Futures
Access hundreds of perpetual contracts
TradFi
Gold
One platform for global traditional assets
Options
Hot
Trade European-style vanilla options
Unified Account
Maximize your capital efficiency
Demo Trading
Introduction to Futures Trading
Learn the basics of futures trading
Futures Events
Join events to earn rewards
Demo Trading
Use virtual funds to practice risk-free trading
Launch
CandyDrop
Collect candies to earn airdrops
Launchpool
Quick staking, earn potential new tokens
HODLer Airdrop
Hold GT and get massive airdrops for free
Launchpad
Be early to the next big token project
Alpha Points
Trade on-chain assets and earn airdrops
Futures Points
Earn futures points and claim airdrop rewards
More
Where To Find the Cheapest Place To Live in the US While Prioritizing Safety
Finding the cheapest place to live in the US often means compromising on safety—but it doesn’t have to be that way. While affordable and safe communities are increasingly rare, our comprehensive analysis identified 15 U.S. towns that successfully combine both low living costs and secure neighborhoods.
The research revealed a surprising pattern: seven of the top 15 most affordable and safest communities are concentrated in Ohio, making it the standout state for budget-conscious people seeking secure living environments. The data, sourced from GOBankingRates’ evaluation of crime statistics and cost-of-living indicators as of early 2025, demonstrates that smart relocation choices can help you maintain financial stability without sacrificing peace of mind.
Understanding the Methodology Behind Finding the Cheapest Safe Towns
The analysis began by identifying the 150 safest U.S. cities with populations exceeding 10,000, using violent crime and property crime data from FBI Quarterly Crime Statistics. Researchers then cross-referenced this safety data with total annual cost of living figures, drawing from multiple authoritative sources including the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Zillow Home Value Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sperling’s BestPlaces, and AreaVibes. By filtering for the lowest overall expenses, the final ranking showcases 15 communities where both affordability and security align.
Ultra-Affordable Communities: Annual Costs Under $40,000
These cheapest towns offer annual living costs below $40,000 while maintaining notably low crime rates:
New Philadelphia, Ohio
New Ulm, Minnesota
Parma Heights, Ohio
San Elizario, Texas
Yorktown, Indiana
Berea, Ohio
Mount Vernon, Ohio
Mid-Range Budget Towns: Living Costs Between $40,000-$42,000
The transition to slightly higher price points opens additional community options with excellent safety profiles:
Columbus, Indiana
Butler, Pennsylvania
Trenton, Michigan
Hamilton, Ohio
The Upper Range: Affordable Communities Under $45,000 Annually
These final selections represent the highest annual costs on our list, yet still deliver excellent value and security:
Orono, Maine
Brunswick, Ohio
North Ridgeville, Ohio
Edwardsville, Illinois
Why Ohio Leads Among the Cheapest, Safest Places To Live
The dominance of Ohio communities on this list reveals important market dynamics. Seven Ohioan towns earned spots among the most affordable and secure places to live, suggesting the state offers an exceptional balance between reasonable housing costs and minimal violent crime. This concentration indicates that prospective residents can find numerous options within a single state, simplifying relocation decisions and potentially offering networking advantages for newcomers.
Selecting Your Ideal Cheapest Community: Key Considerations
When evaluating the cheapest place that aligns with your lifestyle, consider these factors beyond raw numbers. Livability scores range from 62 to 90 across these communities, reflecting quality-of-life elements like climate, cultural amenities, and employment opportunities. Population size varies dramatically—from under 11,000 residents in smaller towns to over 63,000 in Hamilton, Ohio—offering choices for those seeking tight-knit communities or those preferring more developed infrastructure.
Most importantly, the violent crime rates across these affordable towns remain exceptionally low (mostly under 0.70 per 1,000 residents), while property crime varies more significantly. Comparing these metrics helps identify the cheapest place that genuinely matches your safety priorities and personal circumstances.
The research demonstrates that finding the cheapest place to live in the US without sacrificing safety remains achievable through data-driven decision-making and geographic flexibility.