96 metros leave you better off than Washington

High school teacher earning $81,000 in Washington, DC. One adult, renting a 1-bedroom. You keep $1,079 a month today.

Your best overall match

Midland, TX

+$594/mo (+$7,128 a year) versus Washington

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Your pay moves with the local market for your job.

Rent is priced at the bedroom count you need in each metro.

0

Suggested for your household.

What matters to you?

1 means leave it out of the ranking, 5 means it decides the ranking.

5 Deal-breaker

What is left after tax, rent and the month's bills.

2 A little

Sunshine, and summers and winters that are not extreme.

2 A little

Population and density, rather than small-town scale.

Every metro on the map

Coloured by this ranking. Click a dot for the city page; right-click or long-press to compare, set home, zoom or copy a link.

MidlandAustinFargoBismarckSeattleCedar RapidsAppletonAmarilloJefferson CityLittle Rock
Best fitMiddle thirdWeakest fitWhere you live now · $1,079/moDot size is population. 383 metros in the 48 states; 4 outside the frame. Best best fit: Midland, TX. Right-click or long-press for actions.

1

Midland, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,516 and 263 sunny days; commutes average 22 minutes.

No state income tax263 sunny days22-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,673

+$594 vs today

Local pay
$70,483
Rent (1br)
$1,273/mo
Take-home
$4,831/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
98
Sun and mild weather
78
Being in a big city
34
2

Austin, TX

No income tax, but property taxes are among the steepest anywhere.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$1,440

+$361 vs today

Local pay
$67,935
Rent (1br)
$1,226/mo
Take-home
$4,682/mo
Everything else
$2,016/mo
Money left over
88
Sun and mild weather
66
Being in a big city
80
3

Houston, TX

The cheapest housing of any top-10 metro, paid for in property tax and humidity.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$1,456

+$377 vs today

Local pay
$66,629
Rent (1br)
$1,199/mo
Take-home
$4,605/mo
Everything else
$1,950/mo
Money left over
89
Sun and mild weather
63
Being in a big city
76
4

Dallas, TX

No income tax, endless new construction, and a 1.5% property tax bill.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$1,341

+$262 vs today

Local pay
$66,629
Rent (1br)
$1,263/mo
Take-home
$4,605/mo
Everything else
$2,001/mo
Money left over
84
Sun and mild weather
70
Being in a big city
76
5

Fargo, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,049 and 193 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

18-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,660

+$581 vs today

Local pay
$61,860
Rent (1br)
$881/mo
Take-home
$4,312/mo
Everything else
$1,771/mo
Money left over
97
Sun and mild weather
44
Being in a big city
45
6

Bismarck, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,298 and 196 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

18-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,697

+$618 vs today

Local pay
$66,368
Rent (1br)
$1,090/mo
Take-home
$4,584/mo
Everything else
$1,797/mo
Money left over
99
Sun and mild weather
47
Being in a big city
35
7

Seattle, WA

No state income tax and high wages, offset by home prices and 150 sunny days.

No state income taxCar optional

Left over monthly

$1,402

+$323 vs today

Local pay
$78,387
Rent (1br)
$1,761/mo
Take-home
$5,294/mo
Everything else
$2,131/mo
Money left over
86
Sun and mild weather
49
Being in a big city
82
8

Minot, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,132 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,722

+$643 vs today

Local pay
$64,539
Rent (1br)
$951/mo
Take-home
$4,480/mo
Everything else
$1,807/mo
Money left over
100
Sun and mild weather
50
Being in a big city
26
9

Cedar Rapids, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,102 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,596

+$517 vs today

Local pay
$63,494
Rent (1br)
$926/mo
Take-home
$4,266/mo
Everything else
$1,744/mo
Money left over
95
Sun and mild weather
56
Being in a big city
41
10

Davenport, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $886 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes.

21-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,562

+$483 vs today

Local pay
$61,077
Rent (1br)
$744/mo
Take-home
$4,112/mo
Everything else
$1,806/mo
Money left over
93
Sun and mild weather
59
Being in a big city
42
11

Appleton, WI

State income tax topping out at 7.65%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,099 and 195 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes.

21-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,541

+$462 vs today

Local pay
$66,302
Rent (1br)
$923/mo
Take-home
$4,384/mo
Everything else
$1,920/mo
Money left over
92
Sun and mild weather
55
Being in a big city
38
12

Amarillo, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,017 and 260 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

No state income tax260 sunny days20-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,369

+$290 vs today

Local pay
$58,790
Rent (1br)
$854/mo
Take-home
$4,106/mo
Everything else
$1,883/mo
Money left over
85
Sun and mild weather
84
Being in a big city
37
13

Jefferson City, MO

State income tax topping out at 4.7%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $886 and 217 sunny days; commutes average 22 minutes.

22-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,441

+$362 vs today

Local pay
$59,313
Rent (1br)
$744/mo
Take-home
$3,986/mo
Everything else
$1,801/mo
Money left over
88
Sun and mild weather
71
Being in a big city
33
14

Odessa, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,398 and 269 sunny days; commutes average 25 minutes.

No state income tax269 sunny days

Left over monthly

$1,427

+$348 vs today

Local pay
$64,604
Rent (1br)
$1,174/mo
Take-home
$4,486/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
87
Sun and mild weather
80
Being in a big city
25
15

San Antonio, TX

Among the cheapest big-city rents in the country, with the highest property tax rate here.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$1,257

+$178 vs today

Local pay
$60,750
Rent (1br)
$1,052/mo
Take-home
$4,238/mo
Everything else
$1,929/mo
Money left over
80
Sun and mild weather
67
Being in a big city
64
16

Dubuque, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $955 and 204 sunny days; commutes average 17 minutes.

17-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,509

+$430 vs today

Local pay
$60,358
Rent (1br)
$802/mo
Take-home
$4,066/mo
Everything else
$1,755/mo
Money left over
91
Sun and mild weather
58
Being in a big city
30
17

Little Rock, AR

State income tax topping out at 3.9%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,070 and 208 sunny days; commutes average 23 minutes.

Left over monthly

$1,303

+$224 vs today

Local pay
$60,423
Rent (1br)
$899/mo
Take-home
$4,037/mo
Everything else
$1,835/mo
Money left over
82
Sun and mild weather
68
Being in a big city
52
18

Springfield, IL

A flat 4.95% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,065 and 204 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,403

+$324 vs today

Local pay
$64,147
Rent (1br)
$895/mo
Take-home
$4,206/mo
Everything else
$1,908/mo
Money left over
86
Sun and mild weather
64
Being in a big city
39
19

Cheyenne, WY

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,219 and 253 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

No state income tax18-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,418

+$339 vs today

Local pay
$64,016
Rent (1br)
$1,024/mo
Take-home
$4,452/mo
Everything else
$2,010/mo
Money left over
87
Sun and mild weather
69
Being in a big city
30
20

Lexington Park, MD

State income tax topping out at 5.75%, a median 2-bedroom estimated asking rent of $1,896 and 216 sunny days; commutes average 35 minutes.

Left over monthly

$1,351

+$272 vs today

Local pay
$81,523
Rent (1br)
$1,593/mo
Take-home
$4,966/mo
Everything else
$2,022/mo
Money left over
84
Sun and mild weather
71
Being in a big city
39
Show the remaining 367 metros

Showing the top 20 of 387 by best fit for you.

Rent is Zillow's asking rent for each metro; taxes and living costs are modelled. Every figure is an estimate, not a quote. See exactly how it's calculated.