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15 Most Affordable Suburbs Near Booming Job Markets

With regard to job prospects and affordability, these suburbs strike the right balance.

By Cat Lafuente

Edited by Lauren Wellbank

Updated Feb. 8, 2025

Conventional wisdom tells us that the best way to pay your bills quickly is to find a job with a good salary.

Fortunately, with a solid job market that posted gains toward the end of 2024 — including a decrease in the number of people filing for unemployment — prospects are good for U.S. job seekers.

Of course, the other piece of the puzzle involves finding a place to live with affordable housing. And while New York and California cities used to be hotspots, these suburbs are the new vanguard.

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Georgetown, Texas

Three of the 20 fastest-growing affordable suburbs in the country are in the Austin area, most notably Georgetown, with home prices below Austin's average of $585,000.

Tech companies like Loram Technologies are headquartered here, and Apple, Dell, Samsung, and IBM are also nearby. This employment sector also features super strong job growth, and entry-level software engineers make a median salary of $82,210. Not only that, but healthcare is affordable and abundant.

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Bel Air, Maryland

Job growth is above the national average in Baltimore, which added over 40,000 jobs in 2024. The suburb of Bel Air has been named among the best nationwide thanks to its affordability and employment prospects

. The median home price is $405,000, and the average rent is $1,551.

Healthcare, the public sector, tech, and education are big employers in the area.

Nampa, Idaho

Nampa is the 14th fastest-growing suburb nationwide, with a median home price of $465,000 (or rent of $1,340). Job growth remains healthy, with a new Amazon facility leading the charge.

Jobs for trades workers in construction are also abundant in the area.

The median household income in the greater Boise region is $81,425, and the unemployment rate is 1.9%. But that's not all this area has going for it because utility costs are also notably low here.

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Gastonia, North Carolina

With 2.5% job growth in recent years in Charlotte, Gastonia is an affordable suburb with excellent job prospects. The median home price is $314,300 and average rent is $1,187.

The median income in the region is $73,438, offsetting costs nicely. Industrial growth is also exploding in Gaston County, most notably at Gastonia Technology Park.

Little Elm, Texas

The Dallas metro area had the fourth-highest amount of job growth in the country in 2023, especially in healthcare, tech, business services, and more. The suburb of Little Elm in particular is booming, with a 20% growth rate over the last half decade.

The median home price in Little Elm is $455,000, where groceries and transportation are slightly cheaper than the national average, and the average rent is $1,356.

Auburn, Indiana

Auburn is a Fort Wayne suburb that is ranked third in the country when it comes to affordable home buying prospects. The median home price is relatively low at $354,900, and the average rent is merely $694. The overall cost of living is 14% lower than the national average.

Regional job prospects are plentiful and growing, especially in healthcare. The median salary for OR nurses is $82,300, an excellent balance against costs.

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Conroe, Texas

Conroe, a Houston suburb, is the fastest-growing city in the nation. It's a great place for job seekers with skills in healthcare, construction, and professional and technical services.

Here the median home price is $339,700, showing that the dream of becoming a homeowner is still alive and kicking.

If you're renting, the average rent is $1,151 per month, while the overall cost of living is 9% lower than the national average.

Westfield, Indiana

Westfield is an Indianapolis suburb that's maintaining a whopping 38% growth rate. That includes expanding a huge sports complex that draws millions to the area. The median home price is $499,500 and the average rent is $1,357 per month.

Hot industries in the Indianapolis metro include manufacturing, transportation, and warehouse work. Tech jobs in the area are expected to continue to increase in the future, as well.

Orange Park, Florida

The Jacksonville area saw 3.8% job growth in 2023, among the highest on our list. One notably thriving suburb is Orange Park, where military, medical, and retail jobs are abundant.

With a median home price of $345,000 and average rent of $1,238, life in Orange Park is affordable. Being near the water means there's free fun too, which will help those dollars stretch even further.

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Smyrna, Tennessee

Job growth is strong and unemployment is well below the national average in Music City. Smyrna is a suburb to keep on your radar for reasonably-priced homes and employment opportunities. Notable employers include Nissan and Taylor Farms.

The median home price is below Nashville's $550,000 average at $469,900 and rent prices hover around $1,334. Healthcare and transportation costs are notably below the national average.

St. Cloud, Florida

There's more to the Orlando area than Disney, where tens of thousands of new jobs have been added to the economy in trade, transportation, and utilities. The desirable and affordable suburb St. Cloud is one to watch, with potentially explosive job growth of its own.

The median home price is $410,000 and average rent is high at $1,601, so homeownership is within reach for new residents.

Maricopa, Arizona

Four of the fastest-growing affordable suburbs in the U.S. are outside of Phoenix, with Maricopa being listed as seventh in the nation. The median home price is $375,000 (much lower than in Phoenix proper), and the average rent is $1,312.

The biggest employer in Phoenix is Banner Health, which pays RNs and health screeners about $40 per hour. Harrah's Ak-Chin Hotel & Casino is another one of the region's top employers for those looking for a job outside of the healthcare industry.

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New Braunfels, Texas

New Braunfels, Texas is the San Antonio suburb that's popping up on every list of where to buy a home and score a great job. It's been exploding in growth and that's only expected to continue. Area jobs are plentiful in trades, transportation, government, and healthcare.

The median home price is $399,900 and the average rent is $1,267.

Wesley Chapel, Florida

Tampa's labor market is ranked in the top ten in the country, with ample jobs available in defense and security, IT, finance, and healthcare.

Of its suburbs, Wesley Chapel is poised to dramatically increase available jobs. The median salary is high at $107,004 and the median home price is $450,000.

Brentwood, Missouri

This suburb of St. Louis has a median home price of $209,900, the lowest on our list. Average rent is also low at $859 a month. That doesn't mean the homes are anything other than top tier, however.

And yes, the job market is booming in the St. Louis region with growth over 2% in 2024. Notable companies include GM, James Hardy, ICL, and Weiland.

Bottom line

If you're ready to move beyond living paycheck to paycheck, it may be time to put down roots in one of these thriving suburbs with affordable options and bright futures. With the cost of living rising across the board, securing your livelihood is more important than ever.

You're certainly not alone if you're considering a relocation, as many Americans are leaving large coastal hotspots that have become unsustainable for them.

Therefore, it wouldn't hurt to get as far ahead of the pack as possible by making a move before everyone else discovers these hot suburbs.

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Author Details

Cat Lafuente

Cat Lafuente is a Florida-based writer and editor with extensive experience in digital and print content spaces. Her own personal finance journey — particularly consolidating debt and paying it off, in turn boosting her credit score and becoming a homeowner — inspired her to join the FinanceBuzz team; she hopes she can help others do the same.