18 Missouri
Super-affordable Missouri is a well-rounded state and home to five professional sports teams, theme parks, and the Ozark mountains. About one-third of the residents here live in rural areas, yet it ranks 18th on the list of the country's most populous. Richmond, 40 miles east of Kansas City, is the least expensive city to live in, especially for renters. Homebuyers should check out Joplin for some of the lowest real estate prices in the country.
