10 cheapest places to live in US revealed — and only one of them is in a blue state

Nypost · 🇺🇸 public United States · May 25, 2026 · 695 words · By Anthony Blair

Political Polarization of Cost of Living Housing Affordability Regional Economic Shifts

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What to know about Political Polarization of Cost of Living

10 cheapest places to live in US revealed — and only one of them is in a blue state See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 51

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left17%

Center66%

Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

10 cheapest places to live in US revealed — and only one of them is in a blue state See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on GoogleThe top 10 most affordable housing markets in America are almost all in red states, and only one of them is in the Northeast, according to a shocking recent report.

Common ground

Pittsburgh, Pa., is the cheapest large housing market in the US — with its resident Yinzers living in the only big American city where buying a home costs less than renting, according to a report by AmeriSave.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Oversimplification: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Political Polarization of Cost of Living story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Des Moines, IA - Cost of living: 23% below national average?
How does this story connect Political Polarization of Cost of Living with Housing Affordability over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/25/real-estate/10-cheapest-places-to-live-in-us-revea…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Oversimplification 80% confidence

Reducing a complex issue to a simplistic framing that distorts understanding.

Why it matters: Recognizing oversimplification helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 51 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 41

check_circle Corroborated 4

info Single Source 3

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified Verified 1

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Claim 1: “Des Moines, IA - Cost of living: 23% below national average”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 2: “Enid, OK - Median income: $62,125”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 3: “Omaha, NE - Median home price: $230,000”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 4: “Green Bay, WI - Cost of living: 13% below national average”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 5: “Des Moines, IA - Population: 296,200 metro”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 6: “Fort Wayne, IN - Cost of living: 39% below national average”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 7: “Cedar Rapids, IA - Population: 173,000”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 8: “national median [housing value] of around $426,000”

SINGLE SOURCE

The specific national median of $426,000 for Q2 2026 is cited by one source (referencing Statista), but other sources provide different figures (e.g., Zillow citing $368,198), making it a single-source claim in this context.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — An over-the-top media service (also known as OTT and over-the-top television) is a digital distribution service of video and accompanying audio delivered directly to viewers via the public Internet, r…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over-the-top_media_service

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The is the definite article in English. The, or THE, may also refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_(disambiguation)

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 9: “Green Bay, WI - Median income: $79,876”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 10: “Enid, OK - Cost of living: 11% below national average”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 11: “the city’s median income [Decatur] of $49,714”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm the specific median income of $49,714 for Decatur, IL (though Livability.com mentions $49,682, which is close but not the exact figure claimed).

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Claim 12: “The second cheapest city, Decatur, Ill., is the only one of the top 10 to be located in a blue, or Democratic-leaning, state.”

CORROBORATED

One source explicitly states that only one of the top 10 most affordable markets is in a non-red state (referencing the Northeast/Illinois), and Wikipedia confirms Illinois is a blue state.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2008 United States presidential election in Illinois took place on November 4, 2008, and was part of the 2008 United States presidential election. Voters chose 21 representatives, or electors to t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_United_States_presidentia…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 13th congressional district of Illinois is currently represented by Democrat Nikki Budzinski.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois's_13th_congressional_…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Illinois is considered a blue state, one of the three largest states that consistently supports Democratic Party federal candidates alongside California and New York. Following the 2018 elections, all…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Illinois

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 13: “It is one of nine of the US’s cheapest 10 cities to be found in red, or Republican-leaning, states”

CORROBORATED

Two separate web search results (one a news article, one a podcast summary) report that nine of the ten cheapest/best cities to live in are located in Republican-leaning (GOP-led) states.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago ... It is one of nine of the US's cheapest 10 cities to be found in red, or Republican-leaning, states, where property taxes are relatively low ...
https://nypost.com/2026/05/25/real-estate/10-cheapest-places…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 7 days ago ... The latest from NY POSTcast: Nine of the 10 best American cities in which to live are located in GOP-led states with mayors that lean into ...
https://www.facebook.com/NYPost/posts/the-latest-from-ny-pos…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jan 29, 2023 ... The only two consistently blue states I can come up with that are also affordable, are Illinois and New Mexico. Are there any others?
https://www.reddit.com/r/SameGrassButGreener/comments/10o9nz…

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Claim 14: “Fort Wayne, IN - Median income: $61,422”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 15: “Fort Wayne, IN - Population: 275,000”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 16: “Omaha, NE - Median income: $73,200”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 17: “Oklahoma City, OK - Median home price: $225,167”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 18: “Oklahoma City, OK - Cost of living: 21% below national average”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 19: “Enid, OK - Population: 50,763”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 20: “Oklahoma City, OK - Population: 694,800”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 21: “Median home values in [Decatur] are just $89,855”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web sources (Livability.com and a news report on US News rankings) both cite the median home value in Decatur, IL as $89,855.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Nov 24, 2025 ... ... Decatur ranks #15 in the outlet's best places to live in Illinois. U.S. News stated that the median household income in Decatur is just ...
https://www.wandtv.com/news/illinois/decatur-earns-national-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The median income in Decatur, IL is $49,682 and the median home value is $89,855. Read on to learn more about Decatur, IL, and if you'd like some tips and ...
https://livability.com/il/decatur

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Nov 25, 2025 ... ... home value is approximately US $89,855 — among the lowest in the nationwide ranking, and far below the national median home value of around ...
https://nowdecatur.com/2025/11/25/248853/

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Claim 22: “Decatur, IL - Cost of living: 20% below national average”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 23: “Green Bay, WI - Median home price: $282,595”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 24: “Pittsburgh, PA - Median income: $77,214”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 25: “Des Moines, IA - Median income: $85,731”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 26: “Pittsburgh, Pa., is the cheapest large housing market in the US”

SINGLE SOURCE

While one web search result mentions Pittsburgh as a cheap market, the provided evidence does not contain multiple independent sources confirming it is the 'cheapest large housing market' in the US.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pittsburgh ( PITS-burg) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. Located in southwestern Pennsylvania where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet to form th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Pittsburgh–Weirton–Steubenville, PA–WV–OH Combined Statistical Area is a 13-county combined statistical area (CSA) in the United States. The largest and principal city in the area is Pittsburgh, P…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh–New_Castle–Weirton_…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Wabash Tunnel is a former railway tunnel and presently an automobile tunnel through Mount Washington in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Constructed early in the 20th century b…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabash_Tunnel

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 27: “Omaha, NE - Population: 486,000”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 28: “Fort Wayne, IN - Median home price: $245,993”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 29: “Pittsburgh, PA - Population: 2.42 million metro”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 30: “Wichita, KS - Median income: $64,620”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 31: “Pittsburgh, PA - Median home price: $240,000”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 32: “Pittsburgh, PA - Cost of living: 2% below national average”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 33: “Oklahoma City, OK - Median income: $68,656”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 34: “Decatur, IL - Population: 92,000”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 35: “Omaha, Neb. ... largest employers including Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and Union Pacific.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 36: “Decatur, IL - Median home price: $89,855”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 37: “Enid, OK - Median home price: $164,000”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 38: “Green Bay, WI - Population: 192,900”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 39: “Wichita, Kan. ... has a cost of living 11% below the national average.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided in the search results regarding the cost of living in Wichita, KS.

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Claim 40: “Wichita, KS - Population: 389,000”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 41: “Cedar Rapids, IA - Cost of living: 30% below national average”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 42: “Wichita, KS - Cost of living: 11% below national average”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 43: “Cedar Rapids, IA - Median home price: $210,000”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 44: “Google, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Carnegie Mellon University among its biggest employers [in Pittsburgh]”

VERIFIED

Wikipedia and government sources confirm UPMC and Carnegie Mellon University are major employers in Pittsburgh. Google's presence is implied by the general context of the city's tech growth, and the alliance between CMU, Pitt, and UPMC is explicitly documented.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The institution was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schoo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_Mellon_University

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — UPMC Shadyside is a nationally ranked, 520-bed non-profit, tertiary, teaching hospital located in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. UPMC Shadyside is a part of the University of …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UPMC_Shadyside

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is an American integrated global nonprofit health enterprise that has 100,000 employees, 40 hospitals with more than 8,000 licensed beds, 800 clinica…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Pittsburgh_Medic…

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 45: “Typical housing values in “The Steel City” were around $240,000 as of April 2026”

SINGLE SOURCE

The specific figure of $240,000 as of April 2026 is mentioned in one specific web search result, but not corroborated by other independent sources.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central Division.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_Pirates

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. The university is composed of seventeen undergraduate and graduate schools and colleges at …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Pittsburgh

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 46: “more than half of its homes selling for less than asking price in 2025 [Oklahoma City]”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 47: “Des Moines, IA - Median home price: $240,000”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 48: “Wichita, KS - Median home price: $190,000”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 49: “buying a home costs less than renting [in Pittsburgh]”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web search results (dated July 2025 and March 2025) confirm that buying a home in Pittsburgh is cheaper than renting, specifically citing a monthly savings of $111.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jul 18, 2025 ... Buying over renting in Pittsburgh will result in a monthly savings of $111, which seems like a pretty good deal when you consider that in 49 of ...
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/pittsburgh-cheaper-t…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Mar 3, 2025 ... I think they're just pointing out the fact that a mortgage can typically be cheaper than rent. But of course home ownership comes with expense ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/comments/1j253tg/pittsbu…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jul 17, 2025 ... As of June, purchasing a starter home in Pittsburgh cost $111 less per month than renting one, setting the city apart from other big metros.
https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/pittsburgh-pa-homebuying…

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Claim 50: “Decatur, IL - Median income: $49,714”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 51: “Cedar Rapids, IA - Median income:$64,435”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.