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Ranking
Best Places to Buy a House Research Shortlist
A buyer-oriented shortlist using ACS owner-occupied home value where available, affordability labels, population momentum, and city scale while mortgage, property-tax, insurance, and live listing layers remain queued. Rankings are transparent research aids. Verify rent, wages, school programs, crime, commute, taxes, and neighborhood details before making a relocation decision.
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| City | Catalog | Grad fit | Median rent | Median income | 2025 population | City unemployment | Growth | Jobs | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny, Iowa | Iowa coverage | 85/100 | $1,319 | $108,198 | 77,833 | 1.9% | +14.29% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Lakeville, Minnesota | Minnesota coverage | 81/100 | $1,806 | $139,041 | 79,270 | 2.0% | +14.06% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| South Jordan, Utah | Utah coverage | 84/100 | $1,991 | $134,047 | 87,614 | 2.4% | +13.07% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Elizabethtown, Kentucky | Kentucky coverage | 75/100 | $909 | $60,760 | 35,448 | 5.2% | +12.93% | cautious | rent-friendly |
| Middletown, Delaware | Delaware coverage | 77/100 | $1,583 | $112,831 | 25,798 | 8.0% | +11.23% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Benton, Arkansas | Arkansas coverage | 78/100 | $1,072 | $72,876 | 38,898 | 3.4% | +11.05% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Sioux Falls, South Dakota | State starter | 88/100 | $1,035 | $75,970 | 213,748 | 2.5% | +10.90% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Rogers, Arkansas | Arkansas coverage | 79/100 | $1,270 | $86,728 | 76,956 | 2.5% | +10.47% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Idaho Falls, Idaho | Idaho coverage | 82/100 | $1,075 | $73,110 | 71,785 | 4.2% | +9.42% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Noblesville, Indiana | Indiana coverage | 82/100 | $1,389 | $104,047 | 76,111 | 2.9% | +8.89% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Brookings, South Dakota | South Dakota coverage | 85/100 | $889 | $63,493 | 25,355 | 4.5% | +8.45% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Fargo, North Dakota | State starter | 83/100 | $946 | $66,998 | 136,275 | 3.8% | +8.20% | strong | rent-friendly |
| West Des Moines, Iowa | Iowa coverage | 84/100 | $1,237 | $86,594 | 74,224 | 2.4% | +8.00% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Kenai, Alaska | Alaska coverage | 75/100 | $1,138 | $87,083 | 7,924 | 7.4% | +6.76% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Sheridan, Wyoming | Wyoming coverage | 79/100 | $936 | $62,867 | 20,015 | 2.9% | +6.71% | strong | rent-friendly |
| West Fargo, North Dakota | North Dakota coverage | 82/100 | $1,111 | $90,665 | 41,175 | 1.1% | +6.58% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Edmond, Oklahoma | Oklahoma coverage | 77/100 | $1,344 | $103,183 | 100,479 | 3.3% | +6.41% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Lee's Summit, Missouri | Missouri coverage | 77/100 | $1,422 | $102,531 | 107,514 | 3.8% | +6.32% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Olathe, Kansas | Kansas coverage | 78/100 | $1,314 | $114,009 | 150,025 | 2.7% | +6.18% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Carmel, Indiana | Indiana coverage | 79/100 | $1,712 | $141,505 | 105,634 | 2.7% | +5.89% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Bismarck, North Dakota | North Dakota coverage | 81/100 | $999 | $78,387 | 77,963 | 2.5% | +5.89% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Fishers, Indiana | Indiana coverage | 78/100 | $1,611 | $130,203 | 104,812 | 2.8% | +5.80% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Lenexa, Kansas | Kansas coverage | 78/100 | $1,454 | $103,239 | 60,506 | 2.8% | +5.39% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| O'Fallon, Missouri | Missouri coverage | 76/100 | $1,443 | $110,443 | 96,101 | 2.7% | +5.16% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Blue Springs, Missouri | Missouri coverage | 74/100 | $1,277 | $88,920 | 61,632 | 3.5% | +5.10% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Cary, North Carolina | North Carolina coverage | 77/100 | $1,738 | $134,905 | 183,582 | 3.5% | +5.03% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Columbus, Nebraska | Nebraska coverage | 73/100 | $892 | $64,626 | 25,248 | 2.4% | +5.02% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Bethel, Alaska | Alaska coverage | 70/100 | $1,678 | $117,255 | 6,626 | 8.3% | +4.78% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Watertown, South Dakota | South Dakota coverage | 77/100 | $942 | $69,600 | 23,736 | 1.8% | +4.78% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Saco, Maine | Maine coverage | 76/100 | $1,249 | $92,241 | 21,159 | 2.1% | +3.82% | strong | rent-friendly |