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“Affordability” and “safety” don’t always go hand in hand, especially considering the ever-rising cost of living. We’ve compiled a list of US cities and towns that offer the best of both worlds.
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This study from GOBankingRates combines information from multiple databases on crime rates and cost of living. Most of the cities and towns in the top 15 have a few characteristics in common. Think of suburbs with populations ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 people, mostly in the Midwest, East, Mountain West, and parts of the South. In most cases, avoid the East or West Coast.
Illinois earned three spots in the top 15, while Mississippi State and Ohio State each earned two spots. You may have never heard of these towns. But based on our numbers, you won’t find a better combination of low crime rates and affordable living.
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South Kingstown, Rhode Island
Population: 31,851 people
Total crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants: 4.7
Annual expenses: $22,254
South Kingstown, sometimes referred to as “SK,” is the only coastal city in the top 15. South Kingstown is the county seat of Washington County and is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year. It includes the village of Kingston, home of the University of Rhode Island.
Buying a year’s worth of groceries in South Kingstown costs an average of $5,664, or about $472 a month.
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Arlington, Massachusetts
Population: 45,617 people
Total crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants: 3.4
Annual expenses: $23,556
The first village of Arlington was settled about 400 years ago. Arlington has low crime rates, an affordable cost of living, and easy access to Boston, just 9 miles to the southeast.
Arlington has the highest housing costs of the top 15 at $69,388. Utilities cost about $5,000 a year and groceries about $6,000.
Edwardsville, Illinois
Population: 25,218 people
Total crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants: 5.5
Annual expenses: $20,965
Edwardsville, a suburb of St. Louis, is the county seat of Madison County, Illinois. Located on historic Route 66 in the southern part of the state.
Edwardsville has the highest total crime rate of the top 15 per 1,000 residents, at a relatively low 5.5. My grocery bill only costs about $431 a month.
Mundelein, Illinois
Population: 31,560 people
Total crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants: 5.3
Annual expenses: $20,907
This Chicago suburb is approximately 55 miles northwest of the Windy City. Attractions include Diamond Lake, Mundelein Heritage Museum, Millennium Trail, and Greenway Reserve.
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Mundelein is one of the least expensive cities in the top 15 for housing, at $21,063.
White Lake, Michigan
Population: 30,990 people
Total crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants: 4.2
Annual expenses: $22,185
White Lake Township, a suburb of Detroit, is home to Alpine Valley Ski Resort and Highland Recreation Area. Attractions include the historic White Lake Theater and the White River Light Station and Museum.
According to our research, it costs $5,191 a year to buy a year’s worth of groceries in White Lake, or about $432 a month.
mason ohio
Population: 35,089 people
Total crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants: 5.1
Annual expenses: $21,046
Mason is located in southwestern Ohio, approximately 32 miles north of Cincinnati. Mason is home to the Western & Southern Open, a professional tennis tournament dating back to 1899. Mason is also home to Kings Island Amusement Park.
Housing costs in Mason are around $27,000, which puts it in the middle of the top 15.
brandon, mississippi
Population: 25,373 people
Total crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants: 5.3
Annual expenses: $20,767
Located approximately 25 miles east of Jackson, Mississippi’s capital, Brandon is the county seat of fast-growing Rankin County. It is home to Brandon’s Downtown Historic District and the recently opened Brandon Amphitheater.
In addition to having a low crime rate, Brandon has the lowest housing costs of the top 15 at $17,172.
Lake in the Hills, Illinois
Population: 28,945 people
Total crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants: 3.1
Annual expenses: $23,339
Lake in the Hills, another Chicago suburb, grew from about 6,000 to 23,000 residents in the 1990s. The total crime rate per 1,000 residents is just 3.1, the lowest of the top 15.
Lake in the Hills also boasts the second-lowest annual cost of groceries on the list at just $5,091.
Muskego, Wisconsin
Population: 25,242
Total crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants: 3.8
Annual expenses: $22,228
Muskego regularly appears on lists of the safest and most affordable cities in Wisconsin. In 2018, PennyGeeks.com named the Milwaukee suburb the third best place in the nation to buy a home.
Housing costs in Muskego ($30,361) are among the highest among the top 15 cities. You’ll end up paying about $442 a month for groceries.
Independence, Kentucky
Population: 28,920 people
Total crime rate per 1,000 residents: 3.9
Annual expenses: $21,871
Independence is located in Kenton County in northern Kentucky, approximately 25 miles south of Cincinnati, Ohio, and 110 miles north of the state capital, Frankfort.
Independent has the second lowest housing costs of the top 15 ($18,212).
Madison, Mississippi
Population: 27,719 people
Total crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants: 4.5
Annual expenses: $20,698
Madison is a suburb of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi. Home to the 10-acre Simmons Arboretum and Strawberry Patch Park, Madison has seen a 12-fold increase in population since 1980. Ranked #7 on Scoraloo’s 2023 Best Places to Live in America.
Madison has the second-lowest annual utility bill among the top 15 at $3,940.
Windsor, Colorado
Population: 35,788 people
Total crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants: 4.5
Annual expenses: $20,347
Windsor is located in northern Colorado, about a 25-minute drive from Fort Collins and Loveland and about 90 minutes north of Denver. There are over 20 parks, an arts and heritage center, and popular Lake Windsor.
Windsor suffered significant damage from the 2008 tornado, but has bounced back. Housing costs are the second highest on the list at $39,253, but utilities, medical care, and transportation costs are among the lowest.
Zionsville, Indiana
Population: 31,702
Total crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants: 3.6
Annual expenses: $21,282
There’s no safer place than the Indianapolis suburb of Zionsville, known as “Dahlia City.” In our research, only Lake Hills, Illinois has a total crime rate of 3.6 per 1,000 residents.
Zionsville has over 500 acres of parks and a classic downtown area with brick-paved boulevards.
Avon Lake, Ohio
Population: 25,588 people
Total crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants: 4.3
Annual expenses: $19,671
Located on the south shore of Lake Erie, this Cleveland suburb is one of only two cities on the list of cities that spend less than $20,000 annually. There are numerous parks, cycling trails and boat launches.
Avon Lake’s medical, housing, utility and transportation costs are among the lowest of the 15 cities surveyed.
Rexburg, Idaho
Population: 35,300
Total crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants: 3.9
Annual expenses: $19,267
Located about 40 miles northeast of Idaho Falls and 130 miles northeast of Pocatello, Rexburg brands itself as “America’s Family Community.” It is primarily home to members of the Mormon Church and is home to Brigham Young University-Idaho. City attractions include the Legacy Flight Museum, St. Anthony Dunes, and Teton Lakes Winter Park.
In addition to having a low crime rate, Rexburg has the lowest annual costs of groceries ($404 per month), utilities ($323 per month), and transportation ($292 per month) among those surveyed.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates collected a list of safe cities in the United States from Neighborhood Scout – America’s Top 100 Safest Cities 2023 and US News – America’s Safest Cities. For each city on the list, we estimate multiple factors including: 1) Crime rate per 1,000 residents from NeighborhoodScout, 2) Grocery cost of living from Sperling’s Best Places, 3) Medical cost of living from Sperling’s Best Places, and 4. The cause was found. ) Utilities Living Expenses sourced from Sperling’s Best Place, 5) Transportation Living Expenses sourced from Sperling’s Best Place, and 6) Other Living Expenses sourced from Sperling’s Best Place. The cost of living index is multiplied by the average annual expenditures for each category from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey to yield a total average annual expenditure cost. GOBankingRates then scored spending costs and crime rates and combined them to compare the two factors.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 15 Cheapest and Safest Places to Live in the US
