National Averages
Averages across all 1,857 cities with populations above 25,000, based on the most recent American Community Survey estimates.
Regional Comparison
How do the four major US regions compare on key economic indicators? These averages cover all cities in our dataset within each region.
Northeast
South
Midwest
West
Cost of Living by City Size
Larger cities tend to have higher costs but also higher incomes. Here is how the numbers break down across five population tiers.
| City Size | Count | Avg Income | Avg Rent | Avg Home Value | Rent-to-Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major City (500K+) | 37 | $77,148 | $1,491 | $433,286 | 23.4% |
| Large City (200K-500K) | 88 | $78,487 | $1,498 | $395,959 | 23.2% |
| Mid-Size City (100K-200K) | 217 | $82,943 | $1,585 | $439,327 | 23.4% |
| Small City (50K-100K) | 529 | $88,228 | $1,595 | $445,324 | 22.3% |
| Town (25K-50K) | 986 | $91,172 | $1,544 | $408,324 | 21.3% |
Explore Rankings
Each ranking lists the top 50 cities. Click through to see the full table with sortable columns.
Cities with the Cheapest Rent
#1: Youngstown, OH
View top 50 →Most Expensive Rent
#1: Cupertino, CA
View top 50 →Best Rent-to-Income Ratio
#1: Milton, MA
View top 50 →Worst Rent-to-Income Ratio
#1: Kiryas Joel, NY
View top 50 →Highest Income Cities
#1: McLean, VA
View top 50 →Lowest Income Cities
#1: West Lafayette, IN
View top 50 →Cheapest Home Values
#1: Flint, MI
View top 50 →Most Expensive Homes
#1: Newport Beach, CA
View top 50 →Lowest Unemployment
#1: Oak Creek, WI
View top 50 →Highest Unemployment
#1: Calexico, CA
View top 50 →Largest Cities by Population
#1: New York, NY
View top 50 →About This Data
All figures come from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Rent-to-income ratio is calculated as (median gross rent x 12) / median household income. Only cities with valid income and rent data are included.