As economic pressures continue to squeeze household budgets across America, new research has identified twelve states where the cost of living remains significantly below the national average, offering potential relief for cash-strapped families.
The Mountain State Leads in Affordability
According to a comprehensive report by Ramsey Solutions analysing data from the Council for Community and Economic Research, West Virginia emerges as the most affordable state in the nation, with living costs sitting at an impressive 15.9 percent below the national average.
The state's remarkably cheap housing market plays a crucial role in this affordability ranking. West Virginia boasts the lowest median home value in the entire United States at just $163,700 - less than half the national average of $340,200.
Beyond affordable property, West Virginia actively incentivises new residents through programmes offering remote workers up to $12,000 to relocate to the Mountain State. Additional local incentives in cities like Morgantown and Greenbrier Valley can push this financial package to as much as $20,000.
Growing Economy and Employment Opportunities
Contrary to perceptions about affordable states, West Virginia demonstrates robust economic growth with expanding aerospace, biometrics and chemical research industries establishing presence there.
The state hosts major corporate players including Toyota, Procter & Gamble, and Clorox, alongside significant employers in mining (Arch Coal), healthcare (WVU Medicine, St. Mary's Medical Center), technology (Agile5 Technologies, TMC Technologies) and financial services (Premier Financial Bancorp).
Despite a median household income of $57,917 - below the national average of $78,538 - West Virginia maintains an unemployment rate of just 3.8 percent, outperforming the US average of 4.2 percent.
Residents enjoy access to over 40 state parks and forests, with extensive trail networks through the scenic Appalachian Mountains providing abundant recreational opportunities.
Other Affordable States Following West Virginia
Kansas claims second place for affordability with living costs 13.2 percent below the national average. The state offers favourable housing prices with a median home value of $219,800 and average household income of $70,333.
Known for its aviation history and as the birthplace of Pizza Hut, Kansas provides residents with historical landmarks including the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka.
Oklahoma takes third position with costs 12.8 percent below average. The state features a median home value of $208,600 and an unemployment rate of just 3.3 percent. In Ponca City, residents enjoy living costs a remarkable 20 percent below national averages.
Mississippi ranks fourth at 12.2 percent below average, though it records the lowest median household income among the affordable states. Tupelo, famous as Elvis Presley's birthplace, stands as the cheapest city with costs 17.3 percent below average.
The research identifies several other states offering significant cost advantages:
- Arkansas and Alabama (both 11.4% below average)
- Missouri (11.3% below average)
- Iowa (10.3% below average)
- Tennessee (9.6% below average)
- Indiana, Georgia and Nebraska completing the list of twelve most affordable states
The analysis confirms that the majority of America's most affordable states cluster in the South and Midwest regions, providing budget-conscious households with viable alternatives to expensive coastal states like California and New York.
