Orange County is one of the most expensive areas in the country to live in, but if you’re looking to move somewhere affordable with decent weather, read on!
PropertyShark performed a study recently that looked at U.S. cities with more than 150,000 residents, then analyzed the cost of housing and the quality of the climate.
In order to be considered for the list, homeowners needed to spend no more than 30% of their earnings on a monthly housing payment (the recommended amount to spend on housing). PropertyShark also factored in the number of days with clear skies, the number of days with extreme temperatures (above 90º or below 32º), and the number of rainy and windy days.
The cities that ranked first and second are also some of the fasted growing towns in the United States.
- Charlotte, North Carolina– ranks high thanks to affordable housing, a moderate cost of living, high-paying jobs, a vibrant community and year-round mild weather. Charlotte has a median income of $62,817 and a median home sale price of $298,296, resulting in an affordability index of 29% (in other words, residents only need to spend 29% of their income on housing). Charlotte has fewer days of extreme weather than most cities on the list: only 46 days above 90º and 63 freezing days below 32º
- Raleigh, North Carolina– has a median income of $67,266 and a median home sale price of $230,250, putting it at a lower affordability index of just 21%.
- Columbus, Georgia– the third-most affordable option for homebuyers looking to move to a milder climate. With a median income of $46,408 and a median home sale price of $123,571, Columbus residents should budget around 16% of their earnings for monthly housing payments.
- Mobile, Alabama
- Greensboro, North Carolina– Greensboro registers an average of 34 days when temperatures top 90°F per year and around 109 days of sunshine, making for pleasant summers that don’t get too hot. Here, the median home price is $188,143, while the median income rests at $49,964. Therefore, Greensboro residents should expect to spend around 23% of their earnings on mortgage payments.
- Norfolk, Virginia– records an average of 33 days with temperatures of 90°F or higher per year. Median income ($51,590) and home price ($239,00) add up to an affordability index of 28%.
- Jackson, Mississippi– The city on the list with the most cost-effective housing is Jackson, Mississippi, where you’ll only need to spend 10% of your monthly income on housing, thanks to a median income of $38,888 and a median home price of $63,571 (the lowest on the list).
- Shreveport, Louisiana
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Tallahassee, Florida
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Jacksonville, Florida– Florida, which has the fewest number of days below 32—just 15 per year. The housing prices in Jacksonville aren’t bad either: You’ll only need to spend 25% of your monthly income on housing, thanks to a median income of $54,701 and a median home price of $227,143.
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana– recorded an average of 20 days per year when temperatures drop to 32°F or lower. Baton Rouge has an affordability index of 26%. Residents in the Louisiana city have a median income of $44,470, while the median home price is $194,571.
- Birmingham, Alabama– residents should allocate around 13% of their incomes for housing. The $37,375 median income in the city is more than enough to cover mortgage payments for a home purchased at the median sale price of $83,285. Birmingham also registers an average of just 50 days per year when temperatures drop to freezing, as well as 61 days that top 90 degrees.