Earning $150,000 a year opens many doors — but choosing the right city to call home can mean the difference between just getting by and thriving. Fifty cities have been identified in a new GOBankingRates research study as being among the best places to live with a salary of $150,000. And it’s a win-win for your lifestyle and wallet to look into these locales, all of which boast a reasonable cost of living and a livability score of 89 or higher.
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GOBankingRates first identified the cities with the highest livability indexes (sourced from AreaVibes). All places with a livability score of 85 or lower were removed as they do not present an ideal quality of life. The remaining cities each had their cost-of-living indexes sourced, as well as average expenditure costs. Per the 50/30/20 finance rule, the cost of living for necessities was doubled to find the comfortable cost of living in every city. Readers may notice several cities in the ranking share the same livability scores. In situations where locales tied for livability, they were sorted with the lowest cost of living first.
Key Findings
- Worthington, Ohio, ranked as the best city for a $150,000 salary. Worthington is one of seven Ohio cities in the top 50. University Heights (#4), Bexley (#7), Upper Arlington (#21), Solon (#26), Perrysburg (#32) and Shaker Heights (#49) round out the seven cities.
- The top three cities to move to on a $150,000 salary are Worthington; Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin; and Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Residents enjoy a comfortable lifestyle for under $133,000 annually.
- Three Florida cities — Wilton Manors (#12), Doctor Phillips (#37) and Seminole (#43) — ranked as ideal for relocating on this six-figure salary. The annual cost of living does not exceed more than $147,000 in these Sunshine State locales.
- 19 cities have cost of living under $100,000. Wausau, Wisconsin, at $75,234 annually, is the cheapest city for a comfortable cost of living.
- 30 Midwest cities ranked as the best to live on a $150,000 salary, the most out of any U.S. region. That included eight Ohio cities, six Michigan towns, five Minnesota cities and five Wisconsin communities.
See which 50 cities are ranked as the best to move to when your salary reaches $150,000. Plus, check out which 50 U.S. suburbs are the wealthiest in 2025.
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1. Worthington, Ohio
- Median household income: $124,734
- Average home value: $488,617
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $56,241
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $112,482
- Livability: 94
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2. Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
- Median household income: $154,255
- Average home value: $628,843
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $66,076
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $132,152
- Livability: 93
3. Ardmore, Pennsylvania
- Median household income: $115,273
- Average home value: $511,643
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $60,130
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $120,261
- Livability: 93
4. University Heights, Ohio
- Median household income: $98,474
- Average home value: $272,009
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $40,367
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $80,735
- Livability: 93
5. Sherwood, Oregon
- Median household income: $110,616
- Average home value: $641,607
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $68,338
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $136,677
- Livability: 92
6. Pompton Lakes, New Jersey
- Median household income: $119,038
- Average home value: $552,732
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $64,101
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $128,201
- Livability: 92
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7. Bexley, Ohio
- Median household income: $152,526
- Average home value: $569,585
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $61,184
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $122,367
- Livability: 92
8. Shorewood, Wisconsin
- Median household income: $89,135
- Average home value: $547,275
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $61,026
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $122,052
- Livability: 92
9. Ankeny, Iowa
- Median household income: $106,603
- Average home value: $354,444
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $46,968
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $93,937
- Livability: 92
10. Rochester, Minnesota
- Median household income: $87,767
- Average home value: $339,605
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $45,180
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $90,360
- Livability: 92
11. Clawson, Michigan
- Median household income: $86,630
- Average home value: $285,429
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $43,020
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $86,039
- Livability: 92
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12. Wilton Manors, Florida
- Median household income: $79,390
- Average home value: $694,674
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $73,163
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $146,325
- Livability: 91
13. Milwaukie, Oregon
- Median household income: $82,422
- Average home value: $513,824
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $59,740
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $119,479
- Livability: 91
14. Traverse City, Michigan
- Median household income: $71,731
- Average home value: $446,720
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $51,302
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $102,604
- Livability: 91
15. Fort Thomas, Kentucky
- Median household income: $100,819
- Average home value: $364,399
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $48,227
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $96,453
- Livability: 91
16. Farmington, Michigan
- Median household income: $94,115
- Average home value: $335,790
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $47,038
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $94,076
- Livability: 91
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17. Ames, Iowa
- Median household income: $60,102
- Average home value: $323,343
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $45,159
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $90,318
- Livability: 91
18. Berkley, Michigan
- Median household income: $113,103
- Average home value: $306,233
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $44,807
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $89,614
- Livability: 91
19. Lynchburg, Virginia
- Median household income: $59,808
- Average home value: $260,863
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $40,262
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $80,523
- Livability: 91
20. Lafayette, Colorado
- Median household income: $110,431
- Average home value: $699,521
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $70,506
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $141,011
- Livability: 90
21. Upper Arlington, Ohio
- Median household income: $150,993
- Average home value: $671,069
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $68,152
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $136,304
- Livability: 90
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22. Middleton, Wisconsin
- Median household income: $85,526
- Average home value: $638,430
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $66,474
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $132,948
- Livability: 90
23. Battle Ground, Washington
- Median household income: $100,185
- Average home value: $603,765
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $65,588
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $131,176
- Livability: 90
24. Cary, North Carolina
- Median household income: $129,399
- Average home value: $625,967
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $65,216
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $130,432
- Livability: 90
25. Verona, Wisconsin
- Median household income: $119,148
- Average home value: $611,572
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $65,145
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $130,290
- Livability: 90
26. Solon, Ohio
- Median household income: $135,180
- Average home value: $453,833
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $53,051
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $106,102
- Livability: 90
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27. Central Point, Oregon
- Median household income: $80,450
- Average home value: $414,648
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $50,863
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $101,727
- Livability: 90
28. Urbandale, Iowa
- Median household income: $113,086
- Average home value: $365,750
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $46,995
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $93,989
- Livability: 90
29. West Lafayette, Indiana
- Median household income: $33,497
- Average home value: $366,471
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $46,499
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $92,997
- Livability: 90
30. Marquette, Michigan
- Median household income: $55,825
- Average home value: $310,827
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $45,072
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $90,144
- Livability: 90
31. Edwardsville, Illinois
- Median household income: $92,671
- Average home value: $318,092
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $45,034
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $90,068
- Livability: 90
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32. Perrysburg, Ohio
- Median household income: $105,226
- Average home value: $333,052
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $44,522
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $89,043
- Livability: 90
33. Wausau, Wisconsin
- Median household income: $61,877
- Average home value: $230,191
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $37,617
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $75,234
- Livability: 90
34. Saint Louis Park, Minnesota
- Median household income: $100,250
- Average home value: $396,787
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $50,272
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $100,544
- Livability: 89
35. Springfield, Virginia
- Median household income: $123,691
- Average home value: $704,500
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $74,465
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $148,930
- Livability: 89
36. Kaysville, Utah
- Median household income: $128,996
- Average home value: $667,006
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $67,608
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $135,217
- Livability: 89
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37. Doctor Phillips, Florida
- Median household income: $101,540
- Average home value: $559,154
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $63,310
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $126,619
- Livability: 89
38. Gilbert, Arizona
- Median household income: $121,351
- Average home value: $569,658
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $63,242
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $126,485
- Livability: 89
39. Beaverton, Oregon
- Median household income: $94,279
- Average home value: $539,976
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $61,264
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $122,529
- Livability: 89
40. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Median household income: $81,089
- Average home value: $550,459
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $60,523
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $121,045
- Livability: 89
41. Gladstone, Oregon
- Median household income: $90,395
- Average home value: $512,006
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $59,742
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $119,484
- Livability: 89
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42. Orem, Utah
- Median household income: $81,292
- Average home value: $515,110
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $57,523
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $115,045
- Livability: 89
43. Seminole, Florida
- Median household income: $77,335
- Average home value: $417,344
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $53,095
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $106,190
- Livability: 89
44. Rosemount, Minnesota
- Median household income: $127,247
- Average home value: $434,401
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $52,968
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $105,936
- Livability: 89
45. Blacksburg, Virginia
- Median household income: $48,070
- Average home value: $417,720
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $51,698
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $103,397
- Livability: 89
46. Shakopee, Minnesota
- Median household income: $110,989
- Average home value: $399,268
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $50,181
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $100,361
- Livability: 89
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47. Champlin, Minnesota
- Median household income: $115,719
- Average home value: $367,772
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $48,797
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $97,594
- Livability: 89
48. Brookfield, Illinois
- Median household income: $108,429
- Average home value: $336,340
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $48,128
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $96,257
- Livability: 89
49. Shaker Heights, Ohio
- Median household income: $97,721
- Average home value: $379,173
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $47,647
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $95,294
- Livability: 89
50. Pella, Iowa
- Median household income: $81,201
- Average home value: $349,574
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $45,032
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $90,065
- Livability: 89
Find more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.
Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
Methodology: GOBankingRates identified the cities with the highest livability indexes (from AreaVibes). Household income and other data was sourced from the U.S. Census. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces. National average expenditure costs were sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Using the average mortgage (calculated using Federal Reserve Economic Data) and expenditure costs, the cost of living for necessities was calculated. Using the 50/30/20 finance rule that states needs should not exceed 50% of median household income, the cost of living for necessities was doubled to find the comfortable cost of living. Places with a comfortable cost of living above $150,000 were removed for this study. Places with a livability of 85 and below also were removed. The remaining cities were sorted to show the highest livability locations first, representing the best places to live once your salary hits $150,000. Places with tied livability were sorted by the lowest cost of living first. All data was collected on Nov. 25, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 50 Best Cities To Move To Once Your Salary Hits $150K
