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Most Affordable Cities for Tech Workers
Tech salaries are high, but so is rent in many hubs. These cities offer the best salary-to-rent ratio for tech workers — using actual local wages from BLS OEWS.
Data: BLS OEWS · Local wages · 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent
Top 25 Most Affordable Cities
Cities where local Tech Workers salaries go furthest, ranked by lowest rent burden.
| # | City | 2BR Rent / yr | Rent Burden | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aguadilla, PR | $6,768 | 8.7% | A |
| 2 | Dothan, AL | $11,400 | 10.2% | A |
| 3 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $11,676 | 10.4% | A |
| 4 | Decatur, AL | $11,532 | 10.5% | A |
| 5 | Joplin, MO | $11,364 | 10.8% | A |
| 6 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $11,892 | 11.0% | A |
| 7 | Pocatello, ID | $14,076 | 11.1% | A |
| 8 | Alexandria, LA | $11,928 | 11.1% | A |
| 9 | Decatur, IL | $12,756 | 11.1% | A |
| 10 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $12,528 | 11.2% | A |
| 11 | Bowling Green, KY | $13,836 | 11.2% | A |
| 12 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $11,676 | 11.2% | A |
| 13 | Mansfield, OH | $11,676 | 11.3% | A |
| 14 | Monroe, LA | $12,312 | 11.4% | A |
| 15 | Idaho Falls, ID | $15,660 | 11.4% | A |
| 16 | Cheyenne, WY | $14,088 | 11.4% | A |
| 17 | Lima, OH | $13,296 | 11.6% | A |
| 18 | Jacksonville, NC | $14,076 | 11.6% | A |
| 19 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $12,852 | 11.6% | A |
| 20 | Farmington, NM | $13,020 | 11.7% | A |
| 21 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $12,000 | 11.7% | A |
| 22 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $11,544 | 11.8% | A |
| 23 | Springfield, OH | $13,272 | 11.8% | A |
| 24 | Bay City, MI | $12,360 | 11.9% | A |
| 25 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $15,516 | 11.9% | A |
How We Calculate the Affordability Grade
We use actual local wages from BLS OEWS for each metro, then divide the annual 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent by that local salary to get a rent burden percentage. Financial advisors recommend keeping housing under 30% of gross income (the "30% rule"). Grades: A <20% · B 20–25% · C 25–30% · D 30–40% · F >40%
10 Least Affordable Cities
Cities where rent puts the biggest strain on Tech Workers salaries.
| # | City | 2BR Rent / yr | Rent Burden | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $50,568 | 40.4% | F |
| 2 | Napa, CA | $33,276 | 27.0% | C |
| 3 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $37,488 | 26.8% | C |
| 4 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $33,924 | 26.0% | C |
| 5 | Salinas, CA | $32,208 | 25.7% | C |
| 6 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $31,704 | 25.5% | C |
| 7 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $36,012 | 25.5% | C |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $43,248 | 25.0% | C |
| 9 | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $35,292 | 24.9% | B |
| 10 | Barnstable Town, MA | $29,064 | 23.9% | B |