MapsToItCity Data

199U.S. cities mapped

Cheapest and most expensive U.S. cities

Ranked by MapsToIt housing cost index (100 ≈ U.S. average), derived from Census ACS median home value and median gross rent. Lower scores mean more affordable housing relative to the national baseline — not a full BLS consumer price basket.

10 cheapest cities by housing cost index

These catalog cities post the lowest blended ACS home + rent indices in the current MapsToIt release. Use the list below if you are scanning for affordable entry points; open any profile for income, commute, climate, and safety context.

  1. 1. Cleveland, OHHousing index 49 · homes ~$94,100 · 367,523 people
  2. 2. Toledo, OHHousing index 50 · homes ~$107,000 · 268,461 people
  3. 3. Detroit, MIHousing index 51 · homes ~$76,800 · 636,644 people
  4. 4. Akron, OHHousing index 53 · homes ~$111,200 · 189,526 people
  5. 5. Rockford, ILHousing index 55 · homes ~$120,900 · 147,649 people
  6. 6. Evansville, INHousing index 56 · homes ~$129,100 · 116,441 people
  7. 7. Jackson, MSHousing index 56 · homes ~$108,200 · 149,827 people
  8. 8. Rochester, NYHousing index 58 · homes ~$120,600 · 209,720 people
  9. 9. Peoria, ILHousing index 60 · homes ~$149,500 · 112,126 people
  10. 10. Springfield, MOHousing index 61 · homes ~$165,200 · 169,432 people

10 most expensive cities by housing cost index

At the other end of the catalog, these places carry the highest ACS-derived housing cost indices. High scores usually reflect elevated home values and rents versus national medians — dig into each profile before assuming “expensive” equals poor relocator fit.

  1. 1. Sunnyvale, CAHousing index 413 · homes ~$1,816,600 · 153,455 people
  2. 2. Santa Clara, CAHousing index 363 · homes ~$1,527,900 · 129,239 people
  3. 3. Fremont, CAHousing index 320 · homes ~$1,289,400 · 228,518 people
  4. 4. San Francisco, CAHousing index 317 · homes ~$1,380,500 · 836,321 people
  5. 5. San Jose, CAHousing index 293 · homes ~$1,187,800 · 990,054 people
  6. 6. Bellevue, WAHousing index 291 · homes ~$1,203,100 · 151,199 people
  7. 7. Irvine, CAHousing index 291 · homes ~$1,115,400 · 308,160 people
  8. 8. Huntington Beach, CAHousing index 263 · homes ~$1,047,300 · 196,010 people
  9. 9. Pasadena, CAHousing index 254 · homes ~$1,045,000 · 136,462 people
  10. 10. Torrance, CAHousing index 253 · homes ~$1,036,600 · 143,499 people

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year median home value and median gross rent; MapsToIt housing cost index (100 = U.S. average). See methodology. Also browse the full city index, cost vs safety scatter, or compare cities.