Big city buying: The best metros to buy a house in – and the worst

July 24, 2018 - 2 min read

Best big cities to buy

Want the big city life without all the pollution, traffic and high costs that come with it? Then according to a new study, Seattle’s your answer.

Verify your new rate

Seattle sits up top

WalletHub recently ranked the nation’s best big cities to live in, factoring in affordability, educational quality, job opportunities and several health considerations. Seattle came in at No. 1, with high rankings for its economy, education, health and quality of life.

Other cities that ranked high overall were Virginia Beach, Virginia; Austin, Texas; San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego, California; Honolulu; Portland, Oregon; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and New York City.

The best opportunities for income growth are San Francisco, Seattle and Austin, while Virginia Beach; El Paso, Texas; and New York City boast the lowest crime rates.

The best cities for first-time homebuyers

Most affordable big cities

From just an affordability standpoint, Oklahoma City is the single-best big city to live in. The city also boasts a strong economy and quality educational and health options.

Colorado Springs came in second for affordability, while Virginia Beach; Mesa, Arizona; and Louisville, Kentucky, rounded out the top five.

Virginia Beach also claims the lowest number of people living in poverty and the highest homeownership rate among all U.S. big cities (63 percent).

On the job hunt? These are the best cities to move to

Worst big cities to live in

According to WalletHub’s ranking, Detroit is the worst big city to build a life in. Ranking low in affordability, economy, education, health and quality of life, it comes in dead last on the list.

Other low-ranking cities include Memphis, Tennessee; Cleveland, Ohio; Baltimore; and St. Louis.

In terms of affordability, Los Angeles, New York City and Miami are the worst bets, while Las Vegas, Detroit and Fresno, California, offer the fewest opportunities for income growth. St Louis and Memphis claim the highest crime rates in the country.

Verify your new rate

Get today’s mortgage rates

Want the big city life in one of these highly ranked hubs? Then shop around and see what mortgage rates you qualify for today.

Time to make a move? Let us find the right mortgage for you

Aly J. Yale
Authored By: Aly J. Yale
The Mortgage Reports contributor
Aly J. Yale is a mortgage and real estate writer based in Houston who has contributed to Forbes and worked for organizations such as The Dallas Morning News, PBS, NBC, and Radio Disney.