The 15 Most Affordable and Safe US Cities for Budget-Conscious Relocators

Looking for a place where you can actually afford to live without compromising on safety? Your search doesn’t have to lead you to expensive coastal cities or overcrowded metros. There’s a surprising collection of mid-sized American towns offering an exceptional combination of low crime rates and genuinely budget-friendly living costs—proof that safety and affordability can absolutely coexist.

Our research identified 15 communities that stand out from the crowd, with a striking geographic pattern: Ohio dominates the list with seven entries, making it a standout state for value-conscious homebuyers. If you’re contemplating a move to best places to live on a budget without sacrificing security, these towns deserve your attention.

The Budget-Friendly Leaders: Under $37,500 Annual Living Costs

The most economically accessible options cluster at the bottom of the cost spectrum. New Philadelphia, Ohio kicks off the list with a total annual cost of living at just $35,549. This community of 17,563 residents boasts an average home value of $186,258, translating to roughly $1,101 in monthly mortgage payments. The violent crime rate stands at 0.69 per 1,000 residents—low by national standards—with property crime at 1.50 per 1,000.

New Ulm, Minnesota follows closely with a $36,361 annual living expense. Despite slightly higher home values ($222,693 average), the town’s livability score of 82 and exceptionally low violent crime rate of just 0.29 per 1,000 make it compelling for safety-focused buyers.

Parma Heights, Ohio and San Elizario, Texas round out this tier. San Elizario particularly impresses with the lowest home values in this group—averaging $167,333—resulting in just $989 monthly mortgage costs. Its violent crime rate of 0.10 per 1,000 is among the lowest nationally.

The Mid-Range Sweet Spot: $36,500-$42,000 Annually

As you move slightly up the cost scale, you gain access to communities with more robust populations and amenities. Yorktown, Indiana ($37,332 annually), Berea, Ohio ($37,768), and Mount Vernon, Ohio ($37,928) represent the next tier, each maintaining violent crime rates below 0.60 per 1,000 and livability scores in the 75-77 range.

Columbus, Indiana marks a transition point. With a population exceeding 51,000, it’s the largest community in the lower price range, offering $40,402 in annual living costs and an impressively low violent crime rate of just 0.19 per 1,000. This suggests that population size doesn’t necessarily correlate with crime or expense.

Butler, Pennsylvania and Trenton, Michigan continue the pattern, with Trenton notably achieving an exceptional livability score of 86 despite annual costs of $41,641.

Why Ohio Leads the Affordability Revolution

Seven Ohioan communities appear across these 15 rankings, including Hamilton ($42,726 annually), Brunswick ($44,251), and North Ridgeville ($44,415). This concentration reflects Ohio’s distinctive combination of industrial-era infrastructure, reasonable real estate pricing, and established community stability. The state’s home values generally range from $186,000 to $313,000, with corresponding mortgage payments never exceeding $1,852 monthly.

The Premium Affordable Tier: $44,000+ Annually

Even the highest entries on this list remain genuinely budget-friendly by national standards. Orono, Maine ($44,036 annually) and Edwardsville, Illinois ($45,323) lead this final group. Edwardsville particularly stands out with the highest livability score of 90, suggesting exceptional quality-of-life indicators alongside its affordable positioning.

What These Numbers Actually Mean

The data underlying these rankings comes from FBI crime statistics, Census data, and housing indices through February 2025. Each community’s violent and property crime rates were compared alongside total cost of living—encompassing housing, groceries, utilities, and other standard expenses—to identify genuine value propositions rather than cheap cities with hidden costs.

For those seriously considering relocation to best places to live on a budget, this analysis reveals a crucial truth: affordability and safety needn’t be mutually exclusive. Whether you’re drawn to Ohio’s established small-town networks, Texas’s lower housing costs, or Michigan’s community stability, these 15 communities demonstrate that thoughtful relocation can meaningfully improve both your financial position and quality of life.

The key is moving beyond coastal stereotypes and discovering the genuine value hiding in America’s mid-sized towns.