Where To Find the Cheapest and Safest Places To Live in the USA: 15 Communities Worth Considering

Finding neighborhoods that successfully balance both affordability and security has become increasingly challenging in today’s housing market. However, a comprehensive analysis of American communities reveals that there are indeed locations across the nation where residents don’t have to compromise on safety to achieve lower living expenses. Based on 2025 market data, this guide examines 15 of the most compelling places to live in the USA that offer exceptional value without sacrificing community security.

The research, which evaluated over 150 cities using FBI crime statistics, U.S. Census data, and housing market information, identified communities where the annual cost of living remains remarkably accessible while violent and property crime rates stay well below national averages. These affordable places to live in America represent a genuine opportunity for families, retirees, and professionals seeking financial stability without relocating to high-risk areas.

Why Ohio Dominates the List of Affordable, Safe Communities

One striking pattern emerges from this analysis: Ohio accounts for nearly half of the top 15 safest places to live in the USA with the lowest expenses. Seven communities across the state demonstrate that the Midwest continues to offer extraordinary value for cost-conscious residents. This geographic concentration suggests that certain regions have maintained both strong community investment and stable housing markets, creating ideal conditions for people seeking budget-friendly neighborhoods.

The success of Ohio communities reflects broader regional economic patterns where housing prices remain reasonable, local governments prioritize public safety, and the cost of living doesn’t escalate as rapidly as coastal metropolitan areas. These characteristics make Ohio an unexpected powerhouse for anyone researching the cheapest and safest places to live in America.

The Budget Leaders: Under $37,000 Annual Living Costs

For those seeking the absolute most affordable places to settle, four communities stand out by keeping annual living expenses below $37,000:

New Philadelphia, Ohio anchors this category with a total population of 17,563 and the lowest annual cost of living at $35,549. Single-family homes average $186,258, translating to monthly mortgage payments of approximately $1,101. The community maintains a livability score of 76, with violent crime rates of just 0.69 per 1,000 residents and property crime incidents at 1.50 per 1,000—metrics that confirm its status as one of the safest places to live in the USA.

New Ulm, Minnesota represents the northern option in this ultra-affordable tier, with annual expenses of $36,361 for a population of 14,066. Home values average $222,693, though the community notably exhibits the lowest violent crime rate in the entire list at just 0.29 per 1,000. This northeastern location demonstrates that secure communities don’t require premium pricing.

Parma Heights, Ohio and San Elizario, Texas complete this tier, each offering annual costs under $36,750. Parma Heights (population 20,616) provides a livability index of 71 with controlled crime metrics, while San Elizario maintains the lowest violent crime rate of any Texas community in the analysis at 0.10 per 1,000—making it technically one of the safest places to live in the USA despite its modest size of 10,123 residents.

The Value Sweet Spot: $37K-$40K Annual Expenses

The next tier encompasses communities where residents invest slightly more but gain measurable improvements in community amenities and livability scores. This bracket includes Yorktown, Indiana ($37,332 annually), Berea, Ohio ($37,768), Mount Vernon, Ohio ($37,928), and Columbus, Indiana ($40,402).

Columbus, Indiana deserves particular attention as the largest city in this cost range with 51,104 residents. Its livability score of 76 and exceptionally low violent crime rate of 0.19 per 1,000 illustrate how mid-sized communities can maintain affordable prices while delivering both security and urban amenities. This combination exemplifies the type of place to live in USA that appeals to families seeking growth without sacrificing safety.

The Established Communities: $40K-$42K Range

Communities in this bracket have typically experienced more housing price appreciation while maintaining reasonable overall costs. Butler, Pennsylvania, Trenton, Michigan, and Hamilton, Ohio represent communities where annual living expenses range from $40,446 to $42,726.

Notably, Trenton, Michigan achieves a livability index of 86—the highest in this range—despite its annual costs of $41,641. This upper-Midwest location exemplifies how communities can provide robust municipal services and recreational amenities while remaining among the cheapest and safest places to live in the USA for budget-conscious families.

The Premium Affordable Options: $44K+ Annual Living Costs

The final group includes five communities where annual expenses exceed $44,000, yet crime statistics and livability metrics justify the modest premium. Orono, Maine, Brunswick, Ohio, North Ridgeville, Ohio, and Edwardsville, Illinois round out the top 15.

Edwardsville, Illinois represents the highest annual cost at $45,323 but compensates with the second-highest livability score of 90 and a violent crime rate of just 0.30 per 1,000. For residents prioritizing community services and quality-of-life indicators alongside affordability, Edwardsville exemplifies how the safest places to live in the USA sometimes command slightly higher expenses.

Understanding the Data: How Communities Were Evaluated

This ranking synthesizes multiple authoritative sources to identify locations where affordability and security genuinely coexist. The analysis examined violent crime and property crime statistics from FBI quarterly reports, housing valuations from Zillow’s January 2025 data, demographic information from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, and comprehensive cost-of-living calculations from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only communities with populations exceeding 10,000 were considered to ensure sufficient statistical reliability.

Average monthly mortgage calculations reflect current lending standards applied to the average home values in each community. Livability scores incorporate factors beyond crime statistics, including environmental quality, schools, and local economic vitality. Violent crime rates and property crime incidents are expressed per 1,000 residents to enable meaningful comparison across communities of different sizes.

Finding Your Ideal Safest, Most Affordable Place To Live in America

The 15 communities profiled here demonstrate that securing a home in a place to live in USA that combines both affordability and safety remains achievable. Whether targeting communities with sub-$37,000 annual expenses or moderately-priced areas with exceptional livability indices, prospective residents can find neighborhoods aligned with their financial circumstances and safety priorities.

The concentration of options in Ohio and other Midwest locations suggests that geographic arbitrage—choosing regions with lower housing demand pressures while maintaining strong community investment—remains a viable strategy. Communities like New Philadelphia and San Elizario prove that size doesn’t determine security or value; even towns under 20,000 residents can outperform larger metros on both affordability and crime metrics.

For families, remote workers, and individuals planning residential relocations, this data-driven overview provides a foundation for further investigation into specific communities. Each location offers distinct characteristics beyond pure statistics—from regional climate and employment opportunities to cultural amenities and proximity to larger markets. However, all 15 communities share the fundamental appeal of being genuinely affordable, genuinely safe places to live in the United States, earning their positions among the nation’s most compelling residential options for budget-conscious, security-minded residents.