{"id":159522,"date":"2025-09-15T23:22:03","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T23:22:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/159522\/"},"modified":"2025-09-15T23:22:03","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T23:22:03","slug":"ranked-10-most-affordable-us-states-and-10-least-affordable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/159522\/","title":{"rendered":"Ranked: 10 Most Affordable US States and 10 Least Affordable"},"content":{"rendered":"

2025-09-15T17:24:17Z<\/p>\n

Share<\/p>\n

Facebook
\n <\/p>\n

Email
\n <\/a> <\/p>\n

X<\/p>\n

LinkedIn<\/p>\n

Reddit<\/p>\n

Bluesky<\/p>\n

WhatsApp<\/p>\n

Copy link<\/p>\n

lighning bolt icon
\n An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.<\/p>\n

Impact Link<\/p>\n

Save
\n Saved<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Read in app<\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

This story is available exclusively to Business Insider
\n subscribers. Become an Insider<\/a>
\n and start reading now.
\n Have an account? Log in.<\/p>\n

Prices of groceries and housing are going up across the US.
\n US News & World Report ranked all US states based on their affordability.
\n It ranked Arkansas as the most affordable state in the US, and California as the least affordable.<\/p>\n

From groceries to housing, living is getting more expensive, but some states are feeling the effects of rising prices more than others.<\/p>\n

While states like Hawaii and California are seeing increases in housing costs<\/a>, others like Florida<\/a> are experiencing falling real-estate prices<\/a> thanks to rising inventory and insurance costs.<\/p>\n

US News & World Report<\/a> recently ranked all 50 US states by affordability, using US Bureau of Economic Analysis data to determine each state’s housing affordability<\/a> and cost of living<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The list is just one part of US News & World Report’s comparison of US states, which it ranks by categories including opportunity, education, <\/a>healthcare<\/a>, and fiscal stability, among others. These categories ultimately contribute to its best states overall<\/a> ranking. For the full report and rankings, see here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here are the 10 most affordable states in the US, followed by the 10 least affordable, per US News & World Report.<\/p>\n

The below list also indicates where each state landed on the report’s best states overall ranking, and includes the median income in each state, using the most recent data from the US Census Bureau<\/a>‘s American Community Survey, which estimated median incomes in 2024.<\/p>\n

1. Arkansas<\/p>\n

\"Little<\/p>\n

Arkansas was ranked the most affordable US state.<\/p>\n

Sean Pavone\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 1<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 3<\/p>\n

Median household income: $62,106<\/p>\n

In US News & World Report’s ranking of best states overall \u2014\u00a0of which affordability is one consideration \u2014 Arkansas comes 44th.<\/p>\n

2. Mississippi<\/p>\n

\"Jackson,<\/p>\n

Mississippi was ranked as the second-most affordable state in the US.<\/p>\n

Sean Pavone\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 2<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 1<\/p>\n

Median household income: $59,127<\/p>\n

In the best states overall ranking, Mississippi fares less well, ranking 48th.<\/p>\n

3. West Virginia<\/p>\n

\"charleston,<\/p>\n

West Virginia was ranked as the third-most affordable US state.<\/p>\n

Mihai_Andritoiu\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 8<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 2<\/p>\n

Median household income: $60,798<\/p>\n

West Virginia was ranked 46th in the best states overall ranking.<\/p>\n

4. South Dakota<\/p>\n

\"Aerial<\/p>\n

South Dakota took fourth place for the most affordable US states.<\/p>\n

Jacob Boomsma\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 3<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 6<\/p>\n

Median household income: $76,881<\/p>\n

South Dakota came 8th in the overall best states ranking.<\/p>\n

5. Oklahoma<\/p>\n

\"Oklahoma<\/p>\n

Oklahoma was ranked fifth on the most affordable states list.<\/p>\n

Sean Pavone\/Getty Images\/iStockphoto<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 4<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 7<\/p>\n

Median household income: $66,148<\/p>\n

The report ranked Oklahoma the 42nd best state overall.<\/p>\n

6. Louisiana<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

Louisiana took the sixth spot for the most affordable state.<\/p>\n

Jacob Boomsma\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 5<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 8<\/p>\n

Median household income: $60,986<\/p>\n

The state was ranked last on the best states overall list.<\/p>\n

7. Iowa<\/p>\n

\"Aerial<\/p>\n

Iowa was ranked as the seventh-most affordable state.<\/p>\n

Jacob Boomsma\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 7<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 9<\/p>\n

Median household income: $75,501<\/p>\n

Iowa is the 14th best state overall, per US News & World Report.<\/p>\n

8. Alabama<\/p>\n

\"Birmingham,<\/p>\n

Alabama was the eighth-most affordable state in the ranking.<\/p>\n

Sean Pavone\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 10<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 4<\/p>\n

Median household income: $66,659<\/p>\n

However, Alabama comes 45th in the best states overall ranking.<\/p>\n

9. North Dakota<\/p>\n

\"Fargo,<\/p>\n

North Dakota took ninth place for the most affordable state ranking.<\/p>\n

Jacob Boomsma\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 6<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 11<\/p>\n

Median household income: $77,871<\/p>\n

Oregon is the 12th best state overall, when considering all metrics, per the report.<\/p>\n

10. Kentucky<\/p>\n

\"Colorful<\/p>\n

Kentucky was ranked as the 10th-most affordable US state.<\/p>\n

ChrisBoswell\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 14<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 5<\/p>\n

Median household income: $64,526<\/p>\n

Kentucky is the 39th best state overall.<\/p>\n

41. Maryland<\/p>\n

\"baltimore<\/p>\n

Maryland was ranked as the 10th-least affordable US state.<\/p>\n

Dee Liu\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 42<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 42<\/p>\n

Median household income: $102,905<\/p>\n

Maryland was named the 20th best state in the report’s overall rankings.<\/p>\n

42. New Hampshire<\/p>\n

\"manchester<\/p>\n

New Hampshire is the ninth-least affordable state in the US.<\/p>\n

NayaDadara\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 44<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 40<\/p>\n

Median household income: $99,782<\/p>\n

The state was also ranked as the second-best state overall by US News & World Report.<\/p>\n

43. Colorado<\/p>\n

\"Denver<\/p>\n

Colorado was ranked as the eighth least affordable state in the US.<\/p>\n

Aerial_Views\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 37<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 48<\/p>\n

Median household income: $97,113<\/p>\n

Colorado was named the 11th best state overall by the report.<\/p>\n

44. Florida<\/p>\n

\"Miami<\/p>\n

Florida was ranked the seventh-least affordable US state.<\/p>\n

Jeffrey Greenberg\/Universal Images Group via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 40<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 44<\/p>\n

Median household income: $77,735<\/p>\n

Florida ranked 6th best state overall when considering affordability and other factors.<\/p>\n

45. New York<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

New York was ranked as the sixth-least affordable state in the US.<\/p>\n

Evgeny Karandaev\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 45<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 43<\/p>\n

Median household income: $85,820<\/p>\n

New York was named the 22nd best state overall.<\/p>\n

46. Washington<\/p>\n

\"Seattle,<\/p>\n

Washington is the fifth-least affordable state in the US.<\/p>\n

Sean Pavone\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 47<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 45<\/p>\n

Median household income: $99,389<\/p>\n

Washington came 10th in the best states overall ranking.<\/p>\n

47. Massachusetts<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

Massachusetts fell in fourth place for the least affordable US states.<\/p>\n

Cavan Images\/Getty Images\/Cavan Images RF<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 46<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 47<\/p>\n

Median household income: $104,828<\/p>\n

US News & World Report named Massachusetts the 9th best state in its overall ranking.<\/p>\n

48. Hawaii<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

Hawaii is the third-least affordable US state.<\/p>\n

James Kirkikis\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 48<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 46<\/p>\n

Median household income: $100,745<\/p>\n

The state ranked 28th in the overall ranking.<\/p>\n

49. New Jersey<\/p>\n

\"Aerial<\/p>\n

New Jersey was ranked the second-least affordable state in the US.<\/p>\n

FotosForTheFuture\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 49<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 49<\/p>\n

Median household income: $104,294<\/p>\n

New Jersey came 19th in US News & World Report’s best states overall ranking.<\/p>\n

50. California<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

California was ranked as the least affordable out of all US states.<\/p>\n

Michael Lee\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Cost of living ranking: 50<\/p>\n

Housing affordability ranking: 50<\/p>\n

Median household income: $100,149<\/p>\n

In the best states overall ranking, California is ranked No. 37.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"2025-09-15T17:24:17Z Share Facebook Email X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky WhatsApp Copy link lighning bolt icon An icon in the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":159523,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[12832,3275,28,45832,101,526,97167,97168,253,97166,85236,2849,8385,13109,25,71712,97165],"class_list":["post-159522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-economy","tag-affordability","tag-affordable","tag-business","tag-category","tag-economy","tag-education","tag-full-report","tag-good-state-overall-ranking","tag-healthcare","tag-housing-cost","tag-insurance-cost","tag-list","tag-other","tag-state","tag-us","tag-us-bureau","tag-world-report"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=159522"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159522\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/159523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=159522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=159522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=159522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}