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30. Green Bay, Wisconsin -

Home of the Green Bay Packers, the city has a suburban feel where lots of families and young professionals live.  

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29. Sioux Falls, South Dakota -

You'll find plenty of museums, parks, and coffee shops in Sioux Falls. Most residents in the city own their homes.

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28. Indianapolis, Indiana -

Indy is the most populous city in the state. Automobile race aficionados will love to have the Indianapolis 500 on their doorstep.

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27. Lansing, Michigan -

The birthplace of Oldsmobile, Lansing is also home to the campus of Michigan State University. The city's State Capitol Building is also worth a visit.

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26. Memphis, Tennessee -

You can't think of Memphis without Elvis Presley coming to mind. The city is home to the legendary Sun Studio, known as the birthplace of rock 'n' roll.

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25. Jackson, Mississippi -

"The City with Soul" has plenty of museums and art galleries, including the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Mississippi Children's Museum.

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24. Davenport, Iowa -

Residents of Davenport can submit requests to change the colors of the LEDs on the Skybridge bridge that spans River Drive!

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23. Cedar Rapids, Iowa -

"The City of Five Seasons" is best known for being the largest corn-processing city in the world. It's also home to numerous museums as well as Brucemore, an estate with lots of gardens and a 19th-century mansion.

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22. El Paso, Texas -

El Paso has a very busy border with Ciudad Juarez in Mexico. It is also the most populous city in West Texas, but one of the cheapest to live in. 

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21. Wichita, Kansas -

The largest city in Kansas is known for being an aircraft production hub. Wichita is also known as the "Air Capital of the World."

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20. Detroit, Michigan -

The "Motor City" is known for its link to the automotive industry. Detroit is also the birthplace of the iconic Motown Records, and it's currently one of the most affordable places to live. 

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19. Abilene, Texas -

In Abilene, you will find museums, parks, and universities. The city is known as the "Greyhound Capital of the World."

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18. Peoria, Illinois -

Peoria is the oldest community in Illinois and is home to the oldest community theater in America. It's strategically located on the Illinois River between Chicago and St. Louis.

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17. Montgomery, Alabama -

A city at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, Montgomery had numerous famous residents, including writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, country music legend Hank Williams, and aviation pioneers Wright Brothers.

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16. Amarillo, Texas -

The city is known as both "The Yellow Rose of Texas" (amarillo is the Spanish word for "yellow") and "Helium Capital of the World," for having one of America's most productive helium fields.

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15. Topeka, Kansas -

The capital city of the Sunflower State will actually pay you to move there! The scheme is offering up to US$15,000 for homebuyers to move to the city. 

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14. Beaumont, Texas -

Home to Lamar University, Beaumont has a college town feel to it. The city is also home to numerous museums and is overall an affordable place to live. 

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13. Laredo, Texas -

In Laredo, you will find lots of interesting spots, including San Agustin Cathedral and the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum.

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12. McAllen, Texas -

A rapidly growing city, McAllen is home to numerous shops and over 600 restaurants. It's also one of the best spots in the country for birding. 

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11. Cleveland, Ohio -

Cleveland is a dream city for sports fans. It's home to the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, the NFL's Cleveland Browns, and the MLB's Cleveland Guardians. It's also great for music lovers and is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

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10. Rockford, Illinois -

Rockford became known as the "Screw Capital of the World" for being one of the largest manufacturers of fasteners in the US. It's a great place to live on the banks of the Rock River.

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9. Springfield, Illinois -

Springfield is best known as the home of Abraham Lincoln. The city is among the most affordable in the country.

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8. Akron, Ohio -

The birthplace of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Akron was dubbed the "Rubber Capital of the World."

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7. Toledo, Ohio -

Home to numerous museums, a zoo, and a university, Toledo is an affordable place that's worth considering.

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6. Wichita Falls, Texas -

Sheppard Air Force Base can be found in Wichita Falls, so there is a military presence felt in the city. Wichita Falls is also home to the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.

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5. Dayton, Ohio -

You will find plenty of things to do in Dayton. Highlights include the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, the Dayton Ballet, the Dayton Philharmonic, the Dayton Opera, and the Dayton Art Institute.

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4. Fort Wayne, Indiana -

Indiana's second-largest city is also one of the cheapest cities in both the state and the country to live in. 

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3. Evansville, Indiana -

The top 3 begins with Evansville, Indiana. With an estimated population of 116,000 (as of the 2022 Census), it's home to both the University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana.

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2. Brownsville, Texas -

Brownsville is the runner-up in 2024 in terms of affordability. Located next to the US-Mexico border, Brownsville has been influenced by Hispanic culture. 

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1. South Bend, Indiana -

The top spot goes to South Bend, Indiana. The city is best known for being home to the Studebaker National Museum, where classic cars are on display, as well as the University of Notre Dame.

Sources: (Niche) (Forbes) (Money Talks News)

See also: The best US cities for work-life balance in 2024

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