10 Easiest Cities to Move to in America

Published on January 19, 2017 at 8:24 am by Amber Hewitt in Lists

50 equally beautiful states, but have you ever wondered which of them has the 10 easiest cities to move to in America?

The United States of America has long been known to be the home of the most powerful nation in the world. Their states and cities offer great privileges including quality healthcare, high annual household income, and an overall great quality of life. Every state in the US has its own pros and cons, which is why it might be hard to decide where to move.

Why do people tend to move to the city anyway? According to Time, housing numbers in America showed how a major chunk of their population is now abandoning the rural areas for the busy cities. It is quite an expected change after the Industrial Revolution when people chose the countryside as their home because of the peace and quiet. Now that more and more opportunities arise in the cities, it is no surprise that people from all walks of life would want to move there to live and get a job.

Moving from city to city has been a trend for quite awhile now — especially with millennials who seem to always be on the move to chase their dreams and achieve their goals. The current turn of the tides in American cities seem to favor people who move there–lower housing median prices, shorter walks to work, more peaceful surroundings. City life today does not always mean populated streets, polluted environment, high taxes, and high prices. There are some with great opportunities, peace, and order working together.

In this list, we compiled the 10 easiest cities to move to in America. We used four points in ranking them: the Average Home Price for each city, and three other points with Sperling’s Best Places as the source — Unemployment Rate to know how easy it is to get a job there, Expected Job Growth in the next ten years, and the Cost of Living Index.

People usually look for qualities they missed from where they have been before, like a lower cost of living, lower rent rates, better health care, better security, and a better neighborhood. A city will be easy to move to when you are assured that the quality of life you will have is really good. For starters, just because a city has a low cost of the living index doesn’t mean that it has low-quality healthcare, overpopulated neighborhoods, and no jobs available. The cities that made it to this list are cities with a cost of living that is better than most, and those that offer a great quality of life without requiring its residents to spend so much. Although we all have different perspectives on how to tell if a city is easy to move in to, the criteria used in this list seem to be the common values we all look for in the place we will live in.

It would also be an advantage to live in a city that does not require you to have a car. For more information on that, you can read about the 10 Easiest Cities to Live Without a Car.

Now, before moving to a city, it is wise to research about those facts. It is believed that a city is easiest to move in to when the city has a low unemployment rate, meaning more jobs are in store for newcomers, the expected job growth is higher than the average (national average is 37.98 percent), average home prices are low, and the cost of living is low.

Now, let’s see which cities made it to our list of easiest cities to move to in America.

10. Wichita, Kansas

Average Home Price: $106,400

Unemployment Rate: 5.20%

Expected Job Growth: 36.67%

Cost of Living: 15.40% lower than national average

As this year’s ninth best US city to live, Wichita, the next city on the list of easiest cities to move to in America, lives up to its great reputation by a low cost of living and low home prices. The unemployment rate is at 5.20 percent, which means it is relatively easier to get a job in this city as compared to other cities. Its amenities, colleges, and job opportunities clearly make it one of the easiest cities to move in the US.

9. Scranton, Pennsylvania

Average Home Price: $104,842

Unemployment Rate: 6.30%

Expected Job Growth: 35.21%

Cost of Living: 20.20% lower than national average

With close-knit neighborhoods despite being the sixth largest city in Pennsylvania, Scranton allows its residents to live affordably without sacrificing the quality of life. It has many major corporations providing plenty of jobs, which explains their low unemployment rate and high expected job growth. With its many amenities and attractions, the low cost of living in the city is a great deal on its own. Who wouldn’t want to move to one of the easiest cities to move to in America such as Scranton?

8. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Average Home Price: $94,436

Unemployment Rate: 7.90%

Expected Job Growth: 33.59%

Cost of Living: 24.60% lower than national average

Wilkes-Barre is located around the Scranton area, which is near skiing resorts and other recreational parks. The average home price in the city is just $94,436, so you do not have to worry about breaking your budget to pay for a mortgage. With a cost of living that is 24.60 percent below average and a decent expected job growth rate, what else are you waiting for before making that move?

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7. Cleveland, Ohio

Average Home Price: $73,073

Unemployment Rate: 7.20%

Expected Job Growth: 33.30%

Cost of Living: 21.20% lower than national average

Dubbed as one of the state’s most culturally diverse city, Cleveland is home to many great amenities you can find in almost every corner. With many entertainment options and a reasonable unemployment rate, moving to Cleveland looks easy. Cost of living is way below the national average, and you can own your home with just $73,073. Huntington Beach is just around the corner, too. Let’s see what’s next on our list of easiest cities to move to in America.

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6. Utica, New York

Average Home Price: $92,891

Unemployment Rate: 5.70%

Expected Job Growth: 35.17%

Cost of Living: 15.30% lower than national average

Moving to New York would probably mean you have to spend so much in a day, but Utica sure is more affordable than most parts of New York. And that’s why it’s on our list of easiest cities to move to in America. You can buy a house of your own below $100,000, and get a job quite easier than other cities since their current unemployment rate is just at 5.70 percent. Cost of living stays below than the national average, and that is quite a steal since there are also plenty of amenities in the area. Utica is close to the Union Station, as well as art and cultural sites.

5. Jamestown, New York

Average Home Price: $88,891

Unemployment Rate: 6%

Expected Job Growth: 38.24%

Cost of Living: 21.80% lower than national average

With an average home price of $88,891 despite being located in New York, moving to Jamestown, one of the easiest cities to move to in America, looks both easy and very promising. Expected job growth is of course very expected, indeed, since it is a city inside America’s busiest state. The cost of living is among the lowest in New York, and there are several amenities in the area. What makes the city even easier to move in to is the average commute time, which is 15 minutes. You get a job easily, get a house for a low price, and live affordably–what’s not to like?

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4. Lansing, Michigan

Average Home Price: $85,000

Unemployment Rate: 6%

Expected Job Growth: 38.24%

Cost of Living: 21.80% lower than national average

With a family or solo, Lansing is a great place to move in for good. They have a rather low cost of living, so low when you think of the amenities they offer. Their neighborhood is generally diverse, partly because they have MSU in the area. Apart from education, employment goes well in Lansing, too. Low unemployment rate and high expected job growth, plus an affordable home price, moving to a city has never looked this easy.

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3. Fort Wayne, Indiana

Average Home Price: $99,900

Unemployment Rate: 4.60%

Expected Job Growth: 41.41%

Cost of Living: 18.80% lower than national average

The low cost of living and average home prices in Fort Wayne draws people’s attention to moving there for good. Fort Wayne offers a very diverse real estate market, from condominiums to two-story apartment buildings. There are also quite a lot of jobs available, which is evident in the low unemployment rate and a very high expected job growth. Sales tax in Fort Wayne is at only 7 percent, so you know you’re in for a good city, truly one of the 10 easiest cities to move to in America.

10 Easiest Cities to Move in to America

2. Topeka, Kansas

Average Home Price: $95,600

Unemployment Rate: 4.60%

Expected Job Growth: 35.61%

Cost of Living: 19.10% lower than national average

What drives people to Topeka is its affordability. There are also many big corporations offering jobs to residents, the biggest one is the government since it is Kansas’ capital. The average home price is low at $95,660, given the fact that the city provides tons of amenities to locals. They also have great schools and a good healthcare system as compared to neighboring cities.

1. Dayton, Ohio

Average Home Price: $69,800

Unemployment Rate: 6%

Expected Job Growth: 36.68%

Cost of Living: 25.10 % lower than national average

Dayton’s average home price is the lowest in many cities in the USA. With an unemployment rate of 6 percent but a high rate of expected job growth, living in Dayton looks promising, and moving there looks easy as well. They also have a low cost of living, and many schools are around the area, too. What’s noteworthy about the place is that the average age of residents is at 10-24. Needless to say, Dayton is an easy city to move into, whether you’re going solo or with a family to raise.

While most cities in America have a high cost of living and low median household income, the ones mentioned above proved that there are still some with livable qualities. Choose one from the 10 Easiest Cities to Move to in America, and you’re bound to have a great American life ahead of you.