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The Most Affordable States to Live In (2026)
Affordability is a growing concern for Americans across all demographics. Our expanded affordability score now combines seven metrics: median home price (25%), cost of living index (20%), electricity price (15%), childcare cost (15%), gas price (10%), grocery cost index (10%), and natural gas price (5%) — all inverted so lower costs yield higher scores. Data comes from Census/FHFA, BEA Regional Price Parities, EIA State Electricity Profiles, and the DOL Childcare Price Database. Affordability carries a 10% weight in the composite. Midwestern and Southern states generally lead, offering lower home prices and daily costs of living.
Weight10%
National Avg65.9
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Affordability Score by State
| Rank | State | Grade | Affordability Score | Overall Score | Key Metrics | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | D | 93.9 | 31.4 | $253,000 home price · 87 cost of living | South |
| 2 | Arkansas | F | 92.6 | 29.9 | $253,000 home price · 87 cost of living | South |
| 3 | Oklahoma | C | 90.8 | 41.8 | $244,000 home price · 88 cost of living | South |
| 4 | Louisiana | F | 90.8 | 25.2 | $249,000 home price · 88 cost of living | South |
| 5 | Kentucky | D | 87.6 | 38.0 | $263,000 home price · 90 cost of living | South |
| 6 | West Virginia | D | 87.2 | 32.5 | $249,000 home price · 90 cost of living | South |
| 7 | Iowa | B+ | 85.0 | 68.7 | $228,000 home price · 89 cost of living | Midwest |
| 8 | North Dakota | A | 84.7 | 77.1 | $281,000 home price · 89 cost of living | Midwest |
| 9 | South Dakota | A+ | 84.5 | 80.2 | $320,000 home price · 88 cost of living | Midwest |
| 10 | Alabama | C | 84.2 | 39.4 | $281,000 home price · 90 cost of living | South |
| 11 | Ohio | C+ | 83.8 | 49.1 | $241,000 home price · 92 cost of living | Midwest |
| 12 | Missouri | C+ | 83.1 | 48.7 | $258,000 home price · 92 cost of living | Midwest |
| 13 | Nebraska | A | 82.8 | 74.5 | $289,000 home price · 90 cost of living | Midwest |
| 14 | Kansas | B | 82.4 | 59.5 | $279,000 home price · 90 cost of living | Midwest |
| 15 | Indiana | C+ | 81.2 | 49.6 | $255,000 home price · 92 cost of living | Midwest |
| 16 | New Mexico | D | 79.5 | 32.6 | $357,000 home price · 90 cost of living | West |
| 17 | Tennessee | C | 78.7 | 45.3 | $380,000 home price · 93 cost of living | South |
| 18 | South Carolina | C | 77.0 | 43.2 | $381,000 home price · 93 cost of living | South |
| 19 | Texas | C | 75.8 | 45.9 | $338,000 home price · 97 cost of living | South |
| 20 | Michigan | C | 75.7 | 45.0 | $249,000 home price · 94 cost of living | Midwest |
| 21 | North Carolina | C+ | 74.9 | 53.5 | $368,000 home price · 94 cost of living | South |
| 22 | Georgia | C+ | 74.1 | 51.3 | $366,000 home price · 97 cost of living | South |
| 23 | Idaho | B+ | 73.4 | 69.2 | $485,000 home price · 91 cost of living | West |
| 24 | Wisconsin | B | 73.4 | 63.7 | $311,000 home price · 93 cost of living | Midwest |
| 25 | Wyoming | B+ | 72.4 | 68.2 | $484,000 home price · 91 cost of living | West |
| 26 | Montana | B+ | 71.8 | 70.8 | $523,000 home price · 90 cost of living | West |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | B | 68.6 | 58.2 | $283,000 home price · 98 cost of living | Northeast |
| 28 | Illinois | C+ | 67.4 | 50.5 | $286,000 home price · 99 cost of living | Midwest |
| 29 | Delaware | C+ | 67.3 | 52.4 | $352,000 home price · 99 cost of living | Northeast |
| 30 | Utah | A+ | 65.0 | 81.5 | $548,000 home price · 95 cost of living | West |
| 31 | Minnesota | A+ | 62.9 | 77.1 | $354,000 home price · 98 cost of living | Midwest |
| 32 | Nevada | D | 62.0 | 39.2 | $455,000 home price · 97 cost of living | West |
| 33 | Arizona | C | 60.7 | 44.3 | $455,000 home price · 101 cost of living | West |
| 34 | Florida | C+ | 59.9 | 51.7 | $412,000 home price · 103 cost of living | South |
| 35 | Virginia | A | 57.4 | 74.3 | $444,000 home price · 101 cost of living | South |
| 36 | Maine | A | 56.9 | 76.8 | $381,000 home price · 97 cost of living | Northeast |
| 37 | Maryland | B+ | 54.6 | 66.9 | $415,000 home price · 104 cost of living | Northeast |
| 38 | Vermont | A+ | 54.4 | 77.5 | $388,000 home price · 97 cost of living | Northeast |
| 39 | Colorado | B+ | 50.3 | 67.4 | $582,000 home price · 101 cost of living | West |
| 40 | Oregon | B | 50.3 | 60.0 | $505,000 home price · 105 cost of living | West |
| 41 | Rhode Island | B+ | 46.1 | 69.3 | $487,000 home price · 101 cost of living | Northeast |
| 42 | Alaska | D | 45.5 | 39.3 | $383,000 home price · 102 cost of living | West |
| 43 | New Jersey | B | 44.4 | 65.1 | $521,000 home price · 109 cost of living | Northeast |
| 44 | New Hampshire | A+ | 44.3 | 86.6 | $483,000 home price · 105 cost of living | Northeast |
| 45 | Connecticut | A | 42.2 | 73.5 | $415,000 home price · 104 cost of living | Northeast |
| 46 | Washington | B | 36.3 | 63.2 | $630,000 home price · 109 cost of living | West |
| 47 | New York | B | 35.4 | 56.8 | $576,000 home price · 108 cost of living | Northeast |
| 48 | Massachusetts | B+ | 26.0 | 70.3 | $615,000 home price · 108 cost of living | Northeast |
| 49 | Hawaii | B | 9.1 | 64.8 | $743,000 home price · 109 cost of living | West |
| 50 | California | C | 7.2 | 42.9 | $833,000 home price · 113 cost of living | West |
Top 10 States for Affordability
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most affordable state to live in 2026?
Mississippi is the most affordable state in 2026, followed by Arkansas and Oklahoma, based on home prices and cost of living data.
Which states are the most expensive?
The most expensive states to live in during 2026 are California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts, based on high home prices and cost of living indices.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The affordability score combines median home price (25%), cost of living index (20%), electricity price (15%), childcare cost (15%), gas price (10%), grocery cost index (10%), and natural gas price (5%), all inverted. It carries a 10% weight.
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Data Sources
📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024📎FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024📎America's Health Rankings, 2025📎WalletHub/NAEP, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024📎Cook Political Report, PVI 2024📎Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025📎ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025📎WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025📎BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023📎EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024📎FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025📎National Park Service API, 2024📎USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)📎FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024📎DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023📎BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023📎NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24📎EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22📎NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23📎BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023📎NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023📎Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022📎Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023📎Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022📎S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)📎IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022