Nearly one in five families in the U.S. is considering a move in 2023. More than one in four have already moved or are considering moving before the end of 2022. Why? Affordability.
Between inflation, rising interest rates, and the post-pandemic boom of remote work, for some, it simply doesn’t make sense to live in places with high ticket prices, so Americans are packing their bags, destined for more economical pastures.
A recent study by Harmony Healthcare IT (Harmony) found that 47% of families identify affordability as the deciding factor in their house hunt. After costs, buyers look for proximity to family, school systems, neighborhood safety and greater square footage during their home-buying decisions.
For the 17% of families planning a move in 2023, where should they be heading? According to Harmony, Arizona and Texas stand far above the pack as the best places to raise a family in 2023.
To establish appropriate rankings, Harmony assessed 100 of the most populated cities in America in critical categories: cost of living, crime rate, education and child care, healthcare, and housing.
Data informing the rankings came from the U.S. Census Bureau, AAA, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Zillow, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to the study, Gilbert, Arizona ranks number one for the most affordable American city. Arizona reinforces its front-running title, with the city of Chandler taking the number two spot.
Following closely behind are Plano and Irving in Texas and Omaha, Nebraska. Texas and Arizona make further appearances on the top ten list, with Garland placing sixth, Phoenix taking the ninth place slot, and Fort Worth coming in tenth.
Healthcare
The cheapest healthcare in the country is in Utah, where you can expect to pay $5,310 annually. Residents of Idaho, the second cheapest state for healthcare, pay $5,710.