With high housing and rental costs, the US is one of the most expensive countries in which to live. That’s why low-income homes are becoming a popular option for individuals who want to make ends meet while still being able to afford rent.
The “where can i buy a house for $100k 2021” is a question that many people ask. The best place to start looking for affordable places to live in the US if you make under $100K is by searching on Zillow.
From the time we leave home and go out on our own, our ambition is to make six figures. Then we discover that entry-level employment pay far less and that we must work our way up to six figures (and preferably more!).
GoBankingRates conducts an annual evaluation of U.S. cities to identify those where you can live comfortably for less than $100,000. It considers the cost of living, typical rentals and housing prices, median wages, and – perhaps most importantly – quality of life, since although we know we can live cheaply in the country, we truly want a location where we can live, work, and play.
The finest cities to reside in each state are listed below.
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The best city to invest in if you want your money to travel the farthest
When it came to affordability, the South and Northwest regions had the lowest yearly prices for basics like a place to live, utilities, and food, but a number of northern states made the cut. The yearly cost of living in each of these cities was less than $40,000.
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De Pere, Wisconsin is ranked number 15 in the United States.
- Total yearly living expenses: $38,134
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Teays Valley, West Virginia is number fourteen.
- Total yearly living expenses: $36,263
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Brandon, South Dakota (#13)
- Total yearly living expenses: $38,928
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Mauldin, South Carolina (12.)
- The total cost of living is $35,018 per year.
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Dormont, Pennsylvania (#11)
- Total yearly living expenses: $34,189
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West Fargo, North Dakota is number ten.
- Total yearly living expenses: $38,089
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Tonawanda, New York is number nine.
- Total yearly living expenses: $34,669
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Miles City, Montana is ranked number eight.
- Total yearly living expenses: $31,895
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Petal, Mississippi is ranked number seven.
- Total yearly living expenses: $34,128
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Belfast, Maine is number six.
- Total yearly living expenses: $37,638
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Fort Thomas, Kentucky is number five.
- Total yearly living expenses: $38,539
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Ammon, Idaho is number four.
- Total yearly living expenses: $38,460
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Bentonville, Arkansas is number three.
- Total yearly living expenses: $38,513
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Madison, Alabama is number two.
- Total yearly living expenses: $38,796
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1. Louisiana’s Fort Polk South
- Total yearly living expenses: $28,728
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The best cities to live in for a pleasant lifestyle
Only ten out of fifty cities obtain livability ratings of more than 93 out of 100, with more than half of them located in the Midwest.
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De Pere, Wisconsin is ranked number ten.
- The total cost of yearly requirements is $93
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Short Pump, Virginia is number nine.
- The total cost of yearly requirements is $93
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Dormont, Pennsylvania is ranked number eight.
- The total cost of yearly requirements is $93
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Eureka, Missouri is ranked number seven.
- The total cost of yearly requirements is $93
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Champlin, Minnesota is number six.
- The total cost of yearly requirements is $93
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Carmel, Indiana is number five.
- The total cost of yearly requirements is $93
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Fort Thomas, Kentucky is number four.
- The total cost of yearly requirements is $94
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Allen, Texas is number three.
- The total cost of yearly requirements is $95
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Papillion, Nebraska is number two.
- The total cost of yearly requirements is $97.
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Hilliard, Ohio is number one.
- The total cost of yearly requirements is $98.
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The best places to live in if you want to make the most money
Although take-home income may be less than $100k (particularly if you max out your 401k), twelve of the 50 cities had median annual wages of just over six figures, making them the highest-earning states in the study.
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12. Virginia’s Short Pump
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Allen, Texas (#11)
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Collierville, Tennessee is number ten.
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Holly Springs, North Carolina is number nine.
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White Rock, New Mexico is number eight on the list.
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Greentree, New Jersey is number seven.
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Eureka, Missouri is number six.
- $106,000 is the average annual income.
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Carmel, Indiana is number five.
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Algonquin, Illinois is number four.
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3. Delaware’s Pike Creek
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Simsbury Center, Connecticut is number two.
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Marina del Rey, California is number one.
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The pinnacle of excellence
Not one city appeared within the top 10 of all three study components, but six did appear in at least two top 10s. These are The pinnacle of excellence places to live on $100k or less – all of them suburbs of thriving cities.
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Eureka, Missouri is ranked number five.
Within miles of the city, this St. Louis suburb offers a more rural vibe. Eureka is a popular choice for young families because of its highly ranked schools, ample outdoor space, and low crime rates. It also has a typical income of over six figures.
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Fort Thomas, Kentucky is number four.
The greatest city in Kentucky is located across the river from Cincinnati, which is why many people who work in the Ohio metropolis commute over the river. Unemployment is low in the city, and crime is among the lowest in the state. Plus, if you want to live in a major city or have greater career opportunities, all you have to do is cross the river into Ohio.
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De Pere, Wisconsin is number three.
De Pere is located just outside of Green Bay and is the best area to live in Wisconsin. According to Area Vibes, De Pere outperforms 90% of American communities in terms of livability. This town is popular among young professionals because of its closeness to the city and its own collection of parks, restaurants, and stores, as well as excellent schools.
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Dormont, Pennsylvania is number two.
Short Pump, a suburb of Richmond, is considered Virginia’s best-kept secret. The city has a number of parks and restaurants, as well as top-rated schools, shopping, and house prices that are so outstanding that locals choose to buy rather than rent. In reality, homeowners make up the majority of the population of the city.
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Carmel, Indiana is number one.
Ranked as the best place to live in America by Town & Country and Money magazines, this suburban city outside of Indianapolis is renowned for its affordable cost of living, great schools, and safe neighborhoods. The city has more than 91,000 residents and is filled with indoor and outdoor fun. But, of course, it is close enough to Indianapolis if you need to work in a big city or want more excitement.
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Ways to live comfortably in your current location
However, we understand that you may not want to relocate to these places and want to remain in your current location. There are many methods to live happily on a budget of less than $100,000.
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1. Reduce your monthly expenses
Living below your means is a great way to get out of living paycheck to paycheck. Making cutbacks is the simplest method to save money, but they don’t always have to be on the good things. Finding methods to cut your monthly expenditures – even if it’s only a little here and there – might add up.
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2. Budget
We know this is a tiresome “how-to,” but it’s repeated for a reason: it’s easy to overspend and fall into debt if you don’t know where your money is going every month. The easiest method to remain on track is to create a budget that is not overwhelming for you and that you can stick to.
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3. Make money on the side.
The genuine approach to achieve financial independence is to invest so that you may generate money without working additional hours.
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4. Start a secondary business
If you’re living paycheck to paycheck and even tiny adjustments aren’t helping, a part-time job or a side business to supplement your income might be exactly what you need to catch up and then move ahead.
This article originally appeared on JoyWallet.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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The “2019 top 100 best places to live” is a list of the top 100 best places to live in the US. The ranking is based on cost of living, crime rates, and other factors.
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