Just came across some interesting data on the least expensive places to live in the us that actually have solid safety records too. Turns out Ohio dominates this list with 7 cities making the top 15, which is pretty wild. Most people don't realize how many genuinely affordable options exist outside the usual hotspots.

New Philadelphia, Ohio is the top pick - around $1,100 monthly mortgage, total annual living costs under $36k, and surprisingly low crime rates. New Ulm, Minnesota is another standout with even better safety metrics (0.29 violent crime per 1,000 residents) and similar affordability. If you're looking at least expensive places to live in the us with actual data backing the safety angle, San Elizario, Texas shows up with the lowest violent crime rate at just 0.10 per 1,000.

The research pulled data from FBI crime stats, Census Bureau, and Zillow records from early 2025, so it's pretty current. What's interesting is the livability scores - Edwardsville, Illinois ranks highest at 90 despite being pricier than some others. The pattern shows you don't necessarily sacrifice quality of life when choosing least expensive places to live in the us, especially in smaller Midwest towns.

Columbus, Indiana and Trenton, Michigan also caught my eye - both under $42k annual cost of living with decent populations (51k and 18k respectively). If affordability without completely sacrificing amenities matters to you, these Midwest cities seem like they're worth researching. The least expensive places to live in the us listed here average around $37-45k annually, which is pretty reasonable if you're flexible on location.