Updated Oct 12, 2025 12:21 AM EDT
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
Sign Up for Domino’s Newsletter
Sign Up for Domino’s Newsletter
By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Nearly everyone has toyed with the idea of moving over the past year. After staring out the same window while working, working out, and doing everything in between, a change of scenery feels essential. But where, exactly, should you plant new roots? A fresh report from Advisorsmith ranks the most affordable cities in 2021, and each one delivers the dining and cultural institutions of a major metro at a fraction of the cost. The survey analyzed 592 towns and ranked the top performers based on median household income and average housing prices. Selections are split into three categories: small (under 100,000 people), medium (100,000 to 350,000), and large (over 350,000). In each group, we found a standout to help narrow down your late-night Zillow scrolling.
Small City: Atascocita, Texas
Fewer than 100,000 people call this Houston suburb home, which means new residents get the best of both worlds: a true neighborhood feel and a 30-minute commute into the city whenever you crave the bustle. Atascocita has plenty of its own draws, too, from hiking and biking trails to the manicured grounds of Walden on Lake Houston Country Club. Anyone ready to make the move should check out this four-bedroom home. How charming is the green trim and those built-ins? (We also love that it’s under $200,000.)
Medium City: Birmingham, Alabama
With a population just over 200,000, this city carries a lot of history. The Civil Rights Institute is based here, and the Birmingham Museum of Art holds remarkable pieces, including original samurai suits of armor and paintings by Kerry James Marshall. If that’s not enough, you can feed the giraffes at the zoo! The homes have backstories, too. This Craftsman-style property in downtown Birmingham offers incredible valley views from the rear deck, and it’s listed with the Jefferson County Historical Commission as a notable structure.
Large City: Detroit
Any town with its own style of pizza is a winner in our book. Add in Motown and hockey, and we’re fully on board. Detroit counts nearly 675,000 residents and has steadily grown in recent years thanks to a burgeoning food and design scene. Top-tier designers have been leaving their mark here, including Gachot Studios’ Shinola Hotel and ASH NYC’s Siren Hotel. This deal in the city’s West Village costs less than a studio apartment in New York, yet comes with a roomy yard and a freshly renovated kitchen that plays beautifully against the home’s exposed ceilings and details dating back to 1880.
Our Winter Renovation issue has arrived! Subscribe now to step inside Leanne Ford’s latest project—her own historic Pennsylvania home. Plus discover our new rules of reno.
Tim Latterner
Learn more about Domino.com’s Editorial Standards
