Pennsylvania
Cheapest Place: Girardville
2023 ZHVI: $32,587.41
Total Population: 1,360
2023 ZHVI: $32,587.41
Total Population: 1,360
Girardville not only has strong connections to the coal mining industry, but cultural influences from Irish immigrants; most notably, its links to a secret society of miner’s rights advocates called the Molly Maguires.
Alabama
Cheapest Place: Selmont-West Selmont
2023ZHVI: $26,907.01
Total Population: 1,995
2023ZHVI: $26,907.01
Total Population: 1,995
Selmont-West Selmont balances the wonders of modern life with a rich history. It will be of particular interest to Civil War enthusiasts due to its proximity to the Edmund Pettus Bridge north of nearby Selma.
Alaska
Cheapest Place: Ninilchik
2023 ZHVI: $203,976.93
Total Population: 964
2023 ZHVI: $203,976.93
Total Population: 964
Ninilchik’s architecture is a unique mix of an indigenous Native American Athabaskan culture called the Dena'ina people and Russian-American settlers. The huge Russian Orthodox Church, dating back to 1900, is a prominent feature.
Arizona
Cheapest Place: Bowie
2023 ZHVI: $82,555.38
Total Population: 320
2023 ZHVI: $82,555.38
Total Population: 320
Situated in close proximity to the 19th century army outpost Fort Bowie, both the town and the fort got their name from folk hero James Bowie, who also lent his name to the Bowie knife.
Arkansas
Cheapest Place: Grubbs
2023 ZHVI: $36,023.51
Total Population: 416
2023 ZHVI: $36,023.51
Total Population: 416
Grubbs is a major player in the agricultural industry, which remains a key component in the economy to this day. Many companies operate from here, including Riceland Foods, a big name in the industry.
California
Cheapest Place: Johannesburg
2023 ZHVI: $95,686.53
Total Population: 90
2023 ZHVI: $95,686.53
Total Population: 90
History buffs will find much to love about Johannesburg, which was heavily influenced by the mining industry - the influence of which still decorate the town. For instance, you can explore King Solomon Mine, which dates back to 1896.
Colorado
Cheapest Place: Las Animas
2023 ZHVI: $93,021.01
Total Population: 2,564
2023 ZHVI: $93,021.01
Total Population: 2,564
According to legend, Las Animas (or “The Souls”) and the nearby Purgatoire River (“Purgatory”) were named for a group of conquistadors who died before receiving their last rites, rendering them lost souls.
Connecticut
Cheapest Place: Hartford
2023 ZHVI: $229,199,63
Total Population: 121,562
2023 ZHVI: $229,199,63
Total Population: 121,562
With strong roots to colonial American history and Indigenous Americans, Hartford is especially appreciated as the place where the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut constitution was signed in 1639. It’s considered one of the first constitutions ever written!
Florida
Cheapest Place: Gretna
2023 ZHVI: $83,913.77
Total Population: 1,247
2023 ZHVI: $83,913.77
Total Population: 1,247
Florida’s Gretna has a rich history in African American culture, and pulled together to help make the country a better place for marginalized people. For example, Florida A&M University held a rehabilitation program to provide education and support to the community.
Georgia
Cheapest Place: Lumpkin
2023 ZHVI: $41,536.21
Total Population: 862
2023 ZHVI: $41,536.21
Total Population: 862
In a historic 1960’s Georgia murder case, Mary Prince - who was nanny to Amy Carter, daughter to future President Jimmy Carter - was sentenced for shooting her husband. Surprisingly for the time, she was later pardoned on the grounds of self defense.
Hawaii
Cheapest Place: Pāhoa
2023 ZHVI: $279,815.53
Total Population: 1,336
2023 ZHVI: $279,815.53
Total Population: 1,336
Pāhoa has a long history, but the Puna Sugar Company kickstarted its economical development using the fertile volcanic soil to grow crops. Japanese immigrants settled there too, whose influence can be seen in Hawaii’s oldest theater - the Akebono Theater.
Idaho
Cheapest Place: Pierce
2023 ZHVI: $185,619.88
Total Population: 481
2023 ZHVI: $185,619.88
Total Population: 481
Pierce’s history is steeped in the gold rush era - the gold canal that started it all is north of Pierce. Chinese immigrants settled there too, and their influence can still be seen in modern-day Pierce.
Illinois
Cheapest Place: Cairo
2023 ZHVI: $19,759.71
Total Population: 1,694
2023 ZHVI: $19,759.71
Total Population: 1,694
Cairo was a significant location during the Civil War, as evidenced by Fort Defiance Park in the north. And yes, it’s named after Egypt’s Cairo - they’re both situated in similar southern locations.
Indiana
Cheapest Place: Jasonville
2023 ZHVI: $69,864.45
Total Population: 1,935
2023 ZHVI: $69,864.45
Total Population: 1,935
While it was originally indigenous American land inhabited by the Painkeshaw Indian Tribe, settler Jason Rogers moved in and started developing it, hence the name Jasonville. It’s now considered an important piece of history.
Iowa
Cheapest Place: Mystic
2023 ZHVI: $53,950.55
Total Population: 337
2023 ZHVI: $53,950.55
Total Population: 337
Mystic was actually bigger back in its heyday, when it was a significant coal mining town. Its inhabitants numbered around 3,000 but with the decline of the coal industry, Mystic followed suit. It remains historically significant, though.
Kansas
Cheapest Place: Sedan
2023 ZHVI: $39,922.63
Total Population: 873
2023 ZHVI: $39,922.63
Total Population: 873
Sedan’s growth was due in large part to its industry in cattle and agriculture, but it has another claim to fame. The Emmett Kelly Museum, for instance, attracts attention for its dedication to the famous clown, who’s performing name was "Weary Willie.”
Kentucky
Cheapest Place: Wheelwright
2023 ZHVI: $40,091.90
Total Population: 777
2023 ZHVI: $40,091.90
Total Population: 777
Wheelwright was a popular place during the 1900s, when it established itself as a successful mining town. In fact, it was named for Jere H. Wheelwright, who was president of the Consolidation Coal Company at the time.
Louisiana
Cheapest Place: Rodessa
2023 ZHVI: $51,729.93
Total Population: 150
2023 ZHVI: $51,729.93
Total Population: 150
Rodessa has always been small, even when it had a role as an important trading hub. Because of its place near the Texas border, it was a popular spot for people to stop and barter for furs, cattle and essential goods.
Maine
Cheapest Place: Van Buren
2023 ZHVI: $112,255.80
Total Population: 1,596
2023 ZHVI: $112,255.80
Total Population: 1,596
Van Buren has significant ties to the French settlers in Arcadia, and this influence shows even in modern times. For instance, Inhabitants commonly speak both French and English, and the food stays true to its French roots.
Maryland
Cheapest Place: Kitzmiller
2023 ZHVI: $70,155.67
Total Population: 229
2023 ZHVI: $70,155.67
Total Population: 229
Although Kitzmiller is better known for its role in the coal mining industry and its Coal Heritage Museum, it started out as a woolen mill and transitioned into the lumber business.
Massachusetts
Cheapest Place: North Adams
2023 ZHVI: $231,801.34
Total Population: 13,024
2023 ZHVI: $231,801.34
Total Population: 13,024
North Adams is a celebrated historical town with a number of entries on the National Register of Historic Places. One of them is the only place you’ll find a white marble bridge in North America - Natural Bridge State Park.
Delaware
Cheapest Place: Little Creek
2023 ZHVI: $188,307.07
Total Population: 248
2023 ZHVI: $188,307.07
Total Population: 248
If you’re into seafood - and particularly shellfish - Little Creek is the place for you. It was a major hub for oystering and shucking in its day, all of which came from the Delaware bay and strengthened the economy.
Michigan
Cheapest Place: Beecher
2023 ZHVI: $35,217.92
Total Population: 9,171
2023 ZHVI: $35,217.92
Total Population: 9,171
Beecher’s best known for its link to Flint, which played a significant role in the automotive vehicle industry. If you’re familiar with cars, you might know it as the home of General Motors (GM).
Minnesota
Cheapest Place: Elmore
2023 ZHVI: $66,721
Total Population: 398
2023 ZHVI: $66,721
Total Population: 398
Elmore’s identity comes partly from its railroad history. You see, Elmore was once a roundhouse facility for trains, where they could switch back to their origins. It was also the childhood home of politician Walter F. Mondale!
Mississippi
Cheapest Place: Clarksdale
2023 ZHVI: $47,648.91
Total Population: 15,124
2023 ZHVI: $47,648.91
Total Population: 15,124
Music fans won’t need an introduction to Clarksdale, but for those of you who don’t know, it’s where blues music originated and was home to legendary blues musicians such as Muddy Waters and Sam Cooke.
Missouri
Cheapest Place: Hillsdale
2023 ZHVI: $37,847.55
Total Population: 934
2023 ZHVI: $37,847.55
Total Population: 934
Hillsdale was founded at the start of the 1900s where it began as a farming community, but the need for trade inspired the startup of local businesses. It ended up as a trade hub, and is now part of the country’s diverse tapestry.
Montana
Cheapest Place: Browning
2023 ZHVI: $133,406.20
Total Population: 851
2023 ZHVI: $133,406.20
Total Population: 851
Montana’s Browning has an important place in Native American culture as the site of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. It hosts lots of cultural appreciation, including the Museum of the Plains Indian and the Blackfeet Heritage Center & Art Gallery.
Nebraska
Cheapest Place: Walthill
2023 ZHVI: $53,750.74
Total Population: 880
2023 ZHVI: $53,750.74
Total Population: 880
Not only does Walthill have links to the Quincy Railroad, it’s also the birthplace of the first Native American woman to earn a medical degree: Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte.
Nevada
Cheapest Place: Austin
2023 ZHVI: $72,914.97
Total Population: 18
2023 ZHVI: $72,914.97
Total Population: 18
When silver was found in Pony Canyon, Austin went from a relatively small settlement to a busy mining town. The Austin Historical Society Museum still pays homage to this origin with artefacts from the period.
New Hampshire
Cheapest Place: Groveton
2023 ZHVI: $153,511.01
Total Population: 892
2023 ZHVI: $153,511.01
Total Population: 892
Groveton is proud of its origins as a paper mill, and holds festivals to celebrate those roots. You see, the paper industry - and the Groveton Paper Board Company particularly - played a huge part in establishing the town’s identity.
New Jersey
Cheapest Place: Camden
2023 ZHVI: $111,456.76
Total Population: 72,381
2023 ZHVI: $111,456.76
Total Population: 72,381
Camden is full of interesting attractions, from the ever-popular marine life in the Adventure Aquarium to the Wiggins Waterfront Park, which is used as a community hub and venue for other exciting events.
New Mexico
Cheapest Place: Tucumcari
2023 ZHVI: $79,381
Total Population: 5,221
2023 ZHVI: $79,381
Total Population: 5,221
Tucumcari went from a lawless city known as “Six-Shooter Siding” to a popular rest stop for people travelling the famous Route 66. Because of the influx of visitors, Tucumcari leaned into the tourism industry, which is still evident today.
New York
Cheapest Place: Lyon Mountain
2023 ZHVI: $54,356.54
Total Population: 256
2023 ZHVI: $54,356.54
Total Population: 256
Lyon Mountain’s development began in the 19th century when the Chateaugay Ore & Iron Company established itself. It was the discovery site of the high-quality ore used for monuments such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge.
North Carolina
Cheapest Place: Roxobel
2023 ZHVI: $37,497.18
Total Population: 224
2023 ZHVI: $37,497.18
Total Population: 224
As part of North Carolina’s farming community, Roxobel has helped shape the state into what it is today. It’s most famous for its tobacco, cotton and peanut butter, but there’s evidence of its rich history in the Roxobel-Kelford Historic District.
North Dakota
Cheapest Place: Drake
2023 ZHVI: $86,510.78
Total Population: 339
2023 ZHVI: $86,510.78
Total Population: 339
Have you heard of Jackie and Janine Pfeiffer? They are known for providing insight into their lives in North Dakota in the ’50s. Well, they came from Drake, and their stories are a fascinating peek into the day-to-day rural life of times gone by.
Ohio
Cheapest Place: Drexel
2023 ZHVI: $43,850.55
Total Population: 1,732
2023 ZHVI: $43,850.55
Total Population: 1,732
Drexel is close to Dayton, and so it has associations to the aviation industry. To be precise, it was home to Wilbur and Orville Wright (the Wright brothers) who revolutionized flying machines.
Oklahoma
Cheapest Place: Grandfield
2023 ZHVI: $36,349.68
Total Population: 936
2023 ZHVI: $36,349.68
Total Population: 936
Sports fans might know Grandfield for the Grandfield Bearcats, who Kenneth Johnson played for. He scored a record-breaking 105 points in one game - a feat that still hasn’t been beaten in the state.
Oregon
Cheapest Place: Condon
2023 ZHVI: $160,483.04
Total Population: 763
2023 ZHVI: $160,483.04
Total Population: 763
Despite being a relatively small place, Condon’s had two residents - Dr. Thomas Condon and John L. Condon - who won Nobel Prizes, both of whom are honored in Condon's annual celebrations.
Rhode Island
Cheapest Place: Central Falls
2023 ZHVI: $322,266.99
Total Population: 22,192
2023 ZHVI: $322,266.99
Total Population: 22,192
Central Falls is known to history buffs as the location of the Battle of Central Falls in 1676. In a now-famous ambush, Captain Michael Pierce and his troops were attacked and killed. The location’s now called “Nine Men's Misery.”
South Carolina
Cheapest Place: Wagener
2023 ZHVI: $43,440.76
Total Population: 1,357
2023 ZHVI: $43,440.76
Total Population: 1,357
The famous Swamp Rabbit Train, which ran through the swampy areas of South Carolina, ran through Wagener, and it’s a point of local pride. In fact, the Wagener Museum has exhibits dedicated to it.
South Dakota
Cheapest Place: Lemmon
2023 ZHVI: $92,496.39
Total Population: 1,252
2023 ZHVI: $92,496.39
Total Population: 1,252
Lemmon celebrates its position as the site of the largest petrified wood park in the world. The town’s Petrified Wood Park & Museum is the place to be; it displays art and sculptures crafted from the park’s rock-like trees.
Tennessee
Cheapest Place: Ridgely
2023 ZHVI: $88,515.45
Total Population: 1,950
2023 ZHVI: $88,515.45
Total Population: 1,950
Despite its small size, Tennessee’s Ridgely has strong links to railroad history. It’s home to The Ridgely Train Station which dates back to the 1900s, and it even offers tours to railroad aficionados.
Texas
Cheapest Place: Rochester
2023 ZHVI: $48,611.98
Total Population: 315
2023 ZHVI: $48,611.98
Total Population: 315
America wasn’t always as connected as it is now, and the improvements are in large part due to the expansion of the railroad. Rochester played a significant part in this as a hub of sorts, linking many distant places together.
Utah
Cheapest Place: Emery
2023 ZHVI: $189,196.44
Total Population: 375
2023 ZHVI: $189,196.44
Total Population: 375
Emery’s a beautiful example of how diverse America can be. Captain John W. Gunnison first discovered the area and paid attention to the unique stone ridges and chasms. As agriculture developed, the expansion led to Emery’s founding.
Vermont
Cheapest Place: North Troy
2023 ZHVI: $156,570.38
Total Population: 570
2023 ZHVI: $156,570.38
Total Population: 570
North Troy’s Missisquoi Valley Railroad Station, which features on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in North Troy in 1868 and has an impressive collection of over 10,000 exhibits preserving the region’s legacy.
Virginia
Cheapest Place: Appalachia
2023 ZHVI: $38,627.02
Total Population: 1,472
2023 ZHVI: $38,627.02
Total Population: 1,472
Appalachia has beautiful natural scenery and a rich history across the 18th, 19th and early 20th century. It hosted several camps in coal mining history and an important junction in railroad development, to name just two!
Washington
Cheapest Place: Lind
2023 ZHVI: $183,774.44
Total Population: 486
2023 ZHVI: $183,774.44
Total Population: 486
Lind is a key location in agricultural history. When The Grand Coulee Dam was built in 1942 it provided Lind with irrigation and fertile soil, putting it on the map as the “Wheat Capital of the World.”
West Virginia
Cheapest Place: Northfork
2023 ZHVI: $26,217.91
Total Population: 367
2023 ZHVI: $26,217.91
Total Population: 367
Northfork is home to the Blue Demons, Northfork High School's basketball team that shot to success when they won eight state championships in a row! No wonder it’s known as the “Basketball Capital of the United States!”
Wisconsin
Cheapest Place: Montreal
2023 ZHVI: $105,546.61
Total Population: 749
2023 ZHVI: $105,546.61
Total Population: 749
Montreal’s included on the National Register of Historic Places for its design, particularly in the Montreal Company Location Historic District. Here you can see the influence of the Montreal Mining Company and their architectural direction.
Wyoming
Cheapest Place: Midwest
2023 ZHVI: $66,513.74
Total Population: 193
2023 ZHVI: $66,513.74
Total Population: 193
Midwest was a big player in the oil industry, during which time the population rose to 17,000. However, as oil production declined so did the population numbers. It’s still a significant town in the industry’s history nevertheless.