Articles, Housing

Safest and Most Affordable Places to Live

Eric Williams Written by: Eric Williams
Mike Reyes Edited by: Mike Reyes
Last Updated November 2, 2023
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Man in Blue Crew Neck T-shirt Sitting on White Couch

Looking for safe and affordable places to live? No matter where you live, you want it to be safe while remaining affordable, especially if you love your home. Unfortunately, many people find it challenging to find an affordable home in a safe neighborhood. Usually, the safer the neighborhood, the more expensive it will be to live there. Also, cities are always more expensive to live in than suburbs, even if some of them are less safe. 

Moving to a new home anywhere can be scary because youโ€™ve never lived there. Not only do you not know the neighborhoods, but you also donโ€™t know the top industries and employers. So remember, you should never move anywhere without having home and job prospects.  

7 Most Affordable Places to List

Luckily, some of the largest cities in the United States have low crime rates and can be affordable. Here are the safest and most affordable places to live in 2022. 

Topeka, KS

three men looking for safe and affordable places to live

Topeka has one of the best climates in the United States. While the continental climate is humid with hot summers, it also has cool and cold yet relatively dry winters. Topeka is home to the State of Kansas, the largest employer in the state, and government workers make up 25% of the employed people in the city. Top industries in Topeka include education, health, and social services.

Topeka has a violent crime rate of 6.16 per 1,000 people, making it one of the safest cities in the United States. The median apartment rent in Topeka is $950, but you can find even more affordable housing in the suburbs outside of the city. So, it’s no surprise that Topeka made our list of safe and affordable places to live in 2025. You might not have to do too much shopping around for affordable housing, as the median list price in Topeka is only $150,000.

Jackson, MS

Jackson is the largest city in Mississippi, located on the Pearl River and halfway between Dallas, TX, and Atlanta, GA. Residents of the city enjoy music, local cuisine, and recreational sites, including The Smith Roberson Museum and Cultural Center. Jackson is also home to the Mississippi Braves, a minor league baseball team. 

The entire state of Mississippi is affordable compared to other states in America, but Jackson is one of the cheapest metro areas, with a median rent of $799. If you donโ€™t want to rent your home, you can buy one for less than $200,000 and get a lot of lands and a moderately sized home.

Grand Rapids, MI

The second-largest city in Michigan, Grand Rapids has a population of just under 200,000, with over a million people living within the Metro Grand Rapids region. This city is located on the banks of the Grand River, where it gets its name. The major industries in Grand Rapids include Life Sciences, Food Manufacturing, and Retail Trade. 

Grand Rapids has a violent crime rate of 7.12 per 1,000 people, making it almost as safe as Topeka. Because Grand Rapids is a vibrant up-and-coming city, the median rent is a little higher at over $1,200, but that number is affordable to those living in major cities like New York. If you move to Grand Rapids, you might want to purchase your vehicle because transportation costs can be high. 

Naples, FL

naples florida is one of the safest and affordable cities

Naples is one of the best places to visit, but itโ€™s also one of the best places to live within the Sunshine State. The beaches in Naples have been named the top beaches in the US, but lounging around in the sun is not your only option for fun. You can also visit over 100 art galleries within the city or go golfing. 

Naples has an incredibly low crime rate of 1.05 per 1,000 people. Unfortunately, the rent is more expensive because of the low crime rate, with the median rent at $1,700 and the median list price for a home around $400,000. However, if you like warm weather and beaches, Naples might just be the right place for you to settle down. 

Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach is rich in history, with The Virginia Beach Boardwalk originally built-in 1888. Itโ€™s also home to over three military bases, including NAS Oceana, NAB Little Creek, FTC Dam Neck, and the US Armyโ€™s Fort Story. 

To people from the Midwest, living in Virginia might be expensive, but for people on the West or East Coast, Virginia is an incredibly affordable state to live in. In particular, Virginia Beach has a median rent of just over $1,500 and a median list price of a home of just over $300,000. Itโ€™s also one of the safest cities on this list, with a violent crime rate per 1,000 of 1.39. 

Winston-Salem, NC

a football player in winston salem

To some, Winston-Salem is known as the โ€œTwin City,โ€ For others, itโ€™s known as โ€œthe Camel City,โ€ a reference to its involvement in the tobacco industry. Now, the top industries in Winston-Salem include Aviation and Aerospace, Advanced Manufacturing, and Technology. 

Winston-Salem is another affordable and relatively safe city to live in, with a median list price of around $175,000 and a median rent of just over $1,000. However, the property crime rate per 1,000 people is considered high at 38.06. 

Akron, OH

Located in northeast Ohio, Akron is a vibrant city with a population of just under 200,000. Itโ€™s also the hometown of LeBron James. However, thatโ€™s not all this city is known for. The University of Akron offers a Corrosion Engineering degree, which is not offered at any other university in the U.S. The top industries in Akron include Healthcare, Banking, and Manufacturing. 

Akron has a median list price of just over $100,000 and a median rent incredibly low, around $800. However, it has one of the highest property crime rates per 1,000 people at 43.18. However, the violent crime rate per 1,000 people is just 6.99. 

Finding a Safe and Affordable Home

A safe, affordable home is relative. For example, someone living in New York would find just about anywhere in the midwest safe and affordable. Still, those from the midwest might have difficulty wrapping their heads around the higher median rent prices in a major city like Los Angeles, California. So before you move anywhere, do your research to ensure youโ€™re buying or renting a home in a safe neighborhood based on your unique situation.

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