Looking to buy a home this year without torching your finances? GOBankingRates has uncovered 30 cities across America where affordability and livability best intersect.
These hidden gems offer significantly lower home prices than their state averages, manageable mortgage costs and solid median incomes — along with strong livability ratings. From college towns to lakeside communities, these markets are quietly thriving and poised to attract savvy buyers in the months ahead.
Find Out: How Much House Does $300K, $400K and $500K Buy You in Every State?
Learn More: 10 Genius Things Warren Buffett Says To Do With Your Money
To compile its list, GOBankingRates analyzed data from Zillow, AreaVibes, Sperling’s BestPlaces, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Federal Reserve. Cities were weighted based on how they rank in multiple categories, and an overall score was determined — producing a list of the nation’s best blends of affordability and livability.
Here’s a rundown of the top 30, counting down to the best hidden gem in the nation for 2025. California and New York each landed five cities in the list.
Also look ahead to the best cities to buy a home in 2026.
30. Merced, California
- Average home value in city: $400,681
- Average home value in state: $798,043
- Average monthly mortgage: $2,294
- Livability: 75
- Median household income: $59,938
Merced sits along State Route 99, roughly 110 miles southeast of Sacramento and about 270 miles north of Los Angeles. With average home prices coming in nearly $400,000 below state averages, Merced offers a less expensive alternative in a famously expensive state.
Also See: 4 Housing Markets That Have Plummeted in Value Over the Past 5 Years
29. Pensacola, Florida
- Average home value in city: $260,455
- Average home value in state: $402,892
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,491
- Livability: 83
- Median household income: $72,699
Pensacola is located in the far western part of the Florida Panhandle, right along the Gulf of Mexico. Pensacola’s total cost of living pencils out to about $3,500 a month on average.
Discover More: 4 States Where Home Prices Are Expected To Crash in the Next 12 Months
28. Glassboro, New Jersey
- Average home value in city: $372,448
- Average home value in state: $589,265
- Average monthly mortgage: $2,132
- Livability: 81
- Median household income: $80,388
Glassboro sits about 20 miles southeast of Philadelphia, making it a convenient suburb for commuters. Total monthly living costs here come in around $4,300.
27. Springfield, Massachusetts
- Average home value in city: $300,102
- Average home value in state: $682,247
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,718
- Livability: 75
- Median household income: $51,339
You’ll find Springfield in southwestern Massachusetts, about 90 miles west of Boston and roughly 25 miles north of Hartford, Connecticut. With more than 150,000 residents, Springfield is the most populous city to make GBR’s top 30.
26. Binghamton, New York
- Average home value in city: $181,851
- Average home value in state: $489,352
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,041
- Livability: 77
- Median household income: $44,331
Binghamton is located in the Southern Tier region of New York, near the Pennsylvania border. Its median household income is the lowest among the cities in this list.
25. Clinton, Utah
- Average home value in city: $494,510
- Average home value in state: $545,049
- Average monthly mortgage: $2,831
- Livability: 88
- Median household income: $109,915
Located about 30 miles north of Salt Lake City, Clinton is part of the Ogden-Clearfield metropolitan area. Average single-family home values come in just shy of $500,000, the highest figure among the cities in this list.
See More: 5 Cities Where Homes Will Be a Total Steal in 2 Years
24. Utica, New York
- Average home value in city: $200,717
- Average home value in state: $489,352
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,149
- Livability: 78
- Median household income: $51,513
You’ll find Utica in the central part of the state, about 55 miles east of Syracuse and 95 miles west of Albany. Total monthly living costs in Utica come in around $3,200 on average.
23. Superior, Wisconsin
- Average home value in city: $225,498
- Average home value in state: $335,546
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,291
- Livability: 85
- Median household income: $63,415
Superior is located at the western tip of Lake Superior in northwestern Wisconsin, along the border with Minnesota. Based on the numbers in GBR’s study, you can live here and cover basic necessities for less than $40,000 a year.
22. Chicopee, Massachusetts
- Average home value in city: $322,883
- Average home value in state: $682,247
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,848
- Livability: 76
- Median household income: $66,927
Chicopee is located in western Massachusetts, just north of Springfield (which also appears in the top 30). With homes in Chicopee valued $360,000 below state averages, it’s more likely to be in reach for people on tight budgets.
21. Redding, California
- Average home value in city: $394,762
- Average home value in state: $798,043
- Average monthly mortgage: $2,260
- Livability: 75
- Median household income: $69,443
This northern California city sits about 160 miles north of Sacramento and roughly 120 miles south of the Oregon border. Redding’s average monthly cost of living ($4,438) is the third highest among the cities in GBR’s top 30.
20. Pullman, Washington
- Average home value in city: $439,271
- Average home value in state: $621,316
- Average monthly mortgage: $2,514
- Livability: 86
- Median household income: $45,097
The heart of the Palouse region, Pullman is located in southeastern Washington State — about 8 miles west of Moscow, Idaho. Pullman is a college town and a relatively youthful city compared to the others in GBR’s top 30. Just 6.5% of Pullman’s residents are age 65 or older.
19. Meadville, Pennsylvania
- Average home value in city: $159,895
- Average home value in state: $287,856
- Average monthly mortgage: $915
- Livability: 85
- Median household income: $46,012
Meadville sits in northwestern Pennsylvania, about 40 miles south of Erie and roughly 90 miles north of Pittsburgh. Meadville’s average monthly cost of living ($2,764) is the third lowest among cities in GBR’s top 30.
18. Cumberland, Maryland
- Average home value in city: $152,788
- Average home value in state: $450,720
- Average monthly mortgage: $875
- Livability: 78
- Median household income: $47,819
Cumberland sits along the Potomac River in the far western part of Maryland. It’s one of four cities in GBR’s top 30 that has an average monthly cost of living below $3,000.
17. Wakefield, Virginia
- Average home value in city: $203,891
- Average home value in state: $417,032
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,167
- Livability: 73
- Median household income: $56,250
Wakefield is a small town in southeastern Virginia, roughly 50 miles southeast of Richmond and about 60 miles northwest of Virginia Beach. Wakefield has the highest household median income among the cities in GBR’s list. Its average monthly expenditures also rank highest.
16. Gloversville, New York
- Average home value in city: $173,405
- Average home value in state: $489,352
- Average monthly mortgage: $993
- Livability: 78
- Median household income: $49,155
You’ll find Gloversville in upstate New York, about 45 miles northwest of Albany and right next to the city of Johnstown. Monthly living expenses here come in just over $3,000 on average.
Explore More: 12 East Coast Cities Where You Need To Earn Six Figures To Afford a Typical Home
15. South Euclid, Ohio
- Average home value in city: $185,896
- Average home value in state: $247,160
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,064
- Livability: 87
- Median household income: $78,782
South Euclid is a suburb of Cleveland that manages to place 15th, despite the smallest delta on the list between its average home values and the state of Ohio’s average home values (about $61,000). South Euclid’s average monthly cost of living stands at $2,915.
14. Hanford, California
- Average home value in city: $375,055
- Average home value in state: $798,043
- Average monthly mortgage: $2,147
- Livability: 75
- Median household income: $73,544
Hanford sits in California’s Central Valley, about 35 miles south of Fresno. Average home values in Hanford come in about $423,000 below the state average — the third-largest difference among the cities in this list.
13. Glens Falls, New York
- Average home value in city: $266,173
- Average home value in state: $489,352
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,524
- Livability: 82
- Median household income: $70,089
Glens Falls is located in upstate New York, about 45 miles north of Albany. The average total cost of living in Glens Falls comes in around $3,700 a month.
12. Spokane Valley, Washington
- Average home value in city: $420,821
- Average home value in state: $621,316
- Average monthly mortgage: $2,409
- Livability: 85
- Median household income: $70,722
This eastern Washington city is located directly east of Spokane and just west of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. With about 105,000 residents, Spokane Valley is the second most populous city among GBR’s top 30.
Also See: 33 Cities Where You Need To Earn Six Figures To Afford a Typical Home
11. Sandusky, Ohio
- Average home value in city: $145,974
- Average home value in state: $247,160
- Average monthly mortgage: $836
- Livability: 87
- Median household income: $47,827
Sandusky is located in northern Ohio along the southern shore of Lake Erie, roughly halfway between Toledo and Cleveland. Helped by average monthly mortgage costs in the $800 range, Sandusky has the lowest total monthly living costs ($2,527) of any city in the top 30.
10. Wyandotte, Michigan
- Average home value in city: $190,919
- Average home value in state: $259,881
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,093
- Livability: 88
- Median household income: $67,846
Wyandotte sits in southeastern Michigan along the Detroit River, about 11 miles south of downtown Detroit. Wyandotte’s average home values come in just $69,000 than the state average, but this Detroit suburb scores high on livability and median household income.
9. Logan, Utah
- Average home value in city: $393,794
- Average home value in state: $545,049
- Average monthly mortgage: $2,254
- Livability: 88
- Median household income: $56,764
Logan sits in northern Utah, about 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. Its livability score from AreaVibes is tied for the fourth highest among cities in the top 30.
8. Ridgecrest, California
- Average home value in city: $273,927
- Average home value in state: $798,043
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,568
- Livability: 70
- Median household income: $88,107
Ridgecrest is located in northeastern Kern County in the Indian Wells Valley. With a livability score of 70 (the cutoff for inclusion), this California city barely qualified for GBR’s top 30. But with average home values more than $500,000 lower than the state average, Ridgecrest may be worth a look if you’re on a tight budget.
Also Find: 7 California Cities Where You Need To Earn Six Figures To Afford a Typical Home
7. Central Point, Oregon
- Average home value in city: $420,175
- Average home value in state: $512,882
- Average monthly mortgage: $2,405
- Livability: 90
- Median household income: $80,450
You’ll find Central Point in southern Oregon, just northwest of Medford. Central Point’s livability score is high enough to tie for the second best among the cities in GBR’s top 30.
6. Keene, New Hampshire
- Average home value in city: $353,583
- Average home value in state: $530,759
- Average monthly mortgage: $2,024
- Livability: 86
- Median household income: $78,183
Keene is a city of about 23,000 residents, located in southwestern New Hampshire. Keene’s total annual cost of living comes in around $47,000.
5. Aberdeen, Washington
- Average home value in city: $282,994
- Average home value in state: $621,316
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,620
- Livability: 80
- Median household income: $52,181
Aberdeen is located in Grays Harbor County in western Washington, at the mouth of the Chehalis River near the Pacific Coast. Average monthly expenditures here come in at $1,836, one of the lowest figures among GBR’s top 30.
4. Blythe, California
- Average home value in city: $232,672
- Average home value in state: $798,043
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,332
- Livability: 71
- Median household income: $51,984
Blythe is situated along the California-Arizona border on the Colorado River, about 224 miles east of Los Angeles and 150 miles west of Phoenix. Average home values in Blythe come in about $565,000 lower than state averages, which is the largest delta among the cities in the top 30.
See More: 19 States Where You Don’t Have To Earn Six Figures To Buy a Home
3. Wausau, Wisconsin
- Average home value in city: $238,916
- Average home value in state: $335,546
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,368
- Livability: 90
- Median household income: $61,877
Wausau is located in central Wisconsin along the Wisconsin River. Wausau’s livability score is tied for the second highest among the cities in this list.
2. North Tonawanda, New York
- Average home value in city: $275,977
- Average home value in state: $489,352
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,580
- Livability: 86
- Median household income: $66,774
North Tonawanda is in Niagara County in western New York. It lands high on the list with a strong livability score and average home values coming in more than $200,000 below state averages.
1. Lynchburg, Virginia
- Average home value in city: $264,559
- Average home value in state: $417,032
- Average monthly mortgage: $1,514
- Livability: 91
- Median household income: $59,808
Lynchburg is located in central Virginia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the James River. This Virginia city’s high rating is due in part to a sparkling AreaVibes livability score of 91 — the highest among any city in the list.
Methodology: To identify the best hidden gem housing markets for 2025, GOBankingRates conducted a comprehensive analysis of cities across the U.S. The selection began with data from the Zillow Home Value Index, focusing on cities where the average single-family home value was at least $50,000 below the statewide average. Cities with a livability score below 70, sourced from AreaVibes, were excluded to ensure a baseline quality of life. Cost-of-living indexes were obtained from Sperling’s BestPlaces and paired with national average expenditure data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey to estimate typical spending in each city. Assuming a 10% down payment and applying the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average monthly mortgage was calculated for each location. From there, the total necessity cost of living was determined by combining mortgage and expenditure estimates. Each city was then scored and weighted using the following weighted criteria: median household income (1.00), average mortgage cost (1.00), difference from statewide home value (2.00), and livability index (2.00). Final scores were then summed and ranked. All data is current as of Sept. 2, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: America’s 30 Best Hidden Gem Housing Markets of 2025
