America's Most Safe and Affordable Places to Live: 15 Diverse Communities Ranked

Finding locations that combine low crime rates with reasonable living costs remains a significant challenge for many Americans. However, safe and affordable places to live do exist across the United States. Based on comprehensive 2025 data analysis from GOBankingRates, 15 communities emerged as exceptional models that successfully balance both security and affordability, making them ideal destinations for those prioritizing these two factors.

The research examined property and violent crime rates from FBI Quarterly Crime Statistics, combined with housing data from Zillow and living expense information from multiple federal sources. The findings reveal compelling patterns about where safe, economically viable communities can be found, with particularly interesting geographic clustering.

Ohio’s Dominance: Seven Safe and Affordable Communities

Ohio stands out dramatically in this analysis, with seven of the fifteen safe and affordable places to live located within the state. This concentration underscores Ohio’s positioning as a haven for those seeking both security and reasonable housing costs. From smaller towns to mid-sized cities, Ohio’s communities demonstrate consistent performance across crime metrics and cost-of-living indicators.

New Philadelphia leads the Ohio contingent with a total annual cost of living at $35,549, the lowest on the overall list. Its single-family homes average $186,258 in value, with monthly mortgage costs around $1,101. The violent crime rate stands at 0.69 per 1,000 residents, while property crime measures 1.50 per 1,000.

Parma Heights, with a population of 20,616, offers a compelling profile for mid-sized community seekers. Annual living expenses total $36,575, supported by moderate home values of $196,742 and monthly mortgage payments of $1,163. The community maintains a violent crime rate of 0.39 per 1,000 and property crime rate of 2.76 per 1,000.

Berea provides another strong Ohio option, blending a population of 18,330 with a livability score of 77. Annual costs reach $37,768, with homes valued at $220,573. Crime metrics remain favorable at 0.60 violent crimes and 3.69 property crimes per 1,000 residents.

Mount Vernon rounds out mid-tier Ohio selections with annual living costs of $37,928 and home values averaging $225,575. The town supports a population of 16,802 while maintaining safety metrics of 0.42 violent crimes and 4.23 property crimes per 1,000.

Hamilton, a larger urban center with 63,124 residents, demonstrates that safe and affordable places to live can exist even in more substantial metropolitan areas. Despite higher home values at $279,890, annual living costs remain reasonable at $42,726. The violent crime rate of 0.39 per 1,000 underscores municipal effectiveness in maintaining community security.

Brunswick represents another significant Ohio entry, supporting 35,284 residents with annual costs of $44,251. The community achieves a livability score of 78, the highest among Ohio representatives, with violent crime at 0.48 per 1,000 and property crime at 4.67 per 1,000.

North Ridgeville completes Ohio’s seven-city representation with 36,043 residents and annual living costs of $44,415. Home values average $313,398, and the community maintains a livability rating of 75 with crime rates of 0.56 violent and 2.88 property per 1,000 residents.

Regional Diversity: Safe and Affordable Communities Beyond Ohio

While Ohio dominates numerically, other regions contribute equally compelling examples of safe and affordable places to live. These communities demonstrate that the Ohio pattern reflects broader national trends rather than isolated circumstances.

New Ulm, Minnesota presents a compelling northern alternative with the lowest violent crime rate nationally at just 0.29 per 1,000 residents. Its population of 14,066 enjoys annual living costs of $36,361, with home values at $222,693. The livability score reaches 82, indicating strong community quality beyond mere crime statistics.

San Elizario, Texas offers exceptional affordability with annual costs of $36,738 and the lowest violent crime rate in the entire list at just 0.10 per 1,000 residents. This small community of 10,123 demonstrates that southwestern locations can achieve remarkable safety-affordability combinations, with home values averaging only $167,333.

Yorktown, Indiana provides a Midwest alternative with a population of 11,617 and annual living costs of $37,332. Though property crime reaches 5.10 per 1,000, violent crime remains minimal at 0.42 per 1,000, illustrating that safe and affordable places to live sometimes involve trade-offs between crime categories.

Columbus, Indiana showcases mid-sized urban viability with 51,104 residents and annual costs reaching $40,402. Despite higher home values at $261,995, the community maintains excellent safety metrics with violent crime at just 0.19 per 1,000—among the lowest nationally—and property crime at 1.12 per 1,000.

Butler, Pennsylvania represents northeastern safe and affordable options with annual living costs of $40,446 for a community of 13,306. Violent crime remains minimal at 0.20 per 1,000, though property crime measures 6.29 per 1,000.

Trenton, Michigan rounds out the Great Lakes region with the highest livability score in the entire ranking at 86. Supporting 18,242 residents with annual costs of $41,641, the community balances urban amenities with safety, recording violent crime at 0.33 per 1,000.

Orono, Maine represents northeastern alternatives with annual costs of $44,036 and a modest population of 10,699. The community achieves the lowest violent crime rate in its region at 0.18 per 1,000.

Edwardsville, Illinois closes the national ranking as the most expensive option at $45,323 annually, yet compensates with the highest livability score among Illinois’ entry at 90. The community of 26,543 maintains violent crime at just 0.30 per 1,000, exemplifying how larger populations and higher costs can still support genuinely safe and affordable places to live.

Understanding the Data: What Creates Safe and Affordable Communities

The analysis methodology combined multiple authoritative sources: FBI crime statistics, U.S. Census demographic data, Zillow housing valuations from January 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics expenditure surveys, and Federal Reserve economic indicators. This multi-source approach ensures that safe and affordable places to live reflect genuine conditions rather than isolated metrics.

The violent crime rates ranging from 0.10 to 0.69 per 1,000 residents—nearly all below 1.0—demonstrate that true safety can coexist with economic accessibility. Property crime rates show more variation, ranging from 1.08 to 6.29 per 1,000, suggesting that property-related offenses require different preventative approaches than violent crimes.

Home values provide context for affordability: the lowest valued homes at $167,333 in San Elizario contrast sharply with the highest at $313,398 in North Ridgeville, yet annual living cost differences remain relatively modest. This disparity illustrates that safe and affordable places to live depend on regional market contexts as much as individual property costs.

Selecting Your Safe and Affordable Location

Choosing among 15 safe and affordable places to live requires considering multiple factors beyond the headline rankings. Climate preferences, employment opportunities, cultural amenities, and family-oriented services should complement the quantitative metrics. Small communities under 15,000 residents offer intimate neighborhood experiences, while mid-sized cities between 35,000 and 65,000 provide more robust commercial and cultural infrastructure.

Regional considerations matter: Texas communities offer warm-weather advantages and lower property taxes, while northern alternatives like Minnesota and Maine feature distinct seasonal environments. Ohio’s repeated presence reflects cumulative advantages—moderate housing markets, established community services, and regional economic stability—that create environments where safe and affordable living consistently emerges.

Geographic relocation requires evaluating your specific priorities. If minimizing violent crime represents your paramount concern, options like San Elizario (0.10 per 1,000) and Orono (0.18 per 1,000) demonstrate exceptional achievement. If livability scores indicating overall community quality matter most, Edwardsville (90) and Trenton (86) lead the rankings.

Conclusion: Safe and Affordable Places to Live Are Achievable

The comprehensive 2025 GOBankingRates analysis demonstrates conclusively that safe and affordable places to live remain accessible across diverse American regions. Rather than requiring impossible compromises, these 15 communities show that security and economic viability can reinforce each other, creating neighborhoods where families and individuals genuinely thrive. Whether your priority emphasizes dramatic cost minimization or optimal livability, this ranking identifies genuine alternatives to expensive urban centers while maintaining the community safety that transforms housing into meaningful homes.