The 10 most affordable states in the US in 2025 — and the 10 least affordable

Downtown Los Angeles, California skyline.Marek Masik/ShutterstockPrices of groceries and housing are going up across the US.US News & World Report ranked all US states based on their affordability.It ranked Arkansas as the most affordable state in the US, and California as the least affordable.From groceries to housing, living is getting more expensive, but some states are feeling the effects of rising prices more than others.While states like Hawaii and California are seeing increases in housing costs, others like Florida are experiencing falling real-estate prices thanks to rising inventory and insurance costs.US News & World Report recently ranked all 50 US states by affordability, using US Bureau of Economic Analysis data to determine each state's housing affordability and cost of living.The list is just one part of US News & World Report's comparison of US states, which it ranks by categories including opportunity, education, healthcare, and fiscal stability, among others. These categories ultimately contribute to its best states overall ranking. For the full report and rankings, see here.Here are the 10 most affordable states in the US, followed by the 10 least affordable, per US News & World Report.The below list also indicates where each state landed on the report's best states overall ranking, and includes the median income in each state, using the most recent data from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which estimated median incomes in 2024.1. ArkansasSean Pavone/ShutterstockCost of living ranking: 1Housing affordability ranking: 3Median household income: $62,106In US News & World Report's ranking of best states overall — of which affordability is one consideration — Arkansas comes 44th.2. MississippiSean Pavone/ShutterstockCost of living ranking: 2Housing affordability ranking: 1Median household income: $59,127In the best states overall ranking, Mississippi fares less well, ranking 48th.3. West VirginiaWest Virginia was ranked as the second most affordable US state.Mihai_Andritoiu/ShutterstockCost of living ranking: 8Housing affordability ranking: 2Median household income: $60,798West Virginia was ranked 46th in the best states overall ranking.4. South DakotaSioux Falls, South DakotaJacob Boomsma/ShutterstockCost of living ranking: 3Housing affordability ranking: 6Median household income: $76,881South Dakota came 8th in the overall best states ranking.5. OklahomaOklahoma City, OK located in Oklahoma CountySean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphotoCost of living ranking: 4Housing affordability ranking: 7Median household income: $66,148The report ranked Oklahoma the 42nd best state overall.6. LouisianaBaton Rouge, Louisiana.Jacob Boomsma/Getty ImagesCost of living ranking: 5Housing affordability ranking: 8Median household income: $60,986The state was ranked last on the best states overall list.7. IowaDes Moines, Iowa.Jacob Boomsma/ShutterstockCost of living ranking: 7Housing affordability ranking: 9Median household income: $75,501Iowa is the 14th best state overall, per US News & World Report.8. AlabamaSean Pavone/ShutterstockCost of living ranking: 10Housing affordability ranking: 4Median household income: $66,659However, Alabama comes 45th in the best states overall ranking.9. North DakotaJacob Boomsma/ShutterstockCost of living ranking: 6Housing affordability ranking: 11Median household income: $77,871Oregon is the 12th best state overall, when considering all metrics, per the report.10. KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky.ChrisBoswell/Getty ImagesCost of living ranking: 14Housing affordability ranking: 5Median household income: $64,526Kentucky is the 39th best state overall.41. MarylandDee Liu/Getty ImagesCost of living ranking: 42Housing affordability ranking: 42Median household income: $102,905Maryland was named the 20th best state in the report's overall rankings.42. New HampshireNew Hampshire is the ninth-least affordable state in the US.NayaDadara/ShutterstockCost of living ranking: 44Housing affordability ranking: 40Median household income: $99,782The state was also ranked as the second-best state overall by US News & World Report.43. ColoradoDenver, Colorado, is growing as a business destination.Aerial_Views/Getty ImagesCost of living ranking: 37Housing affordability ranking: 48Median household income: $97,113Colorado was named the 11th best state overall by the report.44. FloridaMiami Beach, Florida, aerial view, Indian Creek Biscayne Bay Allison Island La Gorce Island city skyline.Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesCost of living ranking: 40Housing affordability ranking: 44Median household income: $77,735Florida ranked 6th best state overall when considering affordability and other factors.45. New YorkNew York City.Evgeny Karandaev/ShutterstockCost of living ranking: 45Housing affordability ranking: 43Median household income: $85,820New York was named the 22nd best state overall.46. WashingtonSeattle, Washington downtown skyline.Sean Pavone/ShutterstockCost of living ranking: 47Housing affordability ranking: 45Median household income: $99,389Washington came 10th in the best states overall ranking.47. MassachusettsThe Charles River in Boston.Cavan Images/Getty Images/Cavan Images RFCost of living ranking: 46Housing affordability ranking: 47Median household income: $104,828US News & World Report named Massachusetts the 9th best state in its overall ranking.48. HawaiiHawaii has the longest life expectancy in the US.James Kirkikis/ShutterstockCost of living ranking: 48Housing affordability ranking: 46Median household income: $100,745The state ranked 28th in the overall ranking.49. New JerseyNew Jersey was ranked the third-happiest state in the US.FotosForTheFuture/ShutterstockCost of living ranking: 49Housing affordability ranking: 49Median household income: $104,294New Jersey came 19th in US News & World Report's best states overall ranking.50. CaliforniaLos Angeles.Michael Lee/Getty ImagesCost of living ranking: 50Housing affordability ranking: 50Median household income: $100,149In the best states overall ranking, California is ranked No. 37.Read the original article on Business Insider

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The 10 most affordable states in the US in 2025 — and the 10 least affordable