Ground, Washington
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Household median income: $94,360
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Livability: 90
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,085
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,582
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Total cost of living monthly: $5,667
Pictured: Vancouver, Washington
Gilbert, Arizona
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Household median income: $115,179
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Livability: 89
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,076
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,513
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Total cost of living monthly: $5,589
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Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
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Household median income: $142,356
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Livability: 93
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,973
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,577
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Total cost of living monthly: $5,549
Pictured: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Pompton Lakes, New Jersey
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Household median income: $113,781
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Livability: 92
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,244
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,013
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Total cost of living monthly: $5,258
Pictured: Patterson, New Jersey
Grandview Heights, Ohio
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Household median income: $100,833
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Livability: 94
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,902
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,334
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Total cost of living monthly: $5,236
Pictured: Columbus, Ohio
Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
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Household median income: $118,750
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Livability: 94
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,115
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,083
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Total cost of living monthly: $5,197
Pictured: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Los Alamos, New Mexico
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Household median income: $130,342
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Livability: 81
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,706
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,479
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Total cost of living monthly: $5,184
Sitka, Alaska
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Household median income: $95,261
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Livability: 85
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,188
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,946
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Total cost of living monthly: $5,134
New Milford, Connecticut
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Household median income: $70,625
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Livability: 85
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,166
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,833
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Total cost of living monthly: $4,999
Pictured: Danbury, Connecticut
Post Falls, Idaho
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Household median income: $71,042
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Livability: 88
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,850
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,993
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Total cost of living monthly: $4,843
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Pittsford, New York
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Household median income: $116,250
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Livability: 93
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,033
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,795
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Total cost of living monthly: $4,828
Las Vegas
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Household median income: $66,356
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Livability: 82
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,165
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,653
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Total cost of living monthly: $4,819
Montpelier, Vermont
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Household median income: $76,143
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Livability: 83
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,085
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,609
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Total cost of living monthly: $4,694
Hoover, Alabama
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Household median income: $101,765
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Livability: 83
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,051
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,600
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Total cost of living monthly: $4,652
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Cranston, Rhode Island
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Household median income: $83,123
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Livability: 85
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,076
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,528
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Total cost of living monthly: $4,603
Concord, New Hampshire
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Household median income: $77,874
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Livability: 88
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,866
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,642
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Total cost of living monthly: $4,508
Newark, Delaware
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Household median income: $67,738
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Livability: 83
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,209
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,103
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Total cost of living monthly: $4,312
Cheyenne, Wyoming
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Household median income: $74,989
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Livability: 83
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,034
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,196
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Total cost of living monthly: $4,230
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Brandon, South Dakota
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Household median income: $101,747
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Livability: 87
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,881
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,272
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Total cost of living monthly: $4,152
Denton, Texas
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Household median income: $71,921
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Livability: 85
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,940
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,207
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Total cost of living monthly: $4,147
Simpsonville, South Carolina
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Household median income: $79,937
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Livability: 86
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,891
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,197
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Total cost of living monthly: $4,088
Pictured: Greenville, South Carolina
Lawrence, Kansas
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Household median income: $59,834
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Livability: 88
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,158
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,867
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Total cost of living monthly: $4,025
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Oxford, Mississippi
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Household median income: $56,784
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Livability: 88
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,869
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,120
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Total cost of living monthly: $3,989
Ankeny, Iowa
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Household median income: $101,151
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Livability: 92
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,896
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,079
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Total cost of living monthly: $3,975
West Lafayette, Indiana
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Household median income: $30,317
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Livability: 90
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,793
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,143
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Total cost of living monthly: $3,936
Rogers, Arkansas
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Household median income: $78,075
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Livability: 88
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,825
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,083
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Total cost of living monthly: $3,908
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Metairie, Louisiana
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Household median income: $72,070
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Livability: 85
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,065
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,754
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Total cost of living monthly: $3,819
Rochester, Minnesota
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Household median income: $83,973
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Livability: 92
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,829
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,989
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Total cost of living monthly: $3,818
Clarksville, Tennessee
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Household median income: $62,688
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Livability: 83
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,895
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,828
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Total cost of living monthly: $3,723
Bellevue, Washington
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Household median income: $79,839
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Livability: 87
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,995
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,715
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Total cost of living monthly: $3,710
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Clawson, Michigan
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Household median income: $82,713
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Livability: 92
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,967
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,709
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Total cost of living monthly: $3,676
Fargo, North Dakota
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Household median income: $64,432
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Livability: 84
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,825
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,823
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Total cost of living monthly: $3,648
Norman, Oklahoma
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Household median income: $62,849
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Livability: 83
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,991
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,536
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Total cost of living monthly: $3,527
Maplewood, Missouri
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Household median income: $58,448
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Livability: 87
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,899
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,566
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Total cost of living monthly: $3,465
Pictured: St. Louis, Missouri
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Lynchburg, Virginia
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Household median income: $56,243
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Livability: 91
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,856
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,516
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Total cost of living monthly: $3,371
Bellevue, Kentucky
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Household median income: $66,741
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Livability: 92
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,958
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,388
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Total cost of living monthly: $3,346
Jerome, Illinois
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Household median income: $52,083
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Livability: 92
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,902
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $841
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Total cost of living monthly: $2,743
Pictured: Springfield, Illinois
Nutter Fort, West Virginia
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Household median income: $56,125
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Livability: 87
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Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,929
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Mortgage monthly average cost: $757
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Total cost of living monthly: $2,685
Pictured: Fairmont, West Virginia
Methodology. For this study, GOBankingRates found the most livable city in each state and how much it costs to live there. First GOBankingRates found the livability index for each city recording the city with the highest livability index. For each city a number of factors were found including; total population, total households, household median income all sourced from the US Census American Community Survey, the average single family home value from May 2024 as sourced from Zillow Home Value Index, the cost of living indexes as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces, and the livability index as sourced from AreaVibes. Using the cost of living indexes and the average expenditure costs as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for all residents, the average expenditure cost for each city can be calculated. Using the average home value, assuming a 10% downpayment, and by using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost can be calculated. Using the mortgage and expenditure cost, the total monthly average cost of living can be calculated. All data was collected on and is up to date as of July 8th, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Most Livable City in Every State and What It Will Cost You
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