U.S. News & World Report recently released its list of the 10 most affordable states for professionals. They factored in the 2022 second-quarter Cost of Living Index report, the average home price for each state, median household income according to 2021 Census data, and the average cost of staple goods such as meat and eggs.
According to the list, West Virginia came in at number six out of ten. The data used to rank West Virginia states that the Mountain State’s cost of living index is 88.5. The median household income is $51,248 and the average home price is $300,000.
In West Virginia, the average cost of beef is $5.76, milk $1.83, and eggs $2.30 which all three were also a factor in the rankings.
Compare that to #1 Mississippi which has a cost of living index of 84.9, a median household income of $48,716, and an average home price of $309,769. Ground beef in MS averages around $4.67, milk $2.43, and eggs $2.21.
At the bottom of the top ten list is Tennessee which has a cost of living index of 89.5, a median household income of $59,695, and an average home price of $371,472. Ground beef in TN averages around $4.65, milk $2.48, and eggs $1.95.
Other states that made this list include Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Georgia, Alabama, Kansas, and Oklahoma.