The 15 most affordable places to live in America
By Laurie Kulikowski/TheStreet
Does living in Ohio appeal to you? If it doesn't, perhaps knowing that the Buckeye State is home to several cities among America's most affordable places to live might change your mind.
In fact, Midwestern cities dominate the top 15 affordable places to live, according to a recent report by online real estate listings site Trulia.
It's not just housing costs that are affordable in many of these middle-class cities. Other fixed expenses, such as commuting costs and utility bills, contribute to the city's affordability.
Trulia sought to get a truly accurate picture of housing affordability in the 100 largest metro areas by measuring what proportion of monthly income is spent on living expenses, like mortgage payments, utility costs and commuting, according to its recent report.
Trulia used median incomes from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2013 American Community Survey, adjusted for 2015 dollars. To calculate monthly mortgage payments, it used the median-priced home for sale in the 100 largest areas and based mortgage payments on a 30-year fixed rate loan at 4 percent interest plus property taxes and insurance.
To calculate utility costs, Trulia used data from the American Community Survey on median monthly household expenditures for electricity, gas, and water in each of the areas. Commuting costs were calculated by using the median household driving commute time to work for each metro area. Trulia assumed a $7 per hour operating cost (at $3.50 per gallon, 20 miles per gallon average, and 40 miles per hour average speed) plus 25 percent of the local median hourly wage, it said.
Click ahead for a look at the 15 places where it costs relatively little to live.
15. Columbia, South Carolina
Monthly income spent on housing, utilities & commuting: 33.7%
Median household income: $51,850
Median listing price (as of August 2015): $174,990
Columbia, South Carolina, had approximately 132,000 residents as of 2014. Its population rose by 1.5% between April 2010 and July 2014, compared to growth of 4.5% for the entire state of South Carolina, according to the U.S. Census.
14. Gary, Indiana
Monthly income spent on housing, utilities & commuting: 33.4%
Median household income: $46,665
Median listing price (as of August 2015): $164,900
Gary, Indiana, had approximately 78,000 residents as of 2014. Its population decreased by 3% between April 2010 and July 2014, compared to growth of 1.7% for the entire state of Indiana, according to the U.S. Census.
13. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Monthly income spent on housing, utilities & commuting: 33.4%
Median household income: $62,220
Median listing price (as of August 2015): $185,900
Grand Rapids, Michigan, had approximately 194,000 residents as of 2014. Its population rose by 3.1% between April 2010 and July 2014, compared to growth of 0.3% for the entire state of Michigan, according to the U.S. Census.
12. Indianapolis, Indiana
Monthly income spent on housing, utilities & commuting: 33.4%
Median household income: $59,109
Median listing price (as of August 2015): $169,950
Indianapolis had approximately 849,000 residents as of 2014. Its population rose by 3.5% between April 2010 and July 2014, compared to growth of 1.7% growth for the entire state of Indiana, according to the U.S. Census.
11. Rochester, New York
Monthly income spent on housing, utilities & commuting: 33.4%
Median household income: $48,532
Median listing price (as of August 2015): $137,700
Rochester, New York, had approximately 210,000 residents as of 2014. Its population rose by 3.5% between April 2010 and July 2014, compared to growth of 1.9% for the entire state of New York, according to the U.S. Census.
10. St. Louis, Missouri
Monthly income spent on housing, utilities & commuting: 33.2%
Median household income: $51,850
Median listing price (as of August 2015): $165,900
St. Louis had approximately 317,000 residents as of 2014. Its population fell by 0.6% between April 2010 and July 2014, compared to growth of 1.2% for the entire state of Missouri, according to the U.S. Census.
9. Syracuse, New York
Monthly income spent on housing, utilities & commuting: 33.1%
Median household income: $51,850
Median listing price (as of August 2015): $149,900
Syracuse had approximately 144,000 residents as of 2014. Its population fell by 0.6% between April 2010 and July 2014, compared to growth of 1.9% for the entire state of New York, according to the U.S. Census.
8. Toledo, Ohio
Monthly income spent on housing, utilities & commuting: 32.3%
Median household income: $55,480
Median listing price (as of August 2015): $119,900
Toledo had approximately 281,000 residents as of 2014. Its population fell by 2.2% between April 2010 and July 2014, compared to growth of 0.5% for the entire state of Ohio, according to the U.S. Census.
7. Cleveland, Ohio
Monthly income spent on housing, utilities & commuting: 32.3%
Median household income: $62,220
Median listing price (as of August 2015): $129,900
6. Little Rock, Arkansas
Monthly income spent on housing, utilities & commuting: 31.9%
Median household income: $57,035
Median listing price (as of August 2015): $155,000
Little Rock had approximately 197,000 residents as of 2014. Its population rose by 2.2% between April 2010 and July 2014, compared to growth of 1.7% for the entire state of Arkansas, according to the U.S. Census.
5. Wichita, Kansas
Monthly income spent on housing, utilities & commuting: 31.7%
Median household income: $70,516
Median listing price (as of August 2015): $150,000
Wichita had approximately 388,000 residents as of 2014. Its population rose by 1.6% between April 2010 and July 2014, compared to growth of 1.8% for the entire state of Kansas, according to the U.S. Census.
4. Kansas City, Missouri
Monthly income spent on housing, utilities & commuting: 31.6%
Median household income: $49,776
Median listing price (as of August 2015): $164,900
Kansas City had approximately 471,000 residents as of 2014. Its population rose by 2.4% between April 2010 and July 2014, compared to growth of 1.2% for the entire state of Missouri, according to the U.S. Census.
3. Louisville, Kentucky
Monthly income spent on housing, utilities & commuting: 31.1%
Median household income: $68,235
Median listing price (as of August 2015): $159,900
Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky, had approximately 612,000 residents as of 2014. Its population rose by 2.6% between April 2010 and July 2014, compared to growth of 1.7% for the entire state of Kentucky, according to the U.S. Census.
2. Dayton, Ohio
Monthly income spent on housing, utilities & commuting: 30.9%
Median household income: $47,495
Median listing price (as of August 2015): $119,700
Dayton had approximately 141,000 residents as of 2014. Its population fell by 0.5% between April 2010 and July 2014, compared to growth of 0.5% for the entire state of Ohio, according to the U.S. Census.
1. Akron, Ohio
Monthly income spent on housing, utilities & commuting: 28.9%
Median household income: $45,628
Median listing price (as of August 2015): $120,450
Akron had approximately 198,000 residents as of 2014. Its population fell by 0.6% between April 2010 and July 2014, compared to growth of 0.5% for the entire state of Ohio, according to the U.S. Census.