Finding Affordable Housing in Safe American Communities: 15 Top-Ranked Places to Live

When looking for a place to live, most people face a difficult trade-off: you can either find affordable housing or a safe neighborhood, but rarely both. However, research reveals that there are at least 15 communities across the United States that successfully combine cheap living costs with low crime rates. These hidden gems prove that it’s entirely possible to secure safe, affordable accommodation without breaking the bank.

GOBankingRates conducted a comprehensive analysis of American cities to identify the most budget-friendly destinations with strong safety records. The methodology examined violent crime rates and property crime statistics from FBI quarterly reports, combined with housing value data from Zillow, cost of living figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and livability scores from AreaVibes. The analysis, based on data collected through early 2025, identified 150 of the nation’s safest cities and then sorted them by total annual cost of living to find places that offered the optimal combination of security and affordability.

Why Ohio Dominates the List of Cheap, Safe Places

One striking finding emerged: Ohio overwhelmingly leads in communities that balance affordable housing with safe neighborhoods. Seven of the 15 communities on this list are located in Ohio—more than any other state. This clustering suggests that Midwestern cities, particularly in Ohio, have created economic conditions where residents can enjoy both lower housing costs and lower crime rates.

Top Tier: The Absolute Cheapest Safe Communities

New Philadelphia, Ohio stands at the top of the list. With an average single-family home valued at $186,258 and monthly mortgage costs around $1,101, residents enjoy the lowest total annual cost of living at just $35,549. The city’s violent crime rate of 0.69 per 1,000 residents and property crime rate of 1.50 per 1,000 reflect its status as a genuinely safe place to live. The community of 17,563 people achieves a livability score of 76, indicating a well-balanced quality of life.

New Ulm, Minnesota emerges as another exceptional option for those prioritizing safe, affordable living. Home to 14,066 residents, this community offers an annual cost of living of $36,361, with homes averaging $222,693 in value. What distinguishes New Ulm is its remarkably low violent crime rate of just 0.29 per 1,000 residents—among the lowest in the nation. The livability score of 82 suggests strong community satisfaction.

Parma Heights, Ohio provides another affordable Ohio alternative with a total annual cost of living of $36,575. The average home value is $196,742, translating to monthly mortgage payments of approximately $1,163. With violent crime rates at 0.39 per 1,000 and property crime at 2.76 per 1,000, Parma Heights demonstrates why Ohio communities continue to attract budget-conscious homebuyers seeking safe neighborhoods.

San Elizario, Texas represents the cheapest option nationally in terms of home values. Average single-family homes sell for $167,333, with monthly mortgage costs of just $989. The annual cost of living reaches $36,738. This small Texas community of 10,123 residents boasts an exceptionally low violent crime rate of 0.10 per 1,000 and property crime rate of 1.08 per 1,000, making it perhaps the safest community on the entire list, despite a lower livability score of 62.

The Mid-Range: Balancing Budget and Safety

Yorktown, Indiana bridges the gap between ultra-affordability and slightly higher living standards. With 11,617 residents, annual living expenses reach $37,332. Homes average $218,330 in value with monthly mortgage payments of $1,290. The violent crime rate stands at 0.42 per 1,000, and the community achieves a livability score of 69, indicating it serves as a practical choice for families seeking both cheap and safe conditions.

Berea, Ohio continues the state’s strong showing with an annual cost of living of $37,768. The community of 18,330 residents enjoys homes averaging $220,573, generating mortgage payments around $1,303 monthly. With a violent crime rate of 0.60 per 1,000 and a livability score of 77, Berea ranks among Ohio’s most balanced communities for those seeking affordable, safe places to live.

Mount Vernon, Ohio rounds out the most affordable tier with an annual cost of living of $37,928. This community of 16,802 residents features homes valued at $225,575 on average. The violent crime rate of 0.42 per 1,000 residents and livability score of 75 position Mount Vernon as a solid middle-ground option.

Transitioning to Larger Communities with Reasonable Costs

Columbus, Indiana marks a transition point where community size increases notably. With 51,104 residents—significantly larger than previous entries—Columbus maintains reasonable affordability with annual costs of $40,402. Homes average $261,995 in value. The city’s violent crime rate of 0.19 per 1,000 and property crime rate of 1.12 per 1,000 make it one of the safest on the list, achieving a livability score of 76 despite slightly elevated housing costs.

Butler, Pennsylvania serves 13,306 residents seeking safe, affordable housing. Annual living expenses total $40,446, with average home values at $229,211. The violent crime rate of 0.20 per 1,000 makes Butler exceptionally safe, though its livability score of 71 suggests some tradeoffs compared to smaller communities.

Trenton, Michigan demonstrates that larger communities can still offer budget-friendly living. Serving 18,242 residents, this community achieves an impressive livability score of 86—the highest in this price range—with annual costs of $41,641. The violent crime rate of 0.33 per 1,000 residents reinforces its status as a genuinely safe place to live.

The Upper Tier: Where Prices Begin to Rise

Hamilton, Ohio represents the beginning of significantly higher housing costs while maintaining the cheap-and-safe combination. This larger city of 63,124 residents faces annual costs of $42,726, with homes averaging $279,890. Despite being Ohio’s largest entry on the list, Hamilton maintains a violent crime rate of 0.39 per 1,000, proving that even larger communities can balance affordability with safety.

Orono, Maine stands out as the only New England community making the list, with 10,699 residents. Annual living expenses reach $44,036, with homes valued at $295,752. The exceptionally low violent crime rate of 0.18 per 1,000 residents positions Orono as one of the nation’s genuinely safest communities, with a livability score of 71.

Brunswick, Ohio continues to demonstrate Ohio’s strength, with 35,284 residents and annual costs of $44,251. Homes average $300,042 in value. The livability score of 78 makes Brunswick a particularly well-rounded option for those seeking communities combining multiple quality-of-life factors with safe, affordable living conditions.

Final Entries: Upper-Range Affordable Communities

North Ridgeville, Ohio wraps up the Ohio dominance with a community of 36,043 residents. Annual costs reach $44,415, with average home values at $313,398. Despite housing prices approaching $315,000, the violent crime rate remains low at 0.56 per 1,000 residents, making it a viable option for those willing to invest more in exchange for a larger, well-established community with strong safety records.

Edwardsville, Illinois rounds out the list with a community of 26,543 residents and annual living expenses of $45,323—the highest on the entire list. Homes average $302,677 in value. However, Edwardsville distinguishes itself with the highest livability score on the entire list at 90, combined with a low violent crime rate of 0.30 per 1,000 residents. This suggests that for those seeking the optimal balance of community amenities, safety, and quality of life, even the highest-priced entry on this compilation of cheap, safe places to live offers exceptional value.

Methodology and Data Sources

This analysis examined housing market data, crime statistics, and living cost information gathered through early 2025 from multiple authoritative sources including the FBI’s Quarterly Crime Statistics, U.S. Census American Community Survey, Sperling’s BestPlaces, Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, Zillow Home Value Index, Federal Reserve Economic Data, and AreaVibes. The research initially identified the safest 150 communities with populations exceeding 10,000 residents, then sorted them by total annual cost of living to determine which offered the most compelling combinations of security and affordability.

The findings confirm that safe, affordable housing remains available to Americans willing to relocate to lesser-known communities, particularly throughout the Midwest. These places to live offer compelling alternatives to expensive coastal cities while maintaining strong safety records and reasonable quality-of-life metrics.