© KAD Photo/Shutterstock.com
© "Greetings from Cape Girardeau, Missouri - Large Letter Postcard" by Shook Photos is licensed under BY 2.0.
© "Middletown, Connecticut" by jjbers is licensed under BY 2.0.
© "Waterville Maine Town Square" by tiarescott is licensed under BY 2.0.
© "Exit to Moorhead, Minnesota" by Ken Lund is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
© "Winona, Minnesota skyline" by Wikideas1 is licensed under CC0 1.0.
© "Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania" by Dougtone is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
© "Water park on the NSU campus in Tahlequah, Oklahoma." by mrjacobwilson24 is licensed under BY 2.0.
© "Downtown Duluth, Minnesota Skyline (25406820466)" by Tony Webster from San Francisco, California is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
© "Welcome to Missouri" by daveandlolo is licensed under BY 2.0.
© "University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point / Old Main Hall" by royal_broil is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
© "Champaign - University of Illinois Football" by roger4336 is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
© "2020-07-12 10 38 40 View south along New Jersey State Route 700 (New Jersey Turnpike) at Exit 2 (U.S. Route 322, Swedesboro, Glassboro) in Woolwich Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey" by Famartin is licensed under BY-SA 4.0.
© "20190919 54 Kirksville, Missori" by davidwilson1949 is licensed under BY 2.0.
© "File:Gustavus Adolphus College in Winter, St. Peter, Minnesota (26819602508).jpg" by Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States is licensed under BY 2.0.
© "Troy, New York" by Dougtone is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
© "Old Stone Arch Bridge - Keene, New Hampshire" by Dougtone is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
© "Edwardsville, Illinois" by pasa47 is licensed under BY 2.0.
© "Plattsburgh, New York" by Dougtone is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
© "Skydeck Restaurant Birdseye View of Downtown Kalamazoo Photo by Michigan Municipal League" by Michigan Municipal League (MML) is licensed under BY-ND 2.0.
© "Greetings from Indiana, Pennsylvania, Amid the Rolling Hills of Pennsylvania - Large Letter Postcard" by Shook Photos is licensed under BY 2.0.
© Nick Fox/Shutterstock.com
© "Berea College - Kentucky" by US Department of State is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
© iStock.com/pabradyphoto
© "File:Sprague's Super Service in Normal, Illinois on Route 66..jpg" by William Wesen Appraiser is licensed under BY-SA 3.0.
© "Macomb, Illinois" by Roadgeek Adam is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
© iStock.com/rarrarorro
© "U.S. 52 Crossing Ohio, River, Huntington, West Virginia and Cheapeake, Ohio" by Ken Lund is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
© iStock.com/leekris
© "Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania" by Javcon117* is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
© "Greetings from Williamsport, Pennsylvania - Large Letter Postcard" by Shook Photos is licensed under BY 2.0.
© "Binghamton New York ~ Phelps Mansion Museum ~ Historical Mansion" by Onasill ~ Bill - 78.8M is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
© gustavofrazao/iStock via Getty Images
© "Oneonta, New York" by Dougtone is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
© littlenySTOCK/Shutterstock.com
© "Waverly iowa" by Billwhittaker (talk) is licensed under BY-SA 3.0.
© "Marshall, Missouri (2016)" by David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA is licensed under BY 2.0.
© PeterHermesFurian/ via Getty Images
© iStock.com/pabradyphoto
© "Bascom, Ohio as viewed from Tiffin Street" by Photo by and ©2008 Dustin M. Ramsey (Kralizec!) is licensed under BY-SA 2.5.
© SevenMaps/Shutterstock.com
© "Greyhound Stadium Portales New Mexico 2023 (Quintin Soloviev)" by Quintin Soloviev is licensed under BY 4.0.
© gguy44/iStock via Getty Images
© "Rodman Hall, John Carroll University, University Heights, OH" by w_lemay is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
© "McInteer Villa - Atchison, Kansas" by US Department of State is licensed under PDM 1.0.
© "Greetings from Ball State Teachers' College, Muncie, Indiana - Large Letter Postcard" by Shook Photos is licensed under BY 2.0.
© "20150828 116 Geneva, New York" by davidwilson1949 is licensed under BY 2.0.
Budget-Friendly Homes in This Charming College Town for $88K If you've ever visited a college town, you've likely experienced the strong sense of community, the vibrant youthful energy surrounding the area, and the overall lively atmosphere. College towns can be more spirited than others, coming to life with sporting events, nightlife, restaurants, and more. If this is something you seek and would like to be immersed in this community, these budget-friendly homes might be for you.
To determine the most budget-friendly homes in charming college towns, we reviewed five-year data on median household value and median household income from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey .
Cities , towns, and census-designated places were ranked based on the ratio of median home value to median household income. Only places with at least 10,000 residents where at least 15% of the population is enrolled in college or graduate school were considered.
Additionally, we've included the overall Niche rating for each town or surrounding area. This rating is based on an analysis of factors such as cost of living, nightlife, and diversity.
This post was updated in November 2025 to include additional information that may be relevant for those looking for a home.
50. Cape Girardeau, Missouri Median home value: $177,500 (3.4 times income)Median household income: $51,671Overall Niche grade : B+Total population: 39,79549. Middletown, Connecticut Median home value: $257,800 (3.4 times income)Median household income: $75,120Overall Niche grade : B+Total population: 48,15248. Waterville, Maine Median home value: $154,400 (3.4 times income)Median household income: $45,208Overall Niche grade : B-Total population: 15,78547. Moorhead, Minnesota Median home value: $234,300 (3.4 times income)Median household income: $68,680Overall Niche grade : A-Total population: 44,44346. Winona, Minnesota Median home value: $176,600 (3.4 times income)Median household income: $52,500Overall Niche grade : B+Total population: 26,08345. Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania Median home value: $220,100 (3.3 times income)Median household income: $66,640Overall Niche grade : B+Total population: 11,80544. Tahlequah, Oklahoma Median home value: $163,300 (3.3 times income)Median household income: $49,444Overall Niche grade : A-Total population: 16,38943. Duluth, Minnesota Median home value: $209,800 (3.3 times income)Median household income: $63,545Overall Niche grade : A-Total population: 86,77242. Maryville, Missouri Median home value: $162,100 (3.3 times income)Median household income: $49,144Overall Niche grade : BTotal population: 10,69141. Stevens Point, Wisconsin Median home value: $176,400 (3.3 times income)Median household income: $53,611Overall Niche grade : ATotal population: 25,54940. Champaign, Illinois Median home value: $191,200 (3.3 times income)Median household income: $58,273Overall Niche grade : ATotal population: 88,62839. Glassboro, New Jersey Median home value: $256,900 (3.3 times income)Median household income: $78,518Overall Niche grade : B+Total population: 23,01438. Kirksville, Missouri Median home value: $133,100 (3.2 times income)Median household income: $41,089Overall Niche grade : B+Total population: 17,53337. St. Peter, Minnesota Median home value: $217,400 (3.2 times income)Median household income: $67,255Overall Niche grade : A-Total population: 12,03936. Troy, New York Median home value: $177,100 (3.2 times income)Median household income: $54,837Overall Niche grade : BTotal population: 51,26835. Keene, New Hampshire Median home value: $221,400 (3.2 times income)Median household income: $69,381Overall Niche grade : B+Total population: 22,90734. Edwardsville, Illinois Median home value: $277,000 (3.2 times income)Median household income: $87,094Overall Niche grade : ATotal population: 26,62233. Plattsburgh, New York Median home value: $172,900 (3.1 times income)Median household income: $55,049Overall Niche grade : B+Total population: 19,90732. Kalamazoo, Michigan Median home value: $152,700 (3.1 times income)Median household income: $48,649Overall Niche grade : B+Total population: 73,34231. Indiana, Pennsylvania Median home value: $124,100 (3.1 times income)Median household income: $40,013Overall Niche grade : A-Total population: 14,08230. Lubbock, Texas Median home value: $181,600 (3.1 times income)Median household income: $58,734Overall Niche grade : A-Total population: 258,19029. Berea, Kentucky Median home value: $167,200 (3.1 times income)Median household income: $54,481Overall Niche grade : A-Total population: 15,40428. Bourbonnais, Illinois Median home value: $238,000 (3.1 times income)Median household income: $77,738Overall Niche grade : A-Total population: 18,12527. Normal, Illinois Median home value: $194,400 (3.0 times income)Median household income: $63,965Overall Niche grade : ATotal population: 52,92026. Macomb, Illinois Median home value: $103,800 (3.0 times income)Median household income: $35,064Overall Niche grade : B+Total population: 15,20725. Meadville, Pennsylvania Median home value: $136,200 (3.0 times income)Median household income: $46,157Overall Niche grade : C+Total population: 12,92924. Huntington, West Virginia Median home value: $114,800 (2.9 times income)Median household income: $39,066Overall Niche grade : BTotal population: 46,63723. Canyon, Texas Median home value: $198,600 (2.9 times income)Median household income: $67,631Overall Niche grade : A+Total population: 15,08922. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Median home value: $171,800 (2.9 times income)Median household income: $60,187Overall Niche grade : ATotal population: 303,84321. Williamsport, Pennsylvania Median home value: $136,400 (2.8 times income)Median household income: $48,388Overall Niche grade : B+Total population: 27,75520. Binghamton, New York Median home value: $117,400 (2.8 times income)Median household income: $42,031Overall Niche grade : B-Total population: 47,61719. Pella, Iowa Median home value: $240,100 (2.8 times income)Median household income: $86,025Overall Niche grade : ATotal population: 10,55618. Oneonta, New York Median home value: $170,900 (2.7 times income)Median household income: $62,188Overall Niche grade : A-Total population: 14,09717. Syracuse, New York Median home value: $117,900 (2.7 times income)Median household income: $43,584Overall Niche grade : B+Total population: 146,13416. Waverly, Iowa Median home value: $211,000 (2.7 times income)Median household income: $78,278Overall Niche grade : ATotal population: 10,39915. Marshall, Missouri Median home value: $137,100 (2.6 times income)Median household income: $52,171Overall Niche grade : BTotal population: 13,68714. Carnot-Moon, Pennsylvania Median home value: $231,900 (2.6 times income)Median household income: $89,573Overall Niche grade : ATotal population: 13,34513. Charleston, Illinois Median home value: $122,700 (2.6 times income)Median household income: $47,533Overall Niche grade : B+Total population: 17,79512. Tiffin, Ohio Median home value: $123,600 (2.5 times income)Median household income: $48,869Overall Niche grade : A-Total population: 17,89411. Emporia, Kansas Median home value: $125,200 (2.5 times income)Median household income: $49,661Overall Niche grade : B+Total population: 24,11810. Portales, New Mexico Median home value: $124,000 (2.5 times income)Median household income: $49,313Overall Niche grade : BTotal population: 12,0859. Brent, Florida Median home value: $106,500 (2.4 times income)Median household income: $44,053Overall Niche grade : A-Total population: 22,9694. University Heights, Ohio Median home value: $209,800 (2.3 times income)Median household income: $91,960Overall Niche grade : A+Total population: 13,6493. Atchison, Kansas Median home value: $113,900 (2.3 times income)Median household income: $50,344Overall Niche grade : BTotal population: 10,8342. Muncie, Indiana Median home value: $88,000 (2.2 times income)Median household income: $40,309Overall Niche grade : BTotal population: 65,1671. Geneva, New York Median home value: $123,100 (1.9 times income)Median household income: $63,602Overall Niche grade : A-Total population: 12,670← PreviousNext →
The image featured at the top of this post is ©KAD Photo/Shutterstock.com
