Recently, GOBankingRates studied the American cities with the highest livability indexes, and the 30 most livable cities in each state were identified. From those 1,500 cities, GOBankingRates focused on those with populations of at least 5,000 and cross-referenced them against cost-of-living indexes and national average expenditure costs to determine the 50 most livable cities. Once those cities were identified, GOBankingRates asked a simple question: What is the minimum salary needed to own a home in each?
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GOBankingRates sourced the average home value for each city, taking into account such factors as a 10% down payment, and the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate. From that matrix, GOBankingRates calculated the bare minimum salary one would need to purchase and own a home in America’s 50 most livable cities. Curious whether you could afford a home in one of most livable cities in the United States?
Worthington, Ohio
Livability score: 94
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $57,750
Median household income: $124,734
Average home value: $479,963
Average monthly mortgage: $2,836
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Grandview Heights, Ohio
Livability score: 94
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $61,586
Median household income: $113,862
Average home value: $538,615
Average monthly mortgage: $3,183
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Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
Livability score: 93
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $66,459
Median household income: $154,255
Average home value: $595,722
Average monthly mortgage: $3,520
University Heights, Ohio
Livability score: 93
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $40,625
Median household income: $98,474
Average home value: $258,982
Average monthly mortgage: $1,530
Pompton Lake, New Jersey
Livability score: 92
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $64,248
Median household income: $119,038
Average home value: $520,949
Average monthly mortgage: $3,078
Lexington, Massachusetts
Livability score: 92
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $141,375
Median household income: $219,402
Average home value: $1,613,525
Average monthly mortgage: $9,535
Sherwood, Oregon
Livability score: 92
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $72,351
Median household income: $110,616
Average home value: $658,881
Average monthly mortgage: $3,894
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Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Livability score: 92
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $91,142
Median household income: $87,218
Average home value: $925,505
Average monthly mortgage: $5,469
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
Livability score: 92
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $46,558
Median household income: $110,938
Average home value: $307,958
Average monthly mortgage: $1,820
Shorewood, Wisconsin
Livability score: 92
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $60,373
Median household income: $89,135
Average home value: $504,534
Average monthly mortgage: $2,981
Clawson, Michigan
Livability score: 92
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $43,814
Median household income: $86,630
Average home value: $279,149
Average monthly mortgage: $1,650
Bellevue, Kentucky
Livability score: 92
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $40,277
Median household income: $67,143
Average home value: $229,614
Average monthly mortgage: $1,357
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Ankeny, Iowa
Livability score: 92
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $47,905
Median household income: $106,603
Average home value: $345,944
Average monthly mortgage: $2,044
Bexley, Ohio
Livability score: 92
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $61,980
Median household income: $152,526
Average home value: $545,915
Average monthly mortgage: $3,226
Rochester, Minnesota
Livability score: 92
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $46,013
Median household income: $87,767
Average home value: $330,550
Average monthly mortgage: $1,953
Wilton Manors, Florida
Livability score: 91
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $78,021
Median household income: $79,390
Average home value: $720,629
Average monthly mortgage: $4,258
Winchester, Massachusetts
Livability score: 91
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $143,026
Median household income: $218,176
Average home value: $1,639,042
Average monthly mortgage: $9,686
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Milwaukie, Oregon
Livability score: 91
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $61,690
Median household income: $82,422
Average home value: $509,845
Average monthly mortgage: $3,013
Farmington, Michigan
Livability score: 91
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $47,500
Median household income: $94,115
Average home value: $321,731
Average monthly mortgage: $1,901
Berkley, Michigan
Livability score: 91
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $45,639
Median household income: $113,103
Average home value: $299,196
Average monthly mortgage: $1,768
Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Livability score: 91
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $47,820
Median household income: $100,819
Average home value: $336,341
Average monthly mortgage: $1,988
Ames, Iowa
Livability score: 91
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $45,818
Median household income: $60,102
Average home value: $312,816
Average monthly mortgage: $1,849
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Lynchburg, Virginia
Livability score: 91
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $40,621
Median household income: $59,808
Average home value: $249,954
Average monthly mortgage: $1,477
Traverse City, Michigan
Livability score: 91
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $52,622
Median household income: $71,731
Average home value: $437,972
Average monthly mortgage: $2,588
Melrose, Massachusetts
Livability score: 90
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $90,563
Median household income: $126,854
Average home value: $906,036
Average monthly mortgage: $5,354
Battle Ground, Washington
Livability score: 90
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $68,256
Median household income: $100,185
Average home value: $604,393
Average monthly mortgage: $3,572
Verona, Wisconsin
Livability score: 90
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $66,661
Median household income: $119,148
Average home value: $595,474
Average monthly mortgage: $3,519
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Marquette, Michigan
Livability score: 90
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $45,488
Median household income: $55,825
Average home value: $297,657
Average monthly mortgage: $1,759
Middleton, Wisconsin
Livability score: 90
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $67,327
Median household income: $85,526
Average home value: $611,349
Average monthly mortgage: $3,613
Lafayette, Colorado
Livability score: 90
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $75,764
Median household income: $110,431
Average home value: $730,821
Average monthly mortgage: $4,319
Edwardsville, Illinois
Livability score: 90
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $45,434
Median household income: $92,671
Average home value: $304,242
Average monthly mortgage: $1,798
Cary, North Carolina
Livability score: 90
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $68,474
Median household income: $129,399
Average home value: $633,556
Average monthly mortgage: $3,744
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Upper Arlington, Ohio
Livability score: 90
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $69,062
Median household income: $150,993
Average home value: $642,785
Average monthly mortgage: $3,798
Central Point, Oregon
Livability score: 90
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $52,234
Median household income: $80,450
Average home value: $408,576
Average monthly mortgage: $2,414
Solon, Ohio
Livability score: 90
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $53,275
Median household income: $135,180
Average home value: $429,191
Average monthly mortgage: $2,536
Urbandale, Iowa
Livability score: 90
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $47,794
Median household income: $113,086
Average home value: $354,619
Average monthly mortgage: $2,096
Perrysburg, Ohio
Livability score: 90
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $45,622
Median household income: $105,226
Average home value: $328,168
Average monthly mortgage: $1,939
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Wausau, Wisconsin
Livability score: 90
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $37,505
Median household income: $61,877
Average home value: $214,506
Average monthly mortgage: $1,268
West Lafayette, Indiana
Livability score: 90
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $47,561
Median household income: $33,497
Average home value: $359,002
Average monthly mortgage: $2,121
Malverne, New York
Livability score: 89
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $86,011
Median household income: $146,585
Average home value: $747,174
Average monthly mortgage: $4,415
Purcellville, Virgnia
Livability score: 89
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $90,222
Median household income: $162,981
Average home value: $875,066
Average monthly mortgage: $5,171
Norwood, Massachusetts
Livability score: 89
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $79,552
Median household income: $97,110
Average home value: $732,238
Average monthly mortgage: $4,327
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Springfield, Virginia
Livability score: 89
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $78,732
Median household income: $123,691
Average home value: $721,508
Average monthly mortgage: $4,264
Belmont, Massachusetts
Livability score: 89
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $142,501
Median household income: $178,188
Average home value: $1,631,865
Average monthly mortgage: $9,643
Western Springs, Illinois
Livability score: 89
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $80,284
Median household income: $218,839
Average home value: $762,371
Average monthly mortgage: $4,505
Doctor Phillips, Florida
Livability score: 89
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $66,369
Median household income: $101,540
Average home value: $568,032
Average monthly mortgage: $3,357
Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Livability score: 89
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $59,079
Median household income: $117,330
Average home value: $465,623
Average monthly mortgage: $2,752
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Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Livability score: 89
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $65,455
Median household income: $82,292
Average home value: $557,625
Average monthly mortgage: $3,295
Brookfield, Illinois
Livability score: 89
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $48,517
Median household income: $108,429
Average home value: $321,208
Average monthly mortgage: $1,898
Gladstone, Oregon
Livability score: 89
Salary needed (annual cost of living): $62,124
Median household income: $90,395
Average home value: $514,236
Average monthly mortgage: $3,039
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities across the United States with the highest Livability indexes as sourced from AreaVibes. The top 30 livable cities in each state were identified, and to qualify for this study each city had to have all data points available and a total population of at least 5,000. For each location a number of factors were found including; total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, and household median income all sourced from the US Census American Community Survey. The cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces and include the grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation, and miscellaneous cost of living indexes. Using the cost of living indexes and the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location can be calculated. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for March 2025. Using the average single family home value, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the most recent national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the average total monthly and annual cost of living was calculated. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 14, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Minimum Salary You Need To Own a Home in the 50 Most Livable Cities
