Tired of the strain of living in a big city?

Here are some of the Top 10 "Tier-Two" Cities you should consider moving to

Tired of big city living but not quite ready to leave the amenities and vibrant culture behind? Consider moving to a second-tier city instead. For those who’ve grown tired of the hassles and costs that come with living in a large "first-tier" city (think: New York, San Francisco and Chicago), moving to a second-tier city could be the right decision. In general, “second-tier” cities are considered to be mid-size cities with less than a million people. Though smaller in scale than first-tier cities, these mid-size cities still tend to have a strong job market, top-notch amenities and plenty of cultural opportunities. Below, we’ve included our list of reasons for why you should consider moving to a second-tier city as well as our top 10 picks for the best second-tier cities in the U.S.

Reasons to move to a second-tier city:

Lower cost of living – Second-tier cities tend to be more affordable than their first-tier counterparts. For example, New York City, San Francisco and Boston are three of the most expensive metropolitan areas in the country. Charlotte, Tampa and Columbus, on the other hand, are relatively affordable, with cheaper amenities and lower home prices.
Easier work commute – Many professionals who move to second-tier cities find that the work commute is much easier. Not only do residents tend to live closer to work (because they can afford to do so), but there’s also less traffic on the road than in large cities.
More residential neighborhoods – Dreaming of a neighborhood with tree-lined streets and a large yard? Unlike first-tier cities, you won’t have to move out to the ‘burbs in order to find a residential neighborhood.
Higher quality of life, in general – From the lower cost of living and family-oriented nature to the abundance of parks, bike trails and cultural events, second-tier city residents may enjoy a higher quality of life than those living in very large cities.

The 10 best second-tier cities to call your new home:
There are plenty of incredible second-tier cities to call home, but these (in our opinion) take the cake. If you’re looking for an exceptionally livable mid-size city to move to this year, consider these 10 spots.

Austin, TX

Median home price: $450,000
Median rent: $1,850 a month
Cost of living: The cost of living index score for Austin is 109, which is just nine percent higher than the national average.
Median income: The median household income is $60,939, which is 10 percent higher than the national average.
Top employers: Dell Technologies, St. David’s HealthCare, IBM, Apple, and University of Texas Austin.

Charlotte, NC
Median home price: $315,000
Median rent: $1,640 a month
Cost of living: The cost of living index score for Charlotte is 101, which is only one percent higher than the national average.
Median income: The median household income is $55,599, which is one percent higher than the national average.
Top employers: Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Duke Energy, Microsoft and Kforce.

Columbus, OH
Median home price: $204,900
Median rent: $1,290 a month
Cost of living: The cost of living index score for Columbus is 90, which is 10 percent lower than the national average.
Median income: The median household income is $47,156, which is 15 percent lower than the national average.
Top employers: JPMorgan Chase, Nationwide, Honda, Cardinal Health and L Brands.

Denver, CO
Median home price: $489,000
Median rent: $2,090 a month
Cost of living: The cost of living index score for Denver is 114, which is just 14 percent higher than the national average.
Median income: The median household income is $56,258, which is two percent higher than the national average.
Top employers: Comcast Corporation, Land Title Guarantee Co., Panda Restaurant Group, and Greystar.

Indianapolis, IN
Median home price: $184,990
Median rent: $1,090 a month
Cost of living: The cost of living index score for Indianapolis is 90, which is 10 percent lower than the national average.
Median income: The median household income is $43,101, which is 22 percent lower than the national average.
Top employers: ERMCO, Keller Williams Indy Metro, Charles Schwab, Anthem, and Eli Lilly and Company.

Pittsburgh, PA
Median home price: $229,900
Median rent: $1,550 a month
Cost of living: The cost of living index score for Pittsburgh is 91, which is nine percent lower than the national average.
Median income: The median household income is $42,450, which is 23 percent lower than the national average.
Top employers: PNC, PPG Industries, Kraft Heinz Co., United States Steel Corp., and Arconic.

Raleigh, NC
Median home price: $310,000
Median rent: $1,600 a month
Cost of living: The cost of living index score for Raleigh is 102, which is two percent higher than the national average.
Median income: The median household income is $58,641, which is six percent higher than the national average.
Top employers: Duke University and Health System, State of North Carolina, Walmart, and WakeMed Health and Hospitals.

Sacramento, CA
Median home price: $369,900
Median rent: $1,750 a month
Cost of living: The cost of living index score for Sacramento is 119, which is 19 percent higher than the national average.
Median income: The median household income is $52,071, which is six percent lower than the national average.
Top employers: Kaiser Permanente, Intel Corporation, Sutter Health, and Aerojet Rocketdyne.

Salt Lake City, UT
Median home price: $419,900
Median rent: $1,250 a month
Cost of living: The cost of living index score for Salt Lake City is 106, which is just six percent higher than the national average.
Median income: The median household income is $50,353, which is nine percent lower than the national average.
Top employers: Alsco, Intermountain Healthcare, Smith’s Food and Drug, SkyWest and the University of Utah

Tampa, FL
Median home price: $294,890
Median rent: $1,650 a month
Cost of living: The cost of living index score for Tampa is 97, which is three percent lower than the national average.
Median income: The median household income is $45,874, which is 17 percent lower than the national average.
Top employers: Tech Data, Publix Super Markets, Jabil, WellCare Health Plans, BayCare Health Care Systems and Verizon.

Ready to move to one of the best second-tier cities in the country?

We can help! Call us today to get your free quote on your upcoming long-distance move. We will be happy to walk you through our process to get you an accurate quote. If your home is already listed for sale online we can do a virtual in-home estimate based on your listing photos - wherever you are in the United States.