Although we're usually reluctant to report on the sorts of ranking that seem to be based on non-official methodologies, we feel compelled to share the latest such study that caught our eye, mostly because it crowns the Chicago suburb of Elgin as the safest and cheapest city in all of the U.S.
Finance website Go Banking Rates concocted the ranking, which you can look through in full right here, based on a variety of metrics, including median income, mortgage rates, crime-related data, average home values, cost of living and more.
With a median household income of $85,998, household average mortgage cost of $1,840 and total monthly cost of living at $4,008, Elgin came out on top of the list, followed by Cary in North Carolina, Gilbert in Arizona, League City in Texas and Rochester in Minnesota.
About 90 minutes away from Chicago, Elgin residents benefit from the safety and relative affordability of their hometown alongside their proximity to a major city. They basically get to enjoy some of the best things to do in Chicago without dealing with the area's major drawbacks. Sounds like a great town to us!
Below, find the ranking of the 10 safest and most affordable cities in the U.S.:
1. Elgin, Illinois
2. Cary, North Carolina
3. Gilbert, Arizona
4. League City, Texas
5. Rochester, Minnesota
6. Sugar Land, Texas
7. Pearland, Texas
8. Meridian, Idaho
9. Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
10. Olathe, Kansas