Each year, tens of millions of Americans move to a new area. Historically, a new job or job transfer has accounted for about one in every 10 of those moves, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey. However, as remote work becomes an option for a growing number of workers, more Americans are free to prioritize other factors when choosing a place to live — and one of them is cost of living.
A recent survey from the Pew Research Center found that before the pandemic, only 20% of Americans who could work remotely did so. During the pandemic, that figure surged to over 70% — and many of those workers may not be required to return to the office.
As fewer workers are tethered to a physical office, places like New York City and Silicon Valley — employment hubs with nation-leading costs of living — are reporting net population declines. Meanwhile, many cities where the cost of living is relatively low have grown considerably. Here is a look at where people from New York are moving to the most.
Using data from Redfin, a national real estate brokerage, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, 24/7 Wall St. identified the cheapest cities where everyone wants to live. Rankings are based on net migration at the metro area level from July 2020 to April 2021. Only metro areas with a lower than average cost of living were considered.
We also reviewed Redfin data on where the majority of online searches for real estate in the cities on this list originate from. Often, they are from a different metro area in the same state or a nearby state. However, New York and Los Angeles alone account for nearly half of all non-local searches.
It is important to note that while cost of living is an important factor in deciding where to live for many Americans, it is often only one of many. Indeed, just as some of the most expensive U.S. cities are reporting a net migration decline, so too are many of the least expensive metro areas — including McAllen, Texas, and Youngstown, Ohio. Here is a look at the least expensive metro area to buy a home in every state.
Click here to see the cheapest cities where everyone wants to live right now
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30. St. Louis, MO-IL
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +1,973 people (0.1% of population)
> Cost of living: 9.9% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Denver-Aurora, CO (12.1% of all searches)
> Median home value: $184,600
> Median household income: $66,417
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29. Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +2,124 people (0.2% of population)
> Cost of living: 8.0% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI (41.6% of all searches)
> Median home value: $199,400
> Median household income: $65,739
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28. Greenville-Anderson, SC
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +2,498 people (0.3% of population)
> Cost of living: 9.3% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (15.1% of all searches)
> Median home value: $186,800
> Median household income: $58,621
27. Asheville, NC
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +2,983 people (0.6% of population)
> Cost of living: 6.5% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (7.3% of all searches)
> Median home value: $248,500
> Median household income: $57,428
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26. Knoxville, TN
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +2,984 people (0.3% of population)
> Cost of living: 11.6% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (11.5% of all searches)
> Median home value: $186,900
> Median household income: $56,623
25. New Orleans-Metairie, LA
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +3,106 people (0.2% of population)
> Cost of living: 6.9% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (8.2% of all searches)
> Median home value: $211,900
> Median household income: $55,710
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24. Kansas City, MO-KS
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +3,215 people (0.1% of population)
> Cost of living: 7.2% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Denver-Aurora, CO (28.5% of all searches)
> Median home value: $209,100
> Median household income: $70,215
23. Reno, NV
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +3,329 people (0.7% of population)
> Cost of living: 1.6% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA (43.8% of all searches)
> Median home value: $383,000
> Median household income: $72,132
22. Albuquerque, NM
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +3,385 people (0.4% of population)
> Cost of living: 6.4% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Denver-Aurora, CO (15.4% of all searches)
> Median home value: $206,000
> Median household income: $58,512
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21. Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +4,314 people (0.8% of population)
> Cost of living: 7.8% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (19.9% of all searches)
> Median home value: $212,100
> Median household income: $56,977
20. Cleveland-Elyria, OH
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +4,457 people (0.2% of population)
> Cost of living: 10.1% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI (18.8% of all searches)
> Median home value: $161,400
> Median household income: $57,228
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19. Salt Lake City, UT
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +4,798 people (0.4% of population)
> Cost of living: 1.4% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (20.8% of all searches)
> Median home value: $356,400
> Median household income: $80,196
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18. Charleston-North Charleston, SC
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +4,964 people (0.6% of population)
> Cost of living: 2.9% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (15.7% of all searches)
> Median home value: $266,600
> Median household income: $70,505
17. Wenatchee, WA
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +5,080 people (4.2% of population)
> Cost of living: 0.5% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Seattle-Tacoma, WA (78.1% of all searches)
> Median home value: $327,500
> Median household income: $60,532
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16. Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +5,248 people (0.3% of population)
> Cost of living: 3.6% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (50.7% of all searches)
> Median home value: $255,900
> Median household income: $69,329
15. Bakersfield, CA
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +5,267 people (0.6% of population)
> Cost of living: 3.0% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (72.5% of all searches)
> Median home value: $235,800
> Median household income: $53,067
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14. Salisbury, MD-DE
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +5,548 people (1.3% of population)
> Cost of living: 10.0% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (67.9% of all searches)
> Median home value: $244,400
> Median household income: $61,283
13. Boise City, ID
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +6,424 people (0.8% of population)
> Cost of living: 6.4% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (19.7% of all searches)
> Median home value: $293,700
> Median household income: $66,466
12. Jacksonville, FL
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +8,207 people (0.5% of population)
> Cost of living: 4.6% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (10.9% of all searches)
> Median home value: $230,100
> Median household income: $65,880
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11. Raleigh-Cary, NC
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +10,377 people (0.7% of population)
> Cost of living: 3.9% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (19.2% of all searches)
> Median home value: $285,600
> Median household income: $80,096
10. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +11,086 people (0.4% of population)
> Cost of living: 6.7% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Houston-The Woodlands, TX (14.5% of all searches)
> Median home value: $197,600
> Median household income: $62,355
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9. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +11,806 people (0.4% of population)
> Cost of living: 5.6% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (22.9% of all searches)
> Median home value: $233,900
> Median household income: $66,399
24/7 Wall St.
8. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +15,499 people (0.6% of population)
> Cost of living: 1.0% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (14.9% of all searches)
> Median home value: $255,500
> Median household income: $61,876
7. Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +15,786 people (0.8% of population)
> Cost of living: 5.6% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (19.1% of all searches)
> Median home value: $285,100
> Median household income: $70,262
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6. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +17,612 people (2.2% of population)
> Cost of living: 2.3% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI (16.7% of all searches)
> Median home value: $244,700
> Median household income: $62,240
5. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +20,523 people (0.6% of population)
> Cost of living: 1.2% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Orlando-Lakeland-Deltona, FL (13.8% of all searches)
> Median home value: $224,300
> Median household income: $57,906
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4. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +24,381 people (0.4% of population)
> Cost of living: 2.1% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (27.1% of all searches)
> Median home value: $247,200
> Median household income: $71,742
24/7 Wall St.
3. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +28,952 people (1.3% of population)
> Cost of living: 0.7% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA (19.7% of all searches)
> Median home value: $318,400
> Median household income: $80,954
2. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +31,326 people (1.4% of population)
> Cost of living: 3.1% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (37.7% of all searches)
> Median home value: $313,100
> Median household income: $62,107
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1. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
> Net inflow, July 2020 – April 2021: +33,255 people (0.7% of population)
> Cost of living: 1.3% less than nat’l avg.
> Top area people are searching online from: Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (24.4% of all searches)
> Median home value: $283,500
> Median household income: $67,896
Methodology
To identify America’s cheapest cities where everyone wants to live, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed cost of living, housing search activity, and population growth for 112 U.S. metro areas. We ranked cities based on the net inflow of new residents from July 2020 to April 2021 based on data from Redfin.com, a national real estate brokerage. We also considered incoming searches relative to outgoing searches for homes in each metro area among prospective buyers on Redfin.
Population data came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population and Housing Unit Estimates program. Redfin’s net population inflow data is based on search activity among the site’s over 2 million users.
We only considered cities where the regional price parity — or cost of living — is below the national figure. Data on regional price parity is from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and is for 2019. Data on median household income and median home value came from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and are for 2019.
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