Where Can Parents Affordably Raise a Child From Infancy to Teenhood?

The most affordable metros for kids at every age stage can be found in Southern metro areas. Morristown, TN, has the lowest early childhood costs, while Longview, TX, and Sumter, SC, is the cheapest for school-age and teens.

By Anja Solum, CEPF

Edited by Megan Hull

Updated: November 4, 2024

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Whether purchasing strollers and diapers or stocking the kitchen for a growing teenager, raising kids costs a pretty penny no matter where you live. With the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that consumer spending was up 3.7% in September 2023 compared to the previous year, understanding the cost of living in different areas is more critical than ever for effective family budgeting.

MoneyGeek analyzed data for 381 metropolitan areas from the MIT Living Wage calculator to find the most affordable metro areas for raising children. We learned that the average family will use at least 19% of their annual income to afford the costs of raising young children to their teenage years. MoneyGeek also found that metro areas in the South tend to have the lowest yearly expenses for raising children, regardless of age.

KEY FINDINGS

On average, parents spend $25,610 yearly to raise young children, accounting for 22% of combined income in households with two earners. That number falls to $21,456 for school-age children, while teenagers cost $20,589 annually. For more information about how our analysis defines each of these three stages of childhood, please review our Methodology.
Southern metros lead in affordability. Morristown, Tennessee, has the lowest yearly early childhood expenses, under $18,000. Longview, Texas, and Sumter, South Carolina, have the lowest costs for school-age and teenage years, with both having average annual expenses under $16,000.
While teenagers are generally less expensive to raise than younger children, there are 91 metros where these costs can be up to 43% higher, particularly in Honolulu, Hawaii, and several cities in California.

Best Metros for Navigating Early Childhood Expenses

To find the average cost of raising a young child nationally and in specific metros, MoneyGeek utilized data from MIT's Living Wage Calculator. This data source defines a "young child" as a child that's four years old, so the data presented here represents the average expenses associated with raising a four-year-old.

MoneyGeek found that, on average, raising a young child costs $25,610 annually, which accounts for about 22% of yearly income in dual-earner households. However, in places like Morristown, Tennessee, and Sumter, South Carolina, this figure drops to below $18,000.

Southern metro areas take 18 of the top 20 spots for affordability. In the Northeast, Pennsylvania's metros, including Altoona and Johnstown, keep these early childhood expenses under $22,500. Yuma, Arizona, stands out in the West, with an average cost of around $21,388; that annual expense is similar to affordability in Midwestern areas like Terre Haute, Indiana, and Manhattan, Kansas — both with costs under $20,000.

15 Most Affordable Metros to Raise Young Children

	Metro Area	Avg. Annual Cost
1.	Morristown, TN	$17,381
2.	Sumter, SC	$17,962
3.	Jackson, TN	$18,161
4.	Longview, TX	$18,310
5.	Columbia, SC	$18,910
6.	Florence, SC	$19,081
7.	Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC	$19,242
8.	Gadsden, AL	$19,315
9.	Terre Haute, IN	$19,343
10.	Spartanburg, SC	$19,458
11.	Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$19,635
12.	Texarkana, TX	$19,668
13.	Dothan, AL	$19,699
14.	Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC	$19,786
15.	Chattanooga, TN	$19,838

Top Metros for Raising School-Age Kids

To find the average cost of raising a school-age child nationally and in specific metros, MoneyGeek utilized data from MIT's Living Wage Calculator. This data source defines a "school-age" child as a child that's nine years old, so the data presented here represents the average expenses associated with raising a nine-year-old.

We found that, in the U.S., raising a school-age child costs $21,456 yearly, on average. However, in 213 metro areas, parents can expect to spend less than this. The most affordable areas are Longview, Texas; Morristown, Tennessee; and Jackson, Tennessee, where average annual costs fall below $16,000.

Two Arizona metros (Lake Havasu and Yuma) and Pocatello, Idaho, ranked best in the West. In these Western metros, parents can expect an average of $17,000 annually for children around nine.

15 Most Affordable Metros to Raise School-Age Children

	Metro Area	Avg. Annual Cost
1.	Longview, TX	$15,732
2.	Morristown, TN	$15,789
3.	Jackson, TN	$15,939
4.	Sumter, SC	$16,024
5.	Terre Haute, IN	$16,761
6.	Gadsden, AL	$16,765
7.	Texarkana, TX	$17,147
8.	Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ	$17,180
9.	Yuma, AZ	$17,181
10.	Pocatello, ID	$17,228
11.	Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	$17,301
12.	Waco, TX	$17,349
13.	Abilene, TX	$17,352
14.	(Tie) Dothan & Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL	$17,391

Cost-Effective Metros for Raising Teens

To find the average cost of raising a teenager nationally and in specific metros, MoneyGeek utilized data from MIT's Living Wage Calculator. This data source defines a "teenager" as a child that's 15 years old, so the data presented here represents the average expenses associated with raising a 15-year-old.

For teenagers, parents can expect to spend a few thousand dollars less annually than they did in their childhood, with national average costs around $20,600. Southern metros lead in affordability for raising teenagers, with eight in the top 10. Sumter, South Carolina, has the lowest average annual cost; there, it costs less than $12,000 annually to raise a 15-year-old. Jackson, Tennessee, and Longview, Texas, follow close behind, costing about $1,000 more. Parents in these top areas spend less than 14% of their income on expenses for their teens.

Although teenagers are typically less expensive to raise than younger children, 91 metros see higher costs. The starkest example is Honolulu, Hawaii, where expenses for a 15-year-old reach $34,000. In places like Tucson, Arizona, and Spokane, Washington, the cost gap between a nine-year-old and a teenager is minimal.

15 Most Affordable Metros to Raise a Teenager

	Metro Area	Avg. Annual Cost
1.	Sumter, SC	$11,994
2.	Jackson, TN	$12,686
3.	Longview, TX	$12,828
4.	Morristown, TN	$12,872
5.	Gadsden, AL	$12,886
6.	Terre Haute, IN	$13,058
7.	Texarkana, TX	$13,802
8.	Pine Bluff, AR	$13,957
9.	Monroe, LA	$14,013
10.	Jackson, MS	$14,105
11.	Dothan, AL	$14,107
12.	Florence, SC	$14,256
13.	Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	$14,340
14.	Altoona, PA	$14,380
15.	Hattiesburg, MS	$14,394

From Insights to Action: What Parents Can Do to Raise a Family Affordably

Various metros across the United States provide a financially favorable environment for growing families, with manageable cost increments as family size increases. The following actionable tips offer a roadmap for growing families to make well-informed decisions in their quest for affordable metro living.

If you’re willing to move, consider metros with:

Affordable Housing Costs

Look for metro areas with a favorable home value to annual income ratio. Explore mortgage options to find what fits your budget, and compare mortgage rates to ensure you're getting the best deal.

Employment Opportunities

Seek metros with robust job markets and lower unemployment rates.

Manageable Living Expenses

Opt for areas with lower percentages of income spent on mortgage payments, rent, and other home-related costs like insurance. Compare home insurance quotes to find the best rates and coverage.

Lower Day-to-Day Costs

Choose metros with lower costs on necessities like food, transportation, child care, and healthcare relative to income.

Regardless of whether or not you move, prioritize:

Family Protection

Ensure you have adequate life insurance to protect your family's financial future, especially in metros with higher living costs.

Financial Planning for Life Events

Major life events like having a baby require prudent financial planning. MoneyGeek's tailored financial planning resource for expecting parents can help you navigate this exciting phase of life.

Methodology

Using the MIT Living Wage Calculator, MoneyGeek analyzed data for 381 metro areas to find the cost of raising a young child, a school-age child and a teenager in each metro.

The MIT Living Wage Calculator defines these childhood stages as follows:

Young Child: 4 years old
School-Age Child: 9 years old
Teenager: 15 years old

The MIT Living Wage Calculator's assumptions for family composition include a young child in one-child families, a young child and a school-age child for those with two kids, and a young child, a school-age child and a teenager in families with three children. We used these assumptions to calculate the individual annual costs for these childhood stages.

We calculated the average percentage of a family’s annual income that these costs comprised using the average yearly income for a dual-earner family ($117,107) from the U.S. Census Bureau for 2022, the most recent year of data available.

The costs considered are food, childcare, housing, health care, transportation, taxes and other expenses like personal care items, clothing and more. The data is for 2022, the most recent year of data available.

Full Data Set

With an average cost of $25,610 to raise a child, the data contrasts Southern affordability against the steep expenses of metros in the West. Below is the complete data set of variables we examined to determine our findings.

Metro Area	Rank (Young Child)	Avg. Annual Cost for Young Child	Rank (School-Age Child)	Avg. Annual Cost for School-Age Child	Rank (Teenager)	Avg. Annual Cost for Teenager
Morristown, TN	1	$17,381	2	$15,789	4	$12,872
Sumter, SC	2	$17,962	4	$16,024	1	$11,994
Jackson, TN	3	$18,161	3	$15,939	2	$12,686
Longview, TX	4	$18,310	1	$15,732	3	$12,828
Columbia, SC	5	$18,910	25	$17,669	29	$15,367
Florence, SC	6	$19,081	18	$17,463	12	$14,256
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC	7	$19,242	26	$17,684	65	$16,497
Gadsden, AL	8	$19,315	6	$16,765	5	$12,886
Terre Haute, IN	9	$19,343	5	$16,761	6	$13,058
Spartanburg, SC	10	$19,458	62	$18,408	59	$16,334
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	11	$19,635	31	$17,843	69	$16,603
Texarkana, TX	12	$19,668	7	$17,147	7	$13,802
Dothan, AL	13	$19,699	14	$17,391	11	$14,107
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC	14	$19,786	28	$17,755	31	$15,423
Chattanooga, TN	15	$19,838	47	$18,094	32	$15,491
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN	16	$19,880	36	$17,953	18	$14,677
Manhattan, KS	17	$19,913	60	$18,355	23	$15,076
Johnson City, TN	18	$19,923	42	$18,064	20	$14,756
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC	19	$20,022	66	$18,568	82	$16,811
Jackson, MS	20	$20,076	21	$17,569	10	$14,105
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL	21	$20,226	14	$17,391	16	$14,400
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	22	$20,321	23	$17,576	19	$14,688
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	23	$20,339	11	$17,301	13	$14,340
Tyler, TX	24	$20,347	22	$17,570	22	$15,052
Monroe, LA	25	$20,451	45	$18,075	9	$14,013
Columbus, IN	26	$20,495	75	$18,856	79	$16,751
Hinesville, GA	27	$20,526	43	$18,067	102	$17,433
Killeen-Temple, TX	28	$20,551	32	$17,882	61	$16,361
Laredo, TX	29	$20,593	30	$17,800	30	$15,413
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	30	$20,666	67	$18,669	95	$17,083
Albany, GA	31	$20,771	53	$18,205	24	$15,153
Tuscaloosa, AL	32	$20,779	51	$18,184	21	$14,968
Pine Bluff, AR	33	$20,841	29	$17,790	8	$13,957
Brunswick, GA	34	$20,866	39	$18,001	60	$16,339
Kokomo, IN	35	$20,883	79	$18,931	87	$16,960
Waco, TX	36	$20,896	12	$17,349	28	$15,265
Wichita Falls, TX	37	$20,989	20	$17,482	38	$15,655
Columbus, GA	38	$21,039	50	$18,180	41	$15,749
Athens-Clarke County, GA	38	$21,039	55	$18,232	53	$16,101
Abilene, TX	40	$21,156	13	$17,352	45	$15,868
Ames, IA	41	$21,216	96	$19,318	110	$17,631
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN	42	$21,236	46	$18,089	39	$15,686
Memphis, TN	43	$21,244	71	$18,727	73	$16,664
Valdosta, GA	44	$21,334	44	$18,068	58	$16,256
Yuma, AZ	45	$21,388	9	$17,181	90	$17,005
Evansville, IN	46	$21,490	37	$17,984	40	$15,715
Savannah, GA	47	$21,504	59	$18,316	106	$17,601
Pocatello, ID	48	$21,541	10	$17,228	43	$15,814
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	49	$21,542	33	$17,909	26	$15,182
Baton Rouge, LA	50	$21,553	92	$19,254	54	$16,189
Cleveland, TN	51	$21,562	63	$18,448	34	$15,615
Hattiesburg, MS	52	$21,583	24	$17,655	15	$14,394
Cheyenne, WY	53	$21,602	165	$20,662	206	$19,945
El Paso, TX	54	$21,612	19	$17,480	44	$15,861
Fort Wayne, IN	55	$21,641	35	$17,946	25	$15,160
Lima, OH	56	$21,651	73	$18,755	50	$16,030
Clarksville, TN	57	$21,672	64	$18,490	98	$17,345
Altoona, PA	58	$21,735	17	$17,426	14	$14,380
Fayetteville, NC	59	$21,750	94	$19,309	63	$16,472
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	60	$21,789	52	$18,203	56	$16,228
Augusta-Richmond County, GA	61	$21,791	48	$18,120	57	$16,236
Rome, GA	62	$21,826	57	$18,315	49	$15,961
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	63	$21,870	119	$19,810	100	$17,423
Farmington, NM	64	$21,871	123	$19,896	114	$17,788
Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS	65	$21,874	70	$18,726	75	$16,707
Knoxville, TN	66	$21,936	69	$18,719	78	$16,723
Johnstown, PA	67	$21,984	91	$19,242	62	$16,447
Mobile, AL	68	$21,991	80	$19,001	64	$16,490
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ	69	$22,009	49	$18,124	105	$17,579
Muncie, IN	70	$22,029	102	$19,540	94	$17,078
Hammond, LA	71	$22,032	86	$19,194	42	$15,790
Macon, GA	72	$22,034	41	$18,063	17	$14,651
Casper, WY	73	$22,041	165	$20,662	195	$19,744
Lubbock, TX	74	$22,114	37	$17,984	96	$17,256
Victoria, TX	75	$22,153	40	$18,011	46	$15,895
Jefferson City, MO	76	$22,239	56	$18,286	35	$15,648
San Angelo, TX	77	$22,241	16	$17,410	33	$15,572
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ	78	$22,254	8	$17,180	83	$16,829
Bowling Green, KY	79	$22,257	135	$20,031	72	$16,640
Carbondale-Marion, IL	79	$22,257	122	$19,845	86	$16,892
Las Cruces, NM	81	$22,267	124	$19,897	141	$18,505
St. Cloud, MN	82	$22,288	116	$19,765	134	$18,414
Warner Robins, GA	83	$22,295	72	$18,744	91	$17,015
State College, PA	84	$22,312	101	$19,474	139	$18,491
Dalton, GA	85	$22,315	57	$18,315	36	$15,649
Springfield, MO	86	$22,345	65	$18,524	84	$16,839
Lake Charles, LA	87	$22,354	90	$19,226	47	$15,926
Topeka, KS	88	$22,406	115	$19,745	85	$16,861
Williamsport, PA	89	$22,519	109	$19,662	104	$17,440
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	90	$22,555	138	$20,043	182	$19,551
Decatur, AL	91	$22,571	130	$19,975	76	$16,719
Bloomington, IN	92	$22,585	85	$19,139	144	$18,561
Michigan City-La Porte, IN	93	$22,608	84	$19,122	67	$16,559
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN	94	$22,609	78	$18,928	68	$16,599
Amarillo, TX	95	$22,627	61	$18,407	70	$16,610
College Station-Bryan, TX	96	$22,630	99	$19,406	155	$18,883
Birmingham-Hoover, AL	97	$22,634	113	$19,707	99	$17,373
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY	98	$22,658	134	$19,990	127	$18,204
Cumberland, MD	99	$22,668	93	$19,290	55	$16,207
Wausau, WI	100	$22,798	159	$20,570	93	$17,039
Jonesboro, AR	101	$22,814	76	$18,858	37	$15,651
Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA	102	$22,849	89	$19,196	124	$18,123
Lafayette, LA	103	$22,860	98	$19,346	88	$16,969
Dover, DE	104	$22,966	158	$20,566	218	$20,187
Midland, TX	105	$23,017	82	$19,004	103	$17,439
Alexandria, LA	106	$23,048	86	$19,194	77	$16,721
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	107	$23,059	114	$19,716	140	$18,504
Danville, IL	108	$23,070	169	$20,707	115	$17,857
St. Joseph, MO	109	$23,087	27	$17,693	27	$15,253
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL	110	$23,108	95	$19,311	107	$17,607
Salisbury, MD	111	$23,122	100	$19,433	120	$17,985
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	112	$23,176	108	$19,658	108	$17,613
Cape Girardeau, MO	113	$23,233	34	$17,933	71	$16,619
California-Lexington Park, MD	114	$23,235	77	$18,912	228	$20,576
Montgomery, AL	115	$23,240	83	$19,075	51	$16,055
Peoria, IL	116	$23,308	190	$20,969	117	$17,929
Houma-Thibodaux, LA	117	$23,312	86	$19,194	89	$16,973
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	118	$23,344	54	$18,229	186	$19,651
Fort Smith, AR	119	$23,358	144	$20,239	132	$18,412
Sherman-Denison, TX	120	$23,446	68	$18,687	92	$17,030
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL	121	$23,454	130	$19,975	52	$16,097
Grand Forks, ND	122	$23,458	128	$19,956	165	$19,049
Owensboro, KY	123	$23,491	141	$20,151	97	$17,337
Mankato-North Mankato, MN	124	$23,554	117	$19,766	172	$19,267
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL	125	$23,570	163	$20,613	174	$19,321
Charleston, WV	126	$23,586	105	$19,568	48	$15,952
Bismarck, ND	127	$23,617	215	$21,479	237	$20,861
Homosassa Springs, FL	128	$23,686	137	$20,038	162	$18,985
Auburn-Opelika, AL	129	$23,708	121	$19,818	109	$17,628
Hot Springs, AR	130	$23,715	148	$20,338	74	$16,703
Champaign-Urbana, IL	131	$23,723	251	$22,006	205	$19,936
Yakima, WA	132	$23,740	104	$19,559	196	$19,816
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	133	$23,743	180	$20,838	101	$17,430
Decatur, IL	134	$23,747	170	$20,711	166	$19,054
Lynchburg, VA	135	$23,797	181	$20,845	154	$18,837
Joplin, MO	136	$23,828	102	$19,540	66	$16,500
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	136	$23,828	174	$20,766	148	$18,660
Huntsville, AL	138	$23,831	130	$19,975	111	$17,695
Wichita, KS	139	$23,861	142	$20,157	122	$18,030
Gainesville, FL	140	$23,870	161	$20,596	130	$18,341
Lawton, OK	141	$23,887	162	$20,609	151	$18,736
Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA	141	$23,887	218	$21,515	156	$18,895
Sebring, FL	143	$23,923	110	$19,670	81	$16,779
Sioux Falls, SD	144	$23,926	168	$20,691	150	$18,729
Ocala, FL	145	$23,940	143	$20,182	118	$17,936
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	146	$23,956	111	$19,673	112	$17,729
Duluth, MN	147	$23,969	184	$20,906	149	$18,723
Coeur d'Alene, ID	148	$24,025	74	$18,844	173	$19,285
Santa Fe, NM	149	$24,027	124	$19,897	125	$18,132
Odessa, TX	150	$24,079	81	$19,003	80	$16,759
Corpus Christi, TX	151	$24,175	106	$19,591	146	$18,635
Utica-Rome, NY	152	$24,207	246	$21,970	161	$18,975
Beckley, WV	153	$24,229	171	$20,733	135	$18,458
Oklahoma City, OK	154	$24,246	157	$20,520	138	$18,479
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	155	$24,299	145	$20,284	181	$19,522
Erie, PA	156	$24,380	188	$20,965	119	$17,979
Fargo, ND	157	$24,441	173	$20,755	201	$19,899
Gainesville, GA	158	$24,481	198	$21,277	169	$19,239
Fond du Lac, WI	159	$24,485	263	$22,317	212	$20,097
Gettysburg, PA	160	$24,504	97	$19,335	142	$18,514
Elmira, NY	161	$24,513	246	$21,970	225	$20,377
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA	162	$24,537	153	$20,420	129	$18,243
Tallahassee, FL	163	$24,545	150	$20,363	152	$18,791
Grand Island, NE	164	$24,601	186	$20,944	157	$18,920
Binghamton, NY	165	$24,706	245	$21,969	215	$20,136
Lawrence, KS	166	$24,730	229	$21,641	247	$21,193
The Villages, FL	167	$24,739	192	$21,137	193	$19,739
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD	168	$24,766	199	$21,285	203	$19,908
Mansfield, OH	169	$24,778	202	$21,300	160	$18,939
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA	170	$24,790	174	$20,766	208	$19,969
Lebanon, PA	171	$24,811	179	$20,825	164	$19,031
Idaho Falls, ID	172	$24,849	130	$19,975	170	$19,264
Greensboro-High Point, NC	173	$24,862	237	$21,773	175	$19,346
Lewiston, ID	174	$24,864	112	$19,678	176	$19,347
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	175	$24,903	185	$20,931	116	$17,905
Sheboygan, WI	176	$24,924	274	$22,543	189	$19,677
Albuquerque, NM	177	$24,927	126	$19,900	197	$19,824
Springfield, IL	178	$24,947	210	$21,425	144	$18,561
Rockford, IL	179	$24,973	216	$21,483	185	$19,649
Kankakee, IL	180	$24,999	176	$20,785	179	$19,443
Canton-Massillon, OH	181	$25,031	202	$21,300	128	$18,233
Springfield, OH	182	$25,033	206	$21,331	123	$18,071
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV	183	$25,039	242	$21,860	168	$19,085
Tulsa, OK	184	$25,055	147	$20,333	121	$17,999
Eau Claire, WI	185	$25,056	256	$22,162	217	$20,169
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	186	$25,059	191	$21,076	187	$19,664
Olympia-Tumwater, WA	187	$25,062	213	$21,454	297	$23,049
Columbia, MO	188	$25,077	189	$20,966	136	$18,463
Pittsburgh, PA	189	$25,121	226	$21,609	184	$19,635
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	190	$25,183	139	$20,052	131	$18,395
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL	191	$25,192	107	$19,621	126	$18,166
Kansas City, MO	192	$25,201	127	$19,913	143	$18,526
Rapid City, SD	193	$25,218	164	$20,625	209	$19,978
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	194	$25,242	177	$20,802	210	$19,986
Staunton-Waynesboro, VA	195	$25,258	204	$21,303	199	$19,850
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	196	$25,277	219	$21,519	226	$20,449
Richmond, VA	197	$25,285	224	$21,599	232	$20,676
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA	198	$25,296	195	$21,217	153	$18,826
Green Bay, WI	199	$25,332	292	$23,026	253	$21,326
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	200	$25,336	197	$21,259	163	$19,012
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY	201	$25,353	224	$21,599	192	$19,715
Salem, OR	202	$25,360	154	$20,494	251	$21,290
Cedar Rapids, IA	203	$25,364	208	$21,398	207	$19,956
Tucson, AZ	204	$25,382	120	$19,817	200	$19,887
Rocky Mount, NC	205	$25,407	232	$21,699	178	$19,403
Wenatchee, WA	206	$25,419	118	$19,801	194	$19,743
Goldsboro, NC	207	$25,450	211	$21,436	113	$17,746
Huntington-Ashland, WV	208	$25,474	194	$21,193	132	$18,412
Panama City, FL	209	$25,489	196	$21,254	260	$21,499
York-Hanover, PA	210	$25,493	149	$20,342	137	$18,473
Boise City, ID	211	$25,528	129	$19,969	231	$20,644
Flagstaff, AZ	212	$25,584	140	$20,064	190	$19,691
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA	213	$25,617	220	$21,543	275	$22,101
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	214	$25,631	255	$22,157	303	$23,348
Port St. Lucie, FL	215	$25,700	207	$21,367	249	$21,216
Rochester, MN	216	$25,710	193	$21,160	254	$21,330
Grants Pass, OR	217	$25,712	146	$20,313	240	$21,001
Lincoln, NE	218	$25,747	233	$21,721	233	$20,736
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	219	$25,757	238	$21,782	245	$21,188
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE	220	$25,765	221	$21,574	221	$20,318
Roanoke, VA	221	$25,772	183	$20,862	147	$18,640
Janesville-Beloit, WI	222	$25,774	311	$23,614	266	$21,771
Great Falls, MT	223	$25,803	286	$22,819	261	$21,559
Dubuque, IA	224	$25,823	223	$21,592	177	$19,395
Lexington-Fayette, KY	225	$25,958	254	$22,130	229	$20,601
Visalia-Porterville, CA	226	$25,962	257	$22,185	274	$22,071
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH	227	$25,963	291	$22,985	223	$20,359
Albany, OR	228	$26,032	154	$20,494	235	$20,831
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI	229	$26,046	277	$22,572	265	$21,716
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	230	$26,054	172	$20,746	167	$19,083
East Stroudsburg, PA	231	$26,058	227	$21,617	282	$22,341
Lancaster, PA	232	$26,067	152	$20,405	158	$18,922
St. George, UT	233	$26,077	187	$20,957	259	$21,472
Prescott, AZ	234	$26,083	135	$20,031	220	$20,281
Appleton, WI	235	$26,118	318	$23,753	270	$21,974
Logan, UT	236	$26,121	151	$20,384	183	$19,557
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY	237	$26,135	322	$23,839	246	$21,189
Winchester, VA	238	$26,166	199	$21,285	188	$19,668
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	239	$26,170	160	$20,572	180	$19,505
Provo-Orem, UT	240	$26,179	268	$22,432	288	$22,646
Greenville, NC	241	$26,200	278	$22,598	238	$20,990
Winston-Salem, NC	242	$26,211	279	$22,605	198	$19,849
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC	243	$26,238	289	$22,980	244	$21,167
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	243	$26,238	315	$23,697	268	$21,900
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	245	$26,269	201	$21,294	256	$21,401
New Bern, NC	246	$26,337	259	$22,202	219	$20,251
Bakersfield, CA	247	$26,380	282	$22,752	295	$23,018
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	248	$26,382	178	$20,812	216	$20,146
Punta Gorda, FL	249	$26,386	241	$21,835	281	$22,318
Corvallis, OR	250	$26,415	235	$21,766	310	$23,508
Ogden-Clearfield, UT	251	$26,419	167	$20,679	230	$20,615
Pueblo, CO	252	$26,434	252	$22,011	227	$20,491
Anchorage, AK	253	$26,440	249	$21,974	299	$23,078
Yuba City, CA	254	$26,476	284	$22,805	319	$24,114
Lewiston-Auburn, ME	255	$26,553	222	$21,581	214	$20,135
Madera, CA	256	$26,566	267	$22,415	314	$23,834
Bloomington, IL	257	$26,590	294	$23,059	283	$22,409
Fresno, CA	258	$26,604	296	$23,164	320	$24,147
Billings, MT	259	$26,607	261	$22,287	239	$20,999
Bangor, ME	260	$26,615	205	$21,317	159	$18,928
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	261	$26,633	257	$22,185	252	$21,303
Medford, OR	262	$26,643	154	$20,494	264	$21,688
Austin-Round Rock, TX	263	$26,730	212	$21,452	241	$21,018
Jacksonville, FL	264	$26,731	214	$21,478	213	$20,132
Charlottesville, VA	265	$26,776	239	$21,792	211	$20,002
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL	266	$26,793	298	$23,195	273	$22,046
Jackson, MI	267	$26,807	335	$24,817	285	$22,488
Toledo, OH	268	$26,808	305	$23,411	248	$21,211
Wheeling, WV	269	$26,868	275	$22,556	171	$19,266
Kennewick-Richland, WA	270	$26,930	228	$21,629	234	$20,754
Longview, WA	271	$27,009	240	$21,824	277	$22,111
El Centro, CA	272	$27,015	244	$21,914	276	$22,107
Harrisonburg, VA	273	$27,093	270	$22,465	224	$20,366
Syracuse, NY	274	$27,136	310	$23,613	242	$21,038
Muskegon, MI	275	$27,147	339	$24,970	278	$22,136
Jacksonville, NC	276	$27,149	280	$22,630	258	$21,456
Morgantown, WV	277	$27,164	313	$23,645	262	$21,630
St. Louis, MO	278	$27,195	253	$22,073	202	$19,907
Missoula, MT	279	$27,227	286	$22,819	290	$22,759
Sioux City, IA	280	$27,367	266	$22,405	204	$19,910
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA	281	$27,376	234	$21,728	236	$20,847
Reading, PA	282	$27,378	250	$21,988	191	$19,710
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY	283	$27,405	246	$21,970	271	$21,989
Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ	284	$27,435	276	$22,569	309	$23,435
Carson City, NV	285	$27,455	262	$22,299	293	$22,904
Modesto, CA	286	$27,540	290	$22,982	330	$24,725
Battle Creek, MI	287	$27,568	349	$25,761	300	$23,133
Iowa City, IA	288	$27,578	293	$23,044	292	$22,895
Merced, CA	289	$27,593	269	$22,436	305	$23,361
Asheville, NC	290	$27,672	316	$23,701	323	$24,229
Norwich-New London, CT	291	$27,811	217	$21,486	250	$21,220
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI	292	$27,850	356	$26,629	317	$23,985
Glens Falls, NY	293	$27,858	295	$23,152	267	$21,874
Rochester, NY	294	$27,927	321	$23,797	257	$21,439
Akron, OH	295	$27,989	325	$24,035	243	$21,149
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV	296	$27,992	288	$22,895	324	$24,345
Bend-Redmond, OR	297	$28,030	182	$20,857	291	$22,782
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	298	$28,091	334	$24,797	315	$23,892
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR	299	$28,095	281	$22,727	351	$28,074
Dayton, OH	300	$28,113	331	$24,365	280	$22,308
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	301	$28,158	364	$27,255	326	$24,431
Walla Walla, WA	302	$28,208	259	$22,202	302	$23,286
Bellingham, WA	303	$28,216	302	$23,316	339	$25,210
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	304	$28,310	341	$25,017	296	$23,037
Cincinnati, OH	305	$28,320	320	$23,793	279	$22,259
Columbus, OH	306	$28,351	326	$24,082	255	$21,383
Ithaca, NY	307	$28,423	328	$24,258	316	$23,963
Burlington, NC	308	$28,459	307	$23,492	222	$20,327
Midland, MI	309	$28,495	351	$25,966	328	$24,675
Weirton-Steubenville, WV	310	$28,496	337	$24,825	272	$21,997
Cleveland-Elyria, OH	311	$28,498	335	$24,817	286	$22,528
Racine, WI	312	$28,575	342	$25,103	294	$23,004
Redding, CA	313	$28,639	272	$22,507	325	$24,406
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN	314	$28,664	300	$23,224	329	$24,684
Wilmington, NC	315	$28,667	285	$22,811	263	$21,681
Eugene, OR	316	$28,692	235	$21,766	307	$23,382
Salt Lake City, UT	317	$28,710	209	$21,406	289	$22,687
Chico, CA	318	$28,718	312	$23,644	334	$25,047
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI	319	$28,790	365	$27,308	342	$26,049
Manchester-Nashua, NH	320	$28,792	297	$23,178	306	$23,362
Grand Junction, CO	321	$28,830	301	$23,289	303	$23,348
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	322	$28,857	265	$22,365	327	$24,440
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	323	$28,980	243	$21,864	321	$24,162
Reno, NV	324	$29,001	271	$22,468	337	$25,189
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL	325	$29,100	264	$22,326	284	$22,460
Saginaw, MI	326	$29,198	359	$26,793	311	$23,542
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI	327	$29,311	230	$21,673	349	$27,385
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL	328	$29,479	273	$22,529	312	$23,654
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	329	$29,522	283	$22,802	269	$21,966
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	330	$29,557	323	$23,981	348	$27,094
Bay City, MI	331	$29,604	366	$27,442	331	$24,811
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	332	$29,637	304	$23,403	301	$23,235
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	333	$29,705	345	$25,465	313	$23,755
New Haven-Milford, CT	334	$29,731	299	$23,196	287	$22,599
Stockton-Lodi, CA	335	$29,776	319	$23,784	346	$26,429
Salinas, CA	336	$29,789	308	$23,529	362	$31,454
Monroe, MI	337	$29,815	360	$26,947	338	$25,198
Fairbanks, AK	338	$29,844	324	$24,034	347	$26,615
Providence-Warwick, RI	339	$29,850	343	$25,126	322	$24,203
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	340	$29,858	303	$23,370	344	$26,252
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA	341	$29,888	330	$24,327	298	$23,068
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	342	$29,917	327	$24,222	359	$30,181
Greeley, CO	343	$30,313	329	$24,272	345	$26,366
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA	344	$30,364	231	$21,689	341	$26,012
Colorado Springs, CO	345	$30,376	317	$23,708	340	$25,976
Raleigh, NC	346	$30,411	358	$26,732	336	$25,109
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI	347	$30,641	362	$27,148	335	$25,064
Portland-South Portland, ME	348	$30,698	309	$23,569	318	$24,063
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	349	$30,777	314	$23,649	308	$23,394
Ocean City, NJ	350	$30,948	340	$24,983	332	$24,880
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA	351	$30,988	333	$24,667	355	$29,515
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA	352	$31,005	332	$24,582	361	$30,441
Flint, MI	353	$31,176	370	$28,832	343	$26,063
Springfield, MA	354	$31,223	361	$27,083	333	$24,968
Madison, WI	355	$31,247	368	$27,703	352	$28,186
Fort Collins, CO	356	$31,281	350	$25,802	356	$29,560
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC	357	$32,121	367	$27,563	357	$29,633
Kingston, NY	358	$32,239	353	$26,355	350	$27,452
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA	359	$33,320	338	$24,896	364	$32,571
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	360	$33,334	355	$26,573	360	$30,303
Worcester, MA	361	$33,966	373	$29,370	358	$30,052
Urban Honolulu, HI	362	$34,170	306	$23,478	367	$33,646
Pittsfield, MA	363	$34,359	371	$29,029	354	$29,282
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY	364	$34,418	369	$28,096	365	$32,743
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT	365	$34,662	344	$25,324	353	$28,236
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	366	$34,921	348	$25,596	369	$34,138
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA	367	$35,229	346	$25,567	372	$35,117
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	368	$35,606	376	$32,082	363	$31,674
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	369	$35,687	352	$26,224	366	$33,005
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	370	$35,999	347	$25,571	374	$35,364
Santa Rosa, CA	371	$36,185	354	$26,481	373	$35,120
Boulder, CO	372	$36,623	372	$29,248	370	$34,331
Napa, CA	373	$37,291	357	$26,650	371	$34,646
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	374	$37,929	380	$34,684	377	$35,978
Trenton, NJ	375	$38,218	374	$31,806	368	$33,796
Ann Arbor, MI	376	$39,025	381	$37,791	379	$38,514
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA	377	$40,034	379	$32,729	378	$37,097
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	378	$40,991	375	$31,833	380	$39,907
Barnstable Town, MA	379	$41,127	378	$32,639	375	$35,923
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	380	$41,800	363	$27,227	376	$35,963
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	381	$43,948	377	$32,363	381	$40,455

About Anja Solum, CEPF

Anja Solum is a certified educator in personal finance and the Data Journalism Manager at MoneyGeek. For over six years, she has produced data analyses and studies for agency and in-house teams across multiple verticals.

Solum holds a bachelor's degree in communication arts from Florida International University. She's passionate about using data to tell compelling, informed stories that empower readers.

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sources

Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Consumer Price Index - September 2023." Accessed November 4, 2024.