The Most Affordable Town in Washington Will Cost You $550 A Month

With inflation and gas prices skyrocketing, higher interest rates on the way, and real estate values still steadily rising, many people in the Mid-Columbia and around the state are looking to lower their expenses by moving to a town with a low cost of living index - especially when it comes to housing. Well, they won't have to travel far because according to a recent study three towns near the Tri-Cities fall into the lowest cost of living category in Washington State.

Connell, Washington

Photo: connellwa.com

Connell takes the top spot for the lowest cost of living in Washington. The city was established just over 139 years ago and is located about 30 minutes north of Pasco off Highway 395. The population of Connell is just over 5,500 and growing, mostly because of its hometown feel, the price of real estate, and its vicinity to healthcare facilities in Tri-Cities. Connell's growth is also due to the jobs that have been created from the Coyote Ridge Correctional Facility. A combined average mortgage payment with property taxes is a low $550 a month (excludes insurance).

Median Income: $51,000
Average Mortgage Payment: $450
Average Monthly Property Taxes: $100

Finley, Washington

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If you can get past the redneck jokes, then Finley just might be the place to find a bargain on a home and an overall peaceful farmland feeling. I found an interesting story about the history of Finley online which says the area was first settled 120 years ago in 1902 by a family from Nebraska. George Finley, his wife, and his son took up roots six miles southeast of Kennewick. It turns out the Finleys were looking for cheap land (a lower cost of living). When it comes to living cheap, Finley currently ranks as the third least expensive area to live in the state of Washington with an average mortgage payment with property taxes at $855 (excludes insurance).

Median Income: $73,000
Average Monthly Mortgage Payment: $675
Average Monthly Property Taxes: $180

West Richland, Washington

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The City of West Richland is the 5th cheapest place to live in Washington.

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West Richland is a vibrant and active community. It was incorporated in June of 1955 and by 1960 its population had grown to just over 1300 residents. Now in 2022, the city is bursting with about 17,000 people with many more to come. A recent announcement to build 7,700 homes in the area means more growth and opportunity over the next 10 to 20 years. West Richland has an average mortgage payment with insurance of $1235 (excludes insurance).

Median Income: $100,000
Average Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,000
Average Monthly Property Taxes: $235

LOOK: Here is the richest town in each state

Just saying the names of these towns immediately conjures up images of grand mansions, luxury cars, and ritzy restaurants. Read on to see which town in your home state took the title of the richest location and which place had the highest median income in the country. Who knows—your hometown might even be on this list.

LOOK: Here are the 50 best beach towns in America

Every beach town has its share of pluses and minuses, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best one to live in. To find out, Stacker consulted data from WalletHub, released June 17, 2020, that compares U.S. beach towns. Ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read the full methodology here. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn that many of towns featured here are in one of those two states.

Keep reading to see if your favorite beach town made the cut.

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