Big coastal cities, such as New York and San Francisco, are known for having notoriously high rent prices and an expensive cost of living. But in their smaller Midwestern counterparts, like Indianapolis, Indiana or Toledo, Ohio, life proves much, much cheaper.
The ranking focused primarily on the ratio of home values to income, median property taxes, median home values, median rent, and ratios of monthly housing cost to income for each place. It also took into account the price of gas, the price of groceries, and the ratio of the median rent to income into consideration. You can read a full breakdown of the methodology here .
Many of the top 25 cities fell within the Midwest and the South, with a city in Indiana earning the top spot.
25. Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi.Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Population: 163,778
Median rent: $856
Median home value: $91,400
Percentage of people who rent their home: 51%
Percentage of people who own their home: 49%
24. Odessa, Texas
Odessa, Texas.DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
Population: 122,630
Median rent: $1,104
Median home value: $159,700
Percentage of people who rent their home: 39%
Percentage of people who own their home: 61%
23. Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan downtown buildings.Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Population: 117,488
Median rent: $847
Median home value: $87,700
Percentage of people who rent their home: 48%
Percentage of people who own their home: 52%
22. Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City, KansasGetty Images
Population: 153,014
Median rent: $882
Median home value: $101,300
Percentage of people who rent their home: 43%
Percentage of people who own their home: 57%
21. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Andrea Evangelo-Giamou / EyeEm
Population: 301,286
Median rent: $984
Median home value: $134,800
Percentage of people who rent their home: 53%
Percentage of people who own their home: 47%
20. Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama.SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images
Population: 210,928
Median rent: $870
Median home value: $97,500
Percentage of people who rent their home: 54%
Percentage of people who own their home: 46%
19. McAllen, Texas
McAllen, Texas.Denis Tangney Jr/Getty Images
Population: 142,557
Median rent: $829
Median home value: $131,500
Percentage of people who rent their home: 41%
Percentage of people who own their home: 59%
18. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa.DenisTangneyJr/iStock/Getty Images
Population: 133,125
Median rent: $791
Median home value: $144,500
Percentage of people who rent their home: 30%
Percentage of people who own their home: 70%
17. Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas.Getty Images
Population: 390,566
Median rent: $821
Median home value: $138,100
Percentage of people who rent their home: 42%
Percentage of people who own their home: 58%
16. Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama.Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Population: 199,054
Median rent: $905
Median home value: $121,100
Percentage of people who rent their home: 46%
Percentage of people who own their home: 54%
15. Abilene, Texas
Abilene, Texas.Grace Museum
Population: 124,691
Median rent: $918
Median home value: $131,300
Percentage of people who rent their home: 46%
Percentage of people who own their home: 54%
14. Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas.Gimas/Shutterstock
Population: 199,225
Median rent: $876
Median home value: $138,900
Percentage of people who rent their home: 41%
Percentage of people who own their home: 59%
13. Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio.Yuanshuai Si/Getty Images
Population: 383,331
Median rent: $735
Median home value: $73,400
Percentage of people who rent their home: 58%
Percentage of people who own their home: 42%
12. Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas.Henryk Sadura/shutterstock
Population: 125,819
Median rent: $815
Median home value: $105,700
Percentage of people who rent their home: 41%
Percentage of people who own their home: 59%
11. Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania.Getty Images
Population: 96,616
Median rent: $725
Median home value: $90,500
Percentage of people who rent their home: 48%
Percentage of people who own their home: 52%
10. Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio.Shutterstock
Population: 197,375
Median rent: $795
Median home value: $83,500
Percentage of people who rent their home: 50%
Percentage of people who own their home: 50%
9. Beaumont, Texas
Texas road sign.Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Population: 117,321
Median rent: $868
Median home value: $123,700
Percentage of people who rent their home: 45%
Percentage of people who own their home: 55%
8. Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New YorkWalter Bibikow/Getty Images
Population: 255,805
Median rent: $801
Median home value: $101,000
Percentage of people who rent their home: 58%
Percentage of people who own their home: 42%
7. Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana.Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Population: 118,414
Median rent: $797
Median home value: $98,600
Percentage of people who rent their home: 45%
Percentage of people who own their home: 55%
6. Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio.Michael Shake/Shutterstock
Population: 275,116
Median rent: $737
Median home value: $83,600
Percentage of people who rent their home: 49%
Percentage of people who own their home: 51%
5. Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio.David Harmantas/Shutterstock
Population: 140,444
Median rent: $724
Median home value: $69,400
Percentage of people who rent their home: 53%
Percentage of people who own their home: 47%
4. South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana.Chuck W Walker/Shutterstock
Population: 102,686
Median rent: $814
Median home value: $88,600
Percentage of people who rent their home: 42%
Percentage of people who own their home: 58%
3. Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville, Texas.Shutterstock
Population: 182,230
Median rent: $754
Median home value: $92,400
Percentage of people who rent their home: 40%
Percentage of people who own their home: 60%
2. Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas.DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
Population: 104,657
Median rent: $828
Median home value: $104,800
Percentage of people who rent their home: 43%
Percentage of people who own their home: 57%
1. Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana.Deb Perry / Getty Images
Population: 268,378
Median rent: $777
Median home value: $121,600
Percentage of people who rent their home: 37%
Percentage of people who own their home: 63%
