It’s no secret that buying a home is an extremely expensive endeavor. Simply looking for a new place to live takes an exhausting amount of time and could potentially cause you to miss work as you tour places on the market. Let’s hope you do find a place you adore too, because building a house from scratch can be even more daunting. The market has gotten so bad that even yogurt brand Icelandic Provisions sees the hopelessness of the situation: It just held a contest with Zillow to gift someone $10,000 toward a new home.
While the inflation rate in the country has decreased in the past few months, it was still well above 2 percent at publication time, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. That makes it more difficult for Americans to buy, well, anything, let alone a house. However, there’s a light (albeit a distant one) in the tunnel: The United States is a vast country, and there are a lot of towns where buying a home isn’t such an impossible task, relatively speaking. With help from our friends at Zillow, we’ve compiled a list of the 25 cheapest American cities to live in based on the Zillow Home Value Index, or ZHVI. (And they won’t even have to be tiny homes.)
Unsurprisingly, a lot of the towns are in the same states. If you’re tired of renting and ready to make one of the biggest purchases of your life, read on. One of these great (and did we mention cheap?) cities to live in could be closer to you than you realized.
25. Pine Bluff, Arkansas
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ZHVI: $97,359
Population: 40,244
Overall Cost of Living Score: 67.9
Located in Jefferson County in south-central Arkansas, Pine Bluff is the 10th most populous city in the state. It’s also home to the Arkansas Railroad Museum, the Delta Rivers Nature Center, and other beautiful parks.
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24. Centralia, Illinois
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ZHVI: $96,794
Population: 12,033
Overall Cost of Living Score: 73
This small town is in four different counties in Illinois. Though it has fewer than 15,000 people, it’s still the largest city in three of those counties. For the size, there are a good number of parks in the town, like Fairview Park and Laura Leake Park, as well as two lakes for fishing and boating.
23. Greenwood, Mississippi
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ZHVI: $96,411
Population: 14,037
Overall Cost of Living Score: 65.9
This eastern Mississippi town is the final resting place of American blues musician Robert Johnson, so you can bet you’ll get an ear full of the blues here. In its visitor guide, Greenwood claims to have “more history per mile than any other city in Mississippi” and be rife in civil rights history.
22. Raymondville, Texas
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ZHVI: $95,765
Population: 10,510
Overall Cost of Living Score: 67.9
This quaint Texas town is about as far south as you can get before entering sunny Mexico—they don’t call it the Gateway to the Rio Grande Valley for nothing. It’s about 50 miles north of family-friendly vacation spot South Padre Island and close to the historical Spanish Revival estate and bird sanctuary Quinta Mazatlan.
21. Borger, Texas
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ZHVI: $94,097
Population: 12,419
Overall Cost of Living Score: 70.3
East of Lake Meredith—a wonderful spot to hang out on the water—this Texan town has nature walks and bike trails perfect for those who wish to exercise in the beautiful outdoors.
20. Camden, Arkansas
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ZHVI: $93,896
Population: 10,369
Overall Cost of Living Score: 69.2
Situated on the bluffs overlooking the Ouachita River, Camden is a charming place to visit to experience the state’s natural beauty. Camden is known for its unique festivals, like the daffodil festival in the spring and annual barn sale, which is a large arts and crafts show.
19. Galesburg, Illinois
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ZHVI: $93,265
Population: 29,712
Overall Cost of Living Score: 69.8
This city’s historic downtown on Seminary Street is part of what makes it so charming. From independent boutiques to hidden gems of restaurants, Galesburg has a lot to offer for a small midwestern towns. Amtrak trains also runs through this town, making it relatively easy to get to downtown Chicago in around four hours.
18. Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
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ZHVI: $92,341
Population: 15,128
Overall Cost of Living Score: 73.2
A part of the Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids CSA (that’s combined statistical area), there’s a lot to do in close proximity of this town. Outdoorsy types will love this area as there are a number of outdoor trails and the Sylvan Heights Bird Park, a notable sanctuary for endangered birds, south of the city.
17. Vernon, Texas
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ZHVI: $90,373
Population: 10,045
Overall Cost of Living Score: 67.4
It may surprise you to hear this small town has two museums: One is a historical preservation site, and the other informs the visitor of the way of the cowboy—yeehaw!
16. Murray, Kentucky
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ZHVI: $87,916
Population: 17,311
Overall Cost of Living Score: 74.1
Home to Murray State University, this little college town offers some fun activities for its residents. Every year, it holds the Murray-Calloway County Fair, and there’s a serene arboretum at the university you can visit.
15. Lamesa, Texas
ZHVI: $86,979
Population: 8,751
Overall Cost of Living Score: 69.8
With more than 100 acres of public parks, most of what this little town has to offer is outdoor space. What it lacks in amenities it makes up for in charm, but if you run out of things to do and don’t feel like going to a nearby city, hit up the Dal Paso Museum (in a former hotel known as the nicest lodgings between Dallas and El Pas0, thus the name).
14. Blytheville, Arkansas
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ZHVI: $86,777
Population: 13,039
Overall Cost of Living Score: 67.4
Sprinkled around Blytheville are little blasts from the past that add to its charm. The historic Greyhound bus center and century-old Ritz Theatre are photo ops you won’t want to pass up.
13. Macomb, Illinois
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ZHVI: $86,204
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Population: 15,052
Overall Cost of Living Score: 68.6
At first glance, Macomb may seem like an average town in flyover country, but it does have some great things to offer—I would know, it’s my hometown! Western Illinois University is located there, and to the north of the county lies Spring Lake Park. While you can’t swim in the lake, there are numerous hiking trails and spots to camp. Plus, the same Amtrak train that goes through Galesburg to Chicago makes a stop in Macomb.
12. Pampa, Texas
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ZHVI: $84,996
Population: 16,474
Overall Cost of Living Score: 68.5
Though small, this town is not lacking when it comes to entertainment. From historical sites to the local music festival Pampafest, you can find plenty of things to do on its tourism website.
11. Bennettsville, South Carolina
ZHVI: $82,200
Population: 6,955
Overall Cost of Living Score: 69.7
Located in Marlboro County, this small city has worked hard to create a downtown that’s both welcoming and vibrant. The close-knit community was established in 1819, and it still offers historic touches and blocks of local shops to explore.
10. Danville, Illinois
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ZHVI: $82,160
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Population: 28,787
Overall Cost of Living Score: 70.6
There’s plenty to do in the small city of Danville. From multiple county museums and a gorgeous performing arts theater to outdoor adventures, you’ll always be able to find something to do.
9. Parsons, Kansas
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ZHVI: $81,353
Population: 9,479
Overall Cost of Living Score: 66.4
The historic downtown area of Parsons is award winning, so the area is bound to be charming. Though small, this town has worked hard to give its residents things to do and places to visit. The Neosho Lake Falls is a wonderful place to hike and fish.
8. Coffeyville, Kansas
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ZHVI: $79,922
Population: 8,847
Overall Cost of Living Score: 67.1
Situated on the Verdigris River, this Kansas town offers a quiet downtown and relaxing nature walks. It sits between Kansas City, Missouri, and Oklahoma City, meaning it’s a great spot to reside in if you want small-town living with easy access to metropolitan areas.
7. Kennett, Missouri
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ZHVI: $79,813
Population: 10,288
Overall Cost of Living Score: 70.5
This rural part of Missouri offers the classic small-town attractions that makes these areas so desirable. There’s a local farmer’s market, outdoor music venues, seasonal festivals, and a wide range of outdoor activities to enjoy.
6. Middlesboro, Kentucky
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ZHVI: $75,663
Population: 9,273
Overall Cost of Living Score: 67.2
The rolling hills of Appalachia make this community something special. Any nature lover would adore the boundless trails to explore and mountains to climb, specifically historic Cumberland Gap.
5. Forrest City, Arkansas
ZHVI: $75,005
Population: 12,972
Overall Cost of Living Score: 66.5
Close to the small town of Forrest City is Village Creek State Park in Wynne, Arkansas. This park offers almost 7,000 acres of land to explore. Once you’ve had your fill, you can make your way downtown and hit up the county museum.
4. Greenville, Mississippi
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ZHVI: $70,369
Population: 28,777
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Overall Cost of Living Score: 69.8
The ninth most populous city in the state, Greenville offers a wide variety of restaurants and beautiful outdoor areas. Lake Ferguson and the Cypress Preserve Trust are two of the waterfront spots you can explore in this community.
3. Selma, Alabama
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ZHVI: $70,158
Population: 17,625
Overall Cost of Living Score: 70.1
This historic city has a lot to offer in terms of learning more about civil rights history. There are museums, famous Walk of Freedom march locations, and plenty of parks to explore.
2. Clarksdale, Mississippi
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ZHVI: $49,995
Population: 14,410
Overall Cost of Living Score: 68.9
Located along the Sunflower River, this small town offers wonderful trails for hiking or biking and plenty of live music venues for lovers of the blues. It’s home to the Delta Blues Museum and has a lively downtown.
1. Helena, Arkansas
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ZHVI: $45,390
Population: 9,149
Overall Cost of Living Score: 65.9
The cheapest American city to live on our list is the small town of Helena, Arkansas. This village sits within the St. Francis National Forest along the Mississippi River, meaning it has plenty of parks and outdoor trails to explore. Love for the blues is strong in this city too. It’s home to multiple museums and the Delta Cultural Center.