Zipfinder

Can you actually find a neighborhood in America that's both dirt cheap AND one of the safest places in the country?

The answer is yes. And there are way more of them than you'd think.

We analyzed every zip code in our database of 33,000+ and filtered for just one thing: an A+ crime score combined with the lowest possible home values. Out of nearly 1,400 zip codes that qualified (population over 3,000, A+ crime rating), we picked the 10 that offer the most compelling combination of affordability, safety, and livability.

No clickbait. No filler towns with 200 people. Just real places where real people live, with homes you can actually afford and neighborhoods where you can leave your front door unlocked.

Why This Matters Right Now

The national median home value sits at $272,958 across all zip codes in our dataset. Every single zip code on this list comes in well below that number, and most are less than half.

Meanwhile, crime across the U.S. has been dropping significantly. Homicides fell 21% in 2025 compared to 2024, and are down 44% from the 2021 peak. Aggravated assaults dropped 9%, robberies fell 23%, and residential burglaries declined 17%. If federal data confirms these trends, the national homicide rate could hit its lowest point in over a century.

But here's the thing: not every neighborhood is getting safer at the same rate. The zip codes on this list were already safe. They've had A+ crime scores while the rest of the country was dealing with the post-2020 crime spike. That kind of consistency matters.

For international buyers and people relocating from overseas, safety is often the number one concern. You don't know the neighborhoods. You can't drive through them first. You need data you can trust. That's exactly what this list provides.

How We Picked These 10

We started with every zip code in America that has:

An A+ crime score (the highest possible rating)
A population of at least 3,000 (no ghost towns)
Zillow home value data available

That gave us 1,387 qualifying zip codes across 32 states. Then we sorted by home value and curated the final 10 for geographic diversity, lifestyle variety, and overall livability. We didn't just pick the 10 cheapest. We picked the 10 most interesting.

The List

1. Falconer, NY (14733)

Home Value	Median Rent	Median Income	Population	3-Yr Appreciation	Crime Score
$128,160	$621	$45,245	3,646	+24.89%	A+

The cheapest A+ zip code in America with a real population. Falconer sits in Chautauqua County in southwestern New York, about 70 miles south of Buffalo. Homes here have appreciated nearly 25% over three years, which means the secret is starting to get out. Median age is just 35.8, unemployment is a low 3.7%, and 68% of residents own their homes.

At $128K, you're buying a house for less than a new car costs in some cities. And your neighbors aren't locking their doors.

Homeownership rate: 68%
Median age: 35.8
Unemployment: 3.7%

2. Saint Marys, PA (15857)

Home Value	Median Rent	Median Income	Population	3-Yr Appreciation	Crime Score
$140,461	$584	$53,255	12,567	+0.16%	A+

The biggest small town on this list. With over 12,500 residents, Saint Marys is a proper community in Elk County, Pennsylvania. It's nestled in the Allegheny Plateau surrounded by state forests and has the infrastructure (schools, shops, healthcare) that smaller towns on lists like this often lack.

The 76% homeownership rate and 52% married population tell you this is a settled, stable community. Homes are flat on appreciation, which means there's no speculation driving prices up. What you see is what you get.

Homeownership rate: 76%
College educated: 21.3%
Population growing: +5% last year

3. Mackinaw, IL (61755)

Home Value	Median Rent	Median Income	Population	3-Yr Appreciation	Crime Score
$242,226	$805	$81,597	4,783	+25.41%	A+

Best income-to-home-value ratio on the list. Mackinaw is in Tazewell County, Illinois, about 30 minutes south of Bloomington-Normal. The median household income is $81,597 against a home value of $242K. That's a ratio most coastal residents can only dream about.

This is classic Midwest living at its best. Nearly 89% homeownership (the highest on our list), 63% of residents are married, and homes have appreciated over 25% in three years. The 2.7% unemployment rate suggests a healthy local economy.

Homeownership rate: 89%
Married households: 62.8%
Unemployment: 2.7%

4. Springville, IN (47462)

Home Value	Median Rent	Median Income	Population	3-Yr Appreciation	Crime Score
$256,784	$784	$69,322	4,812	+15.75%	A+

The family pick. Springville sits in Lawrence County, Indiana, with a median age of just 37.6 and an average family size of 3.0. The population grew 11% over three years, which is a strong signal that families are discovering this area.

With 87% homeownership, 63% married households, and a median income of nearly $70K, this is a community where people are putting down roots. And at $257K, you're getting a house for less than the national median while living in one of the safest zip codes in the country.

Homeownership rate: 87%
Population growth (3yr): +11%
Married households: 62.6%

5. Canton, OH (44721)

Home Value	Median Rent	Median Income	Population	3-Yr Appreciation	Crime Score
$284,689	$755	$79,100	14,065	+18.82%	A+

The most "city" option on the list. This Canton zip code covers the northeast suburbs of the city in Stark County, Ohio. With over 14,000 residents and a population density of 353 per square mile, you actually get a suburban feel with real amenities nearby.

The numbers here are strong across the board: 34.4% college educated (highest on the list for affordable zips), 85% homeownership, 2.4% unemployment, and nearly 19% home value appreciation over three years. Canton is also home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, if that matters to you. (It should.)

College educated: 34.4%
Unemployment: 2.4%
Income growth (3yr): +13%

6. Roebling, NJ (08554)

Home Value	Median Rent	Median Income	Population	3-Yr Appreciation	Crime Score
$294,507	$1,342	$85,725	4,123	+17.90%	A+

The commuter play. Roebling is in Burlington County, New Jersey, sitting right between Philadelphia and Trenton. With a walk score of 58 (the highest on this list by far), you can actually get around without a car. That's almost unheard of at this price point with an A+ crime score.

This is the closest thing to a "have it all" zip code on the list. You get East Coast access, walkability, safety, and a home under $300K. The population density of 1,507 per square mile means this is a real neighborhood, not a rural outpost. Homes have appreciated nearly 18% over three years.

Walk score: 58
Population density: 1,507/sq mi
Median age: 37.8

7. Cibolo, TX (78108)

Home Value	Median Rent	Median Income	Population	3-Yr Appreciation	Crime Score
$324,932	$1,725	$100,271	39,999	-8.20%	A+

The warm-weather family powerhouse. Cibolo is the largest community on this list by far, with nearly 40,000 residents. Located in Guadalupe County just northeast of San Antonio, it's a booming suburb that's grown 20% in population over three years.

Here's why Cibolo stands out: $100K median household income, 38% college educated, 81% homeownership, no state income tax (it's Texas), and January temperatures averaging 49 degrees. The catch? Home values have pulled back about 8% over three years as the San Antonio market absorbs excess new construction. For buyers, that's actually an opportunity.

No state income tax
Population growth (3yr): +20%
Average January temp: 49°F

8. Southaven, MS (38672)

Home Value	Median Rent	Median Income	Population	3-Yr Appreciation	Crime Score
$327,067	$1,654	$101,974	14,641	-1.46%	A+

Mississippi's best-kept secret. When people think Mississippi, they don't think six-figure household incomes and A+ crime scores. But this zip code in DeSoto County, just south of Memphis, TN, is quietly one of the best places to live in the South.

The stats here are remarkable: 90% homeownership (highest on the list), 68% married, 41% college educated, and just 1.7% unemployment. The median age of 36.8 and average family size of 3.4 tell you this is a young-family community. And with January temps around 40°F, you get mild winters without the Texas heat.

Homeownership rate: 90%
Unemployment: 1.7%
College educated: 40.9%

9. Bondurant, IA (50035)

Home Value	Median Rent	Median Income	Population	3-Yr Appreciation	Crime Score
$332,745	$961	$99,115	8,341	+2.99%	A+

The boomtown. Bondurant is the youngest community on this list with a median age of just 31.2, and it's growing fast. Population is up 19% over three years and 8% in just the last year. The town sits in Polk County, just northeast of Des Moines.

Here's the stat that jumps off the page: 0% unemployment. Zero. That's not a typo. Combined with a $99K median income, 89% homeownership, 62% married households, and 44% college-educated residents, Bondurant looks like a town that was designed in a lab to be the perfect suburb.

Iowa doesn't get the attention that Sun Belt states do, but the data speaks for itself.

Unemployment: 0%
Median age: 31.2 (youngest on list)
Income growth (3yr): +26%

10. Newberry, FL (32669)

Home Value	Median Rent	Median Income	Population	3-Yr Appreciation	Crime Score
$340,141	$980	$70,356	14,037	-2.66%	A+

The Florida option that actually makes sense. Newberry is in Alachua County, just west of Gainesville (home of the University of Florida). For everyone who wants Florida weather, Florida lifestyle, and no state income tax but doesn't want Florida prices, this is your zip code.

January temperatures average 55°F, there's zero snow, the population has grown 15% over three years, and 84% of residents own their homes. Home values have dipped slightly (down 2.7% over 3 years), likely due to broader Florida market corrections and insurance cost increases. But that dip makes this an attractive entry point for a zip code that checks every other box.

January average temp: 55°F
No state income tax
Population growth (3yr): +15%

The Big Picture: What the Data Reveals

A few patterns jumped out when we analyzed all 1,387 qualifying zip codes:

The Northeast dominates. New York alone has more A+ crime zip codes than most people would guess, especially in the rural upstate counties. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New England are also heavily represented. This tracks with broader crime data showing that the Northeast consistently has the lowest violent crime rates in the country.
The Midwest is the value sweet spot. States like Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa offer the best combination of affordability, safety, and income-to-home-value ratios. If you're optimizing purely on numbers, the Midwest wins.
Warm weather costs more. We found almost zero zip codes with A+ crime scores, home values under $300K, warm winters, AND a population over 3,000. Cibolo, Southaven, and Newberry are the rare exceptions. If you want sunshine and safety at a discount, your options are genuinely limited.
Safe communities are stable communities. Across nearly all 1,387 qualifying zips, homeownership rates average above 75%, married-household rates are above 50%, and unemployment runs well below national averages. Safety and economic stability tend to go hand in hand.

For International Buyers and Relocators

If you're considering a move to the United States, or investing in U.S. property from abroad, here's what makes this data especially useful:

Crime scores cut through the noise. You can't drive every neighborhood before you buy. An A+ crime score based on actual incident data gives you confidence that a zip code is genuinely safe, not just marketed that way.
These zip codes are real communities. Every entry on this list has at least 3,000 residents, established infrastructure, and stable demographics. These aren't speculative developments or new subdivisions with no track record.
Cost of entry is remarkably low. Several zip codes on this list have home values under $150K. For international investors used to property prices in London, Sydney, Dubai, or Toronto, that's a fraction of what a comparable property would cost in a safe neighborhood back home.
No state income tax options exist. Both Cibolo, TX and Newberry, FL are in states with no state income tax, which can meaningfully impact your net returns if you're renting the property out or earning income locally.

What's Not on This List (And Why)

You might notice some obvious omissions. There are no zip codes from California, Colorado, Washington, or Oregon on this list. That's not because those states lack safe neighborhoods. They have plenty. But the A+ zip codes in those states start at $500K+ and go up from there. Safety and affordability just don't overlap in high-cost states the way they do in the Midwest and Northeast.

We also filtered out zip codes with populations under 3,000. There are dozens of ultra-tiny A+ zip codes with home values under $100K, but a community of 500 people doesn't have the infrastructure most people need. If you're interested in the most rural, most affordable options, ZipFinder lets you remove the population filter entirely.

Explore All 1,387 A+ Zip Codes Yourself

This blog post covers 10 zip codes. But there are 1,387 zip codes in America with an A+ crime score and a population over 3,000, spread across 32 states.

With ZipFinder, you can:

Filter every zip code by crime score, home value, climate, walkability, and dozens more metrics
Sort by what matters to you: cheapest first, warmest winters, fastest growing, highest income
Compare zip codes side by side with full demographic and housing data
Find the exact combination of safe, affordable, and livable that fits your life

Whether you're a young family looking for your first home, a retiree searching for a safe and affordable place to settle down, or an international buyer exploring the U.S. market for the first time, the data is here. Start exploring zip codes on ZipFinder.

Data sourced from ZipFinder's proprietary dataset combining U.S. Census data, Zillow market data, FBI crime statistics, and multiple public data sources. Crime scores are calculated using reported incident data normalized by population. All figures reflect the most recent available data as of early 2026. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or real estate advice.

The 10 Cheapest Zip Codes in America With A+ Crime Scores