Living on an average salary is a significant milestone in ones life. With the current average salary in the U.S. as of 2024 data from the Social Security Administration being $63,795, if you’re around this number, above, or on a journey to reach this figure, you should be proud enough to pat yourself on the back. But sometimes it still feels like it’s not enough, and many times its due to the place you’re living in not complimenting your salary. For example, even if your salary is $63,795, if you live in places like New York City or San Francisco, you’ll suddenly feel like that the average isn’t enough to get by.
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But there’s many places in U.S. where that average salary stretches the furthest, and you can feel validated that your hard work in your career is paying off. To find this list, GoBankingRates looked at places that have the largest population of average salary makers and stay in these places due to the benefits of living in these places with average salaries. This may be due to a light commute, low cost of living, affordable housing, decent and higher paying job offerings, closer to average median incomes, etc.
Various sources were used to find this data including, US Census American Community Survey, Sperlings BestPlaces, AreaVibes, Zillow, SalaryExpert, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve Economic Data, as well as help from ChatGPT to all help curate the perfect list.
Aurora, Illinois
- Average Salary: $68,951
- Average Household Income: $102,873
- Total Necessities: $29,154.56
Aurora offers a balanced lifestyle with a significant portion of the income left over after covering essentials. Groceries, healthcare, housing, utilities, and transportation are all reasonably priced, leaving residents with $73,718.44 after necessities.
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Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
- Average Salary: $60,610
- Average Household Income: $102,747
- Total Necessities: $29,410.87
Broken Arrow is an affordable city where residents pay the lowest average housing costs on this list. Despite slightly higher healthcare costs, the overall expenses are manageable, leaving $73,336.13 after covering all necessities.
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Midland, Texas
- Average Salary: $67,101
- Average Household Income: $115,425
- Total Necessities: $31,392.84
Midland offers an excellent cost of living with most necessities priced below the national average. Despite higher healthcare costs, residents enjoy more than $84,000 left over after expenses, ensuring a comfortable lifestyle.
Rochester, Minnesota
- Average Salary: $66,109
- Average Household Income: $106,381
- Total Necessities: $31,395.24
Rochester combines a high average household income with low transportation costs. After covering all necessary expenses, residents have almost $75,000 left over, making it a financially secure place to live.
St. Louis, Missouri
- Average Salary: $65,522
- Median Household Income: $52,941
- Average Monthly Cost of Living: $2,688
St. Louis offers affordable living with a median household income that covers essential expenses. The city’s cost of living allows for savings and a comfortable lifestyle on an average salary.
Laredo, Texas
- Average Salary: $58,438
- Median Household Income: $60,928
- Average Monthly Cost of Living: $2,755
Laredo is an affordable city where residents can live comfortably on an average salary. The cost of living is reasonable, allowing for a decent quality of life with leftover income for savings or discretionary spending.
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Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Average Salary: $69,448
- Average Household Income: $99,741
- Total Necessities: $34,864.60
Minneapolis residents benefit from lower-than-average healthcare costs. With a significant portion of income left over after covering necessities, the city offers a comfortable and balanced lifestyle.
Chesapeake, Virginia
- Average Salary: $64,413
- Average Household Income: $104,765
- Total Necessities: $35,146.92
Chesapeake combines a high household income with slightly lower utility costs. Despite higher costs for housing, groceries, and transportation, residents have more than $69,000 left over after covering essentials.
Pearland, Texas
- Average Salary: $68,647
- Average Household Income: $130,073
- Total Necessities: $35,216.21
Pearland residents enjoy below-average costs for healthcare and utilities, making it an affordable city despite higher transportation expenses. The significant leftover income ensures financial security and comfort. With it being right outside Houston, this is a great choice for average salary worker commuting to the city.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Average Salary: $64,423
- Average Household Income: $105,521
- Total Necessities: $35,249.72
Virginia Beach offers a high average household income, leaving residents with more than $70,000 after covering necessary expenses. Despite higher healthcare and housing costs, the overall affordability makes it a desirable place to live.
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Memphis, Tennessee
- Average Salary: $61,542
- Median Household Income: $48,090
- Average Monthly Cost of Living: $2,561
Memphis provides an affordable cost of living with reasonable expenses for housing and other necessities. Residents can maintain a comfortable lifestyle with savings on an average salary.
Raleigh, North Carolina
- Average Salary: $64,776
- Average Household Income: $102,100
- Total Necessities: $72,996
Raleigh combines lower-than-average healthcare and transportation costs with a high household income, leaving plenty of room in the budget for savings and discretionary spending.
St. Paul, Minnesota
- Average Salary: $65,321
- Median Household Income: $65,321.56
St. Paul offers a balanced cost of living with a high median household income. Residents can enjoy a comfortable lifestyle with a significant portion of their income available for savings or other expenses.
Cedar Park, Texas
- Average Salary: $63,795
- Median Household Income: $86,530
- Cost-of-Living Estimate: $61,774.39
Cedar Park provides a good balance of income and living expenses, making it an attractive option for those looking to maximize their savings and enjoy a high quality of life. It’s also right outside Austin where you can have an even better chance to make an average salary while commuting to this beautiful city.
Hastings, Nebraska
- Average Salary: $63,795
- Median Household Income: $82,258
- Cost-of-Living Estimate: $61,305.89
Hastings offers an excellent income-to-expense ratio, making it a great place to live on an average salary. The affordable cost of living ensures that residents can save money while enjoying a comfortable lifestyle.
Other Popular Places for Average Salary
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Boise, Idaho
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Wichita, Kansas
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Columbus, Ohio
- San Antonio, Texas
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Greenville, South Carolina
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 15 Best Places To Live on an Average Salary
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
