Living in big cities comes with plenty of conveniences, such as more amenities, excellent entertainment activities, and a shorter commute. However, not everyone loves the dazzling and bustling big cities.
The good news is, you will find several small cities in the United States that are ready to delight you by offering the best of both worlds! While providing you with the amenities found in large cities, they offer you an opportunity to enjoy a lower and affordable cost of living. In this article, we have shortlisted 5 such small cities that offer you access to the best amenities and affordability at the same time.
Key Findings
While creating our shortlist of the 5 best small cities, we considered two performance indicators:
i) Economic performance indicators: job growth, financial growth, and high-tech job concentration
ii) Opportunity indicators: Housing affordability, broadband access, etc.
As we went on with our research to find the best small cities with plenty of jobs and affordable housing, we found that small cities in Washington and Michigan show the best performance and opportunities. The lower housing costs, lower unemployment rates, and lower number of residents living below poverty make these cities attractive options for people who are interested to move in a new city.
We also found out that California has the majority of cities among the ones that have the highest unemployment rates. On the other hand, residents in midwestern cities like Novi, Farmington Hills, Lakeville, etc. can save 6% more of their income due to the lower housing costs.
Our Short List for Small US Cities With Plenty of Jobs and Affordable Housing
In our shortlist, we have presented you with 5 cities with excellent job opportunities and affordable housing, each from a different state. Let’s have a look at the table below to have a summary of their livability and affordability:
| City | Housing Cost as a Percentage of Income | Unemployment Rate | Residents below the Poverty Level |
| Redmond, WA | 17.77% | 2.6% | 7.3% |
| Arlington Heights, IL | 17.69% | 3.4% | 6.2% |
| Bloomington, In | 20.21% | 2.5% | 8.8% |
| Woodruff, SC | 21.89% | 3.5% | 10.3% |
| Newton, MA | 17.34% | 2.1% | 3.4% |
To know more about these cities, let’s have a look at our brief discussion on each of the cities:
i) Redmond, WA
Redmond ranks at first place in our ranking of small cities. The city is home to 76,000 people, and among many other employment opportunities, Redmond boast plenty of tech and marketing jobs to offer its residents.
Thanks to the high-paying work opportunities, housing costs are highly affordable to most of the Redmond residents. Housing cost in Redmond is 17.77% of the median household income, which is lower than 90% of cities that we have evaluated.
ii) Arlington Heights, IL
Arlington has plenty of jobs in manufacturing, healthcare, educational industries, and professional, scientific, and technical services. Only 6.2% of its residents live below the poverty level, which shows that it has a good economy.
Arlington Heights provides its residents will top-of-the-class amenities, which include top-notch schools, a diverse range of dining options, parks, and many more activities that make it an attractive place to live. The median household income in Arlington Heights is $125,651, and housing Cost in this city is 17.69% of the total income here.
iii) Bloomington, In
Bloomington ranks 4th among small cities in terms of high-tech job concentration, and it has excellent annual wage growth as well. In addition to excellent job opportunities in the education and healthcare industries, the city offers you a charming ambiance that comes as a blend of urban and suburban feel. Plenty of lakes, forests, and parks surrounding the city center, and the amenities you will get here will ensure that you don’t miss the large cities.
Bloomington has a low median home price of $298,493. It takes 63rd place in the housing affordability ranking.
iv) Woodruff, SC
Combining an affordable and vibrant community with a pleasant small-town lifestyle, Woodruff offers you the best attractions and amenities that South Carolina has to offer. Thanks to the best amenities, attractive recreational opportunities, affordable cost of living, and low crime rates, Woodruff appears to be a perfect place to live with your family.
The moderate unemployment rate of 2.80% shows that Woodruff has a good number of job opportunities to offer its residents. You will find many lucrative jobs in this small city, especially in the healthcare, education, and manufacturing sectors. With a median home price of $351,580, Woodruff real estate is also ready to offer you lucrative homes at an affordable price range.
v) Newton, MA
Newton, MA has the 9th lowest percentage of residents living below the poverty line. Situated only 11 miles west of Boston, this bustling business district comes with numerous leading companies including Boston Scientific, TripAdvisor, Fidelity Investments, and more. In addition to the large employers, many local and smaller businesses offer Newton its own unique charm.
Housing cost in Newton is 17.34% of the average income. While the other costs are a bit higher compared to other cities of the country, Newton residents enjoy a high standard of life thanks to the vibrant culture and highly rated schools.
The small cities we have discussed here offer you excellent work opportunities, but they don’t require you to spend a fortune on housing and other costs. While they might not be as posh as the large cities, they delight you with all the amenities and conveniences that you would need for a high standard of living!
Author: Shannon Quantock