50 Cities Where It’s Getting Easier for Families To Make Ends Meet
Making ends meet as a family can be a constant struggle, especially with the cost of living on the rise across the U.S. However, there are some cities where families can balance their budgets without going into debt.
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A recent GOBankingRates study looked at household income data, cost of living and other factors to determine the 50 cities where families find it easier to live within their means.
The study analyzed changes in mean household income over the past few years, the percentage of households earning $200,000 or more. Cost of living data for housing, food, transportation and healthcare expenses were also factored in.
The data suggests that there are still cities where families can secure a comfortable, middle-class lifestyle. It may require leaving behind the most expensive metro areas, but the cities on this list represent places where families are keeping their financial stability.
McLean, Virginia
2019 mean household income: $296,594
2022 mean household income: $364,093
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,123.02
Average monthly rent: $2,542.96
Income needed: $135,983.43
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Los Gatos, California
2019 mean household income: $217,966
2022 mean household income: $305,653
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,390.07
Average monthly rent: $3,413.77
Income needed: $163,292.16
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Cupertino, California
2019 mean household income: $206,009
2022 mean household income: $283,063
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,300.65
Average monthly rent: $3,683.50
Income needed: $167,619.55
Bainbridge Island, Washington
2019 mean household income: $144,868
2022 mean household income: $214,501
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,853.02
Average monthly rent: $3,082.67
Income needed: $142,456.53
Los Altos, California
2019 mean household income: $326,456
2022 mean household income: $400,817
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,306.51
Average monthly rent: $6,031.25
Income needed: $224,106.16
Issaquah, Washington
2019 mean household income: $137,332
2022 mean household income: $196,431
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,934.53
Average monthly rent: $2,592.65
Income needed: $132,652.34
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Menlo Park, California
2019 mean household income: $241,222
2022 mean household income: $316,584
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,318.87
Average monthly rent: $3,596.39
Income needed: $165,966.37
Palo Alto, California
2019 mean household income: $232,529
2022 mean household income: $301,226
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,286.90
Average monthly rent: $3,621.81
Income needed: $165,809.17
Saratoga, California
2019 mean household income: $257,441
2022 mean household income: $329,142
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,369.20
Average monthly rent: $4,930.00
Income needed: $199,180.69
Santa Clara, California
2019 mean household income: $150,572
2022 mean household income: $206,379
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,207.38
Average monthly rent: $3,132.46
Income needed: $152,156.10
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Lafayette, California
2019 mean household income: $250,550
2022 mean household income: $312,233
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,243.51
Average monthly rent: $3,416.22
Income needed: $159,833.60
Pictured: Walnut Creek, CA
Mercer Island, Washington
2019 mean household income: $224,619
2022 mean household income: $290,655
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,927.67
Average monthly rent: $2,461.76
Income needed: $129,346.30
Sammamish, Washington
2019 mean household income: $210,573
2022 mean household income: $261,753
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,008.66
Average monthly rent: $3,094.55
Income needed: $146,476.97
Needham, Massachusetts
2019 mean household income: $223,894
2022 mean household income: $267,951
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,099.55
Average monthly rent: $3,294.42
Income needed: $153,455.14
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Dublin, California
2019 mean household income: $181,650
2022 mean household income: $228,282
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,263.12
Average monthly rent: $2,995.61
Income needed: $150,209.61
Westfield, New Jersey
2019 mean household income: $235,067
2022 mean household income: $281,738
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,272.70
Average monthly rent: $2,576.67
Income needed: $140,384.77
San Carlos, California
2019 mean household income: $239,376
2022 mean household income: $298,397
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,389.81
Average monthly rent: $3,656.77
Income needed: $169,118.09
Belmont, Massachusetts
2019 mean household income: $178,083
2022 mean household income: $227,993
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,957.33
Average monthly rent: $3,085.42
Income needed: $145,025.97
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Naples, Florida
2019 mean household income: $217,838
2022 mean household income: $277,872
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,727.05
Average monthly rent: $3,059.51
Income needed: $138,877.33
Lexington, Massachusetts
2019 mean household income: $231,819
2022 mean household income: $281,187
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,979.45
Average monthly rent: $3,648.33
Income needed: $159,066.79
Mountain View, California
2019 mean household income: $189,559
2022 mean household income: $239,238
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,234.03
Average monthly rent: $3,639.08
Income needed: $164,954.61
Bellevue, Washington
2019 mean household income: $162,434
2022 mean household income: $208,947
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,072.22
Average monthly rent: $2,500.21
Income needed: $133,738.44
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Redmond, Washington
2019 mean household income: $158,114
2022 mean household income: $198,375
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,860.68
Average monthly rent: $2,363.57
Income needed: $125,382.00
Fremont, California
2019 mean household income: $160,528
2022 mean household income: $203,058
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,168.55
Average monthly rent: $2,943.07
Income needed: $146,678.98
Sunnyvale, California
2019 mean household income: $179,798
2022 mean household income: $231,726
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,225.62
Average monthly rent: $3,233.19
Income needed: $155,011.57
Princeton, New Jersey
2019 mean household income: $234,375
2022 mean household income: $269,420
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,936.44
Average monthly rent: $2,864.39
Income needed: $139,219.84
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Summit, New Jersey
2019 mean household income: $255,160
2022 mean household income: $291,509
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,200.37
Average monthly rent: $3,055.56
Income needed: $150,142.19
Birmingham, Michigan
2019 mean household income: $201,821
2022 mean household income: $234,600
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,744.72
Average monthly rent: $2,601.61
Income needed: $128,311.85
Upper Arlington, Ohio
2019 mean household income: $178,324
2022 mean household income: $202,933
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,602.47
Average monthly rent: $1,921.67
Income needed: $108,579.21
Northbrook, Illinois
2019 mean household income: $174,808
2022 mean household income: $212,149
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,936.00
Average monthly rent: $2,801.39
Income needed: $137,697.52
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Milpitas, California
2019 mean household income: $154,559
2022 mean household income: $195,424
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,294.21
Average monthly rent: $3,055.82
Income needed: $152,400.79
Belmont, California
2019 mean household income: $201,232
2022 mean household income: $238,865
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,398.61
Average monthly rent: $2,772.18
Income needed: $148,098.84
Redwood City, California
2019 mean household income: $163,498
2022 mean household income: $211,981
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,333.39
Average monthly rent: $3,364.48
Income needed: $160,748.89
Ridgewood, New Jersey
2019 mean household income: $247,369
2022 mean household income: $277,428
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,332.48
Average monthly rent: $2,768.75
Income needed: $146,429.47
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Bethesda, Maryland
2019 mean household income: $237,066
2022 mean household income: $281,586
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,246.15
Average monthly rent: $2,784.65
Income needed: $144,739.25
Danville, California
2019 mean household income: $214,627
2022 mean household income: $264,134
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,232.67
Average monthly rent: $4,202.81
Income needed: $178,451.53
Newton, Massachusetts
2019 mean household income: $207,563
2022 mean household income: $251,210
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,553.86
Average monthly rent: $3,188.54
Income needed: $161,817.63
Pleasanton, California
2019 mean household income: $192,532
2022 mean household income: $230,936
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,207.32
Average monthly rent: $2,933.05
Income needed: $147,368.90
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Campbell, California
2019 mean household income: $157,472
2022 mean household income: $193,966
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,315.52
Average monthly rent: $3,114.47
Income needed: $154,319.70
Pictured: Aerial view of nearby San Jose
Elmhurst, Illinois
2019 mean household income: $163,347
2022 mean household income: $195,697
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,904.17
Average monthly rent: $2,634.09
Income needed: $132,918.25
Pictured: Aerial view of nearby Chicago
Prosper, Texas
2019 mean household income: $178,784
2022 mean household income: $215,851
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,769.54
Average monthly rent: $2,001.79
Income needed: $114,511.98
Pictured: Frisco, TX
Brookline, Massachusetts
2019 mean household income: $171,664
2022 mean household income: $211,322
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,143.12
Average monthly rent: $4,178.82
Income needed: $175,726.61
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Foster City, California
2019 mean household income: $185,716
2022 mean household income: $234,829
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,411.55
Average monthly rent: $3,381.18
Income needed: $163,025.73
Pictured: Aerial view of nearby Fremont, CA
San Ramon, California
2019 mean household income: $186,911
2022 mean household income: $224,236
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,286.05
Average monthly rent: $2,943.00
Income needed: $149,497.16
Burlingame, California
2019 mean household income: $183,137
2022 mean household income: $224,228
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $3,393.53
Average monthly rent: $2,899.72
Income needed: $151,037.82
Lake Oswego, Oregon
2019 mean household income: $161,177
2022 mean household income: $195,728
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,988.24
Average monthly rent: $2,090.50
Income needed: $121,889.73
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Keller, Texas
2019 mean household income: $176,640
2022 mean household income: $204,680
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,914.11
Average monthly rent: $1,839.82
Income needed: $114,094.34
Encinitas, California
2019 mean household income: $163,894
2022 mean household income: $198,797
Monthly non-rent expenditures: $2,993.92
Average monthly rent: $4,030.81
Income needed: $168,593.58
Lakeway, Texas
Edina, Minnesota
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 50 Cities Where It’s Getting Easier for Families To Make Ends Meet
