The 25 Best Value Cities: Where Income Outpaces Rent

Cities with the best income-to-rent ratio. Find where your salary stretches the furthest.

# City Income Rent Value Score Population
1 Madison, AL $131,436 $1,375 95.6x 58,335
2 Bentonville, AR $108,465 $1,238 87.6x 56,326
3 Shawnee, KS $106,312 $1,233 86.2x 68,175
4 Fishers, IN $128,141 $1,491 85.9x 100,918
5 Olathe, KS $112,232 $1,314 85.4x 143,720
6 Collierville, TN $134,319 $1,574 85.3x 51,212
7 Catalina Foothills, AZ $113,201 $1,332 85x 51,756
8 Carmel, IN $134,602 $1,607 83.8x 100,501
9 Ankeny, IA $106,603 $1,279 83.3x 70,542
10 Sammamish, WA $227,273 $2,728 83.3x 66,375
11 Wake Forest, NC $120,777 $1,458 82.8x 51,199
12 Naperville, IL $150,937 $1,852 81.5x 149,424
13 Appleton, WI $77,450 $957 80.9x 74,873
14 Lakeville, MN $138,119 $1,727 80x 72,480
15 Cary, NC $129,399 $1,621 79.8x 176,686
16 Noblesville, IN $102,319 $1,284 79.7x 71,940
17 Ellicott City, MD $157,891 $2,001 78.9x 73,737
18 The Woodlands, TX $141,353 $1,792 78.9x 116,916
19 Bethesda, MD $191,348 $2,437 78.5x 67,403
20 Plymouth, MN $133,865 $1,705 78.5x 79,526
21 Westfield, IN $119,598 $1,526 78.4x 51,109
22 Bismarck, ND $77,608 $992 78.2x 74,146
23 Alpharetta, GA $146,581 $1,874 78.2x 66,355
24 Edmond, OK $102,032 $1,313 77.7x 95,618
25 Apex, NC $138,442 $1,784 77.6x 67,765

Key Takeaways

  • Madison, AL ranks #1 with an income-to-rent value score of 95.6x.
  • The top 5 cities are: Madison, AL; Bentonville, AR; Shawnee, KS; Fishers, IN; Olathe, KS.

Methodology

Rankings based on US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Only cities with population over 50,000 are included in national rankings. State rankings include all cities over 25,000. Data reflects the most recent available estimates.

Read our full methodologyVerify at data.census.gov