Americans searching for affordable places to live have a clear path: Head to the South or Midwest.
A new study by Seven Seas Worldwide ranked all 50 states by affordability for people planning moves in 2026. The results show a stark divide between regions. Every single state in the top 10 comes from either the South or Midwest.
Arkansas claimed the top spot with a score of 88.43. The state delivered low costs across nearly every category measured in the study.
The Most Affordable States To Move To
Seven Seas Worldwide analyzed six key metrics to determine affordability: rent, median home price, utilities, car registration fees, driver’s license fees and average moving labor wages. Each factor received a weighted score to create the final rankings.
Arkansas topped the list thanks to the third-lowest average rent in America at $1,093 and a median home price of $255,300. The state also offered low registration fees at $24 and cheap moving labor at $21.19 per hour.
Mississippi took second place with the sixth-lowest median home price at $255,100 and the second-cheapest car registration fees in the country at just $12.75.
Nebraska rounded out the top three by performing well across all categories. The state had the 11th-lowest rent at $1,285, excellent utility affordability ranking sixth at $379.34 and car registration fees among the lowest at $20.50.
Iowa claimed fourth place while offering the single most affordable median home price in the entire study at only $230,600. Rent stayed low at $1,220 and driver’s license fees cost just $17.50.
Oklahoma secured fifth place by boasting the lowest average rent in America at $1,035. The median home price hit $245,900, the second lowest in the nation. High car registration costs at $96 represented the only real drawback.
The rest of the top 10 included Louisiana, Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico and South Dakota. All delivered strong affordability across multiple categories.
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The Most Expensive States To Move To
The bottom of the rankings told a very different story. Coastal states dominated the least affordable positions.
Hawaii landed dead last at number 50 with a score of only 22.26. The median home price hit $975,500 and average rent reached $2,668. Massachusetts came in 49th with rent at $2,837 and home prices at $749,900.
California ranked 48th with a median home price of $866,100 and average rent of $2,587. New York took 47th place with rent hitting $2,739 per month. Washington rounded out the bottom five in 46th position.
The gap between the most and least affordable states was massive. Arkansas’ median home price of $255,300 looked like a bargain compared to Hawaii’s $975,500. Oklahoma’s $1,035 rent seemed impossibly cheap next to Massachusetts’ $2,837.
The Standout Numbers
Certain states dominated specific affordability categories. Oklahoma’s $1,035 average rent represented the absolute lowest in America. Iowa’s $230,600 median home price made homeownership more attainable than anywhere else.
New Mexico stood out for utility costs. The state ranked second nationally for lowest utility bills at just $362.81 per month. Mild climate and renewable energy focus helped keep energy expenses down despite higher home prices.
Kansas offered the cheapest driver’s license fees in America at only $4. Missouri came in second with $10 fees. These transportation savings add up quickly for new residents.
Wayne Mills, a spokesperson for Seven Seas Worldwide, said the study showed how much affordability shaped decisions about where Americans wanted to live.
“More people are rethinking their location because everyday expenses have gone up almost everywhere,” Mills said. “When you put all the numbers together, rent, home prices, energy bills, transport costs, and what movers charge, the difference from one state to another can be huge.”
Mills added that moving-related costs often got overlooked. “Most people think about rent or the price of a home, but things like registration fees, utilities, and the cost of movers can add up fast.”
The Complete Rankings: All 50 States
Here’s how all 50 states ranked for affordability in 2026:
- Arkansas (88.43)
- Mississippi (87.20)
- Nebraska (86.95)
- Iowa (86.09)
- Oklahoma (85.85)
- Louisiana (85.83)
- Missouri (85.44)
- Kansas (85.28)
- New Mexico (83.14)
- South Dakota (82.97)
- Indiana (80.99)
- Kentucky (80.84)
- Alabama (79.43)
- Ohio (79.26)
- West Virginia (78.75)
- Michigan (78.31)
- Texas (77.27)
- Wyoming (77.16)
- Minnesota (76.91)
- North Dakota (76.88)
- North Carolina (76.73)
- Tennessee (76.23)
- Wisconsin (75.32)
- South Carolina (74.66)
- Idaho (74.01)
- Nevada (72.73)
- Pennsylvania (72.28)
- Utah (71.71)
- Delaware (69.55)
- Arizona (68.85)
- Georgia (68.05)
- Maine (67.34)
- Montana (64.08)
- Illinois (63.18)
- Florida (62.95)
- Virginia (62.88)
- Vermont (62.72)
- Colorado (61.86)
- Rhode Island (59.03)
- New Hampshire (58.44)
- Oregon (56.11)
- Maryland (55.32)
- Alaska (54.11)
- New Jersey (52.43)
- Connecticut (50.80)
- Washington (44.31)
- New York (40.28)
- California (36.34)
- Massachusetts (32.16)
- Hawaii (22.26)
The gap between top and bottom is massive. Arkansas scored 88.43 while Hawaii managed only 22.26. That nearly four-to-one difference reflects dramatically different costs across housing, utilities and fees.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: All 50 States Ranked by Affordability To Move To
