15 US Towns That Offer Both Affordable Living and Strong Safety Records

Finding a place to call home that won’t drain your bank account while also keeping you safe has long seemed like an impossible dream for many Americans. However, a careful analysis of crime statistics and cost of living data reveals something encouraging: there are indeed communities across the country where cheap but safe places to live actually exist. These towns successfully blend low annual expenses with impressively low crime rates, offering genuine value for budget-conscious families and individuals seeking peace of mind.

GOBankingRates conducted an extensive study examining the nation’s safest communities to identify locations where residents could achieve both financial prudence and security. The research combined violent and property crime data from the FBI’s official records with comprehensive cost-of-living calculations. What emerged was a ranking of 15 standout towns—places where your monthly budget can stretch further while neighborhood safety remains a priority.

One striking finding stands out: Ohio dominates the list with seven communities making the top 15. This clustering suggests the state has successfully cultivated multiple regions that combine economic accessibility with strong community safety. Beyond Ohio, the remaining eight towns span across eight different states, showing that cheap but safe places to live can be found across diverse regions.

New Philadelphia, Ohio - A Budget-Friendly Small Town

This charming community of 17,563 residents demonstrates what’s possible when affordability meets security. You could purchase an average single-family home for around $186,258, with monthly mortgage payments hovering near $1,101. Annual living expenses total approximately $35,549—among the lowest on record. The neighborhood maintains a livability score of 76, supported by a violent crime rate of just 0.69 incidents per 1,000 residents and property crime incidents at 1.50 per 1,000.

New Ulm, Minnesota - Small-Town Charm With Exceptional Safety

This Minnesota gem hosts 14,066 people and boasts some of the strongest safety metrics in the entire study. With only 0.29 violent incidents per 1,000 residents, it ranks among the nation’s safest communities. The median home value sits at $222,693, requiring approximately $1,316 monthly in mortgage payments. Total annual living costs reach $36,361, making it one of the more affordable yet remarkably secure options available.

Parma Heights, Ohio - Suburban Affordability

Slightly larger at 20,616 residents, this Ohio suburb maintains affordable housing at $196,742 average value and $1,163 monthly payments. Annual expenses total $36,575 with a livability index of 71. The community records 0.39 violent incidents and 2.76 property crime incidents per 1,000 residents—solid numbers for a town this size.

San Elizario, Texas - The Budget Champion

This small Texas town of 10,123 people offers perhaps the lowest housing costs on the entire list. Homes average just $167,333, translating to $989 monthly mortgage payments. Annual living expenses of $36,738 combine with exceptional safety: only 0.10 violent incidents per 1,000 residents. Property crime stands at 1.08 per 1,000—making it one of the safest communities ranked.

Yorktown, Indiana - Affordable Indiana Living

With 11,617 residents, Yorktown provides median home values of $218,330 and $1,290 monthly payments. Total annual expenses run $37,332 with a livability score of 69. Crime metrics show 0.42 violent incidents and 5.10 property crime incidents per 1,000 residents.

Berea, Ohio - The Balanced Option

This Ohio community of 18,330 people offers a middle-ground approach: $220,573 median home values, $1,303 monthly payments, and $37,768 annual living costs. The livability score reaches 77, supported by 0.60 violent and 3.69 property crime incidents per 1,000 residents.

Mount Vernon, Ohio - Growing Community With Stability

This town of 16,802 maintains median homes at $225,575, requiring $1,333 monthly payments. Annual living expenses total $37,928 with a livability rating of 75. Community safety metrics show 0.42 violent incidents and 4.23 property crimes per 1,000 residents.

Columbus, Indiana - Larger Town, Same Value

This bigger community of 51,104 residents still manages to offer cheap but safe living. Homes average $261,995 with $1,548 monthly mortgage costs and $40,402 annual expenses. The livability score of 76 reflects strong safety: only 0.19 violent and 1.12 property crime incidents per 1,000.

Butler, Pennsylvania - Northeast Affordability

Butler’s 13,306 residents enjoy homes averaging $229,211 with $1,354 monthly payments and $40,446 annual living costs. The town maintains a livability index of 71 with 0.20 violent and 6.29 property crime incidents per 1,000 residents.

Trenton, Michigan - The Livability Leader

This Michigan town of 18,242 achieves the highest livability score on the list at 86. Homes average $231,232 with $1,366 monthly payments and $41,641 annual expenses. Safety metrics show 0.33 violent and 6.20 property crime incidents per 1,000 residents.

Hamilton, Ohio - Mid-Sized Hub With Affordability

The larger Ohio city of 63,124 residents still qualifies for the affordable category with homes at $279,890, monthly payments of $1,654, and $42,726 annual expenses. A livability score of 71 reflects 0.39 violent and 2.43 property crime incidents per 1,000 residents.

Orono, Maine - Northeast Gem

This Maine community of 10,699 offers northeast living with homes averaging $295,752, $1,748 monthly payments, and $44,036 annual costs. The livability score of 71 combines with impressive safety: 0.18 violent and 2.30 property crime incidents per 1,000 residents.

Brunswick, Ohio - Suburban Safety

Brunswick’s 35,284 residents benefit from homes valued at $300,042, monthly payments of $1,773, and $44,251 annual living expenses. The livability rating of 78 reflects strong community metrics with 0.48 violent and 4.67 property crime incidents per 1,000.

North Ridgeville, Ohio - Ohio’s Upper End

This Ohio suburb of 36,043 people reaches toward the higher end of annual expenses at $44,415, though this still represents affordable living by national standards. Homes average $313,398 with $1,852 monthly payments. The livability score of 75 shows 0.56 violent and 2.88 property crime incidents per 1,000 residents.

Edwardsville, Illinois - The Livability Champion

Rounding out the list, this Illinois town of 26,543 residents achieves the joint-highest livability score of 90. Despite higher home values at $302,677 and $1,789 monthly payments, annual expenses reach $45,323. Community safety stands strong with 0.30 violent and 5.79 property crime incidents per 1,000 residents.

What This Data Reveals About Cheap But Safe Places To Live

The comprehensive analysis, drawing on data current through early 2025, reveals that affordable and secure communities do exist throughout America. The concentration of safe, affordable towns in Ohio suggests regional factors—possibly including stable economies, effective local governance, and strong community investment—create conditions where both affordability and safety flourish simultaneously.

Data Methodology: This ranking analyzed the safest 150 American communities with populations exceeding 10,000, then sorted by lowest annual living expenses. Crime statistics originated from FBI quarterly reports, while cost-of-living figures incorporated data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Sperling’s BestPlaces, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Zillow’s Home Value Index (January 2025 data), Federal Reserve Economic Data, and AreaVibes. All information was current as of February 2025.