USA CITIES

Finding an affordable place to live in the United States is no longer just about finding the cheapest apartment. For people considering a move, the more important question is whether a city offers a reasonable combination of rent, wages, employment opportunities and housing availability. In expensive markets such as San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Seattle, housing can consume a large share of household income. But several Midwestern and Southern cities still offer significantly lower rents while maintaining established employment centers. For this guide, we looked at five cities that combine relatively affordable one-bedroom rents with established job markets: Wichita, Kansas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Omaha, Nebraska; and Huntsville, Alabama. The cities are not ranked simply from cheapest to most expensive. Instead, each city is evaluated based on its current rent level, wage environment, major employers and economic strengths.