May 18, 2026

17 Best Midwest Cities Where You Can Buy a Home for Under $300K in 2026

Written by Heather Taylor

Edited by Jenna Klaverweiden

Discover an aerial panorama of St. Louis at dusk, with the Gateway Arch curving above downtown and warm city lights glowing across the skyline

No matter what age you are, it's a win-win to reside in an "everything" city where the quality of life is excellent and affordable housing is plentiful. And in the Midwest, a region that has historically checked all these boxes, 17 cities have been identified with median homes values under $300,000.

This information comes courtesy of a new Livability study showcasing the top 100 best places to live in the U.S. in 2026. See which 17 Midwestern cities provide a comfortable lifestyle and homes for under $300,000.

Check Out: 50 Fastest-Growing ZIP Codes That Are Still Affordable for the Middle Class

1. Bismarck, North Dakota

LivScore: 732
Population: 76,608
Median home value: $290,274

2. Bloomington, Illinois

LivScore: 730
Population: 79,439
Median home value: $216,436

3. Iowa City, Iowa

LivScore: 722
Population: 77,797
Median home value: $294,270

4. Cedar Rapids, Iowa

LivScore: 719
Population: 138,542
Median home value: $199,181

5. Fargo, North Dakota

LivScore: 716
Population: 135,967
Median home value: $282,900

6. Aurora, Illinois

LivScore: 711
Population: 180,649
Median home value: $280,878

7. Lincoln, Nebraska

LivScore: 697
Population: 301,084
Median home value: $274,445

8. Omaha, Nebraska

LivScore: 694
Population: 491,055
Median home value: $261,663

9. Appleton, Wisconsin

LivScore: 683
Population: 77,146
Median home value: $241,171

10. Champaign, Illinois

LivScore: 679
Population: 92,960
Median home value: $211,014

11. Columbia, Missouri

LivScore: 673
Population: 132,353
Median home value: $281,958

12. Peoria, Illinois

LivScore: 667
Population: 113,758
Median home value: $146,629

13. Wichita, Kansas

LivScore: 664
Population: 409,257
Median home value: $203,877

14. Springfield, Missouri

LivScore: 662
Population: 174,570
Median home value: $208,223

15. St. Louis

LivScore: 651
Population: 281,222
Median home value: $197,928

16. Des Moines, Iowa

LivScore: 647
Population: 216,695
Median home value: $211,651

17. Fort Wayne, Indiana

LivScore: 646
Population: 267,292
Median home value: $204,049

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

More From MoneyLion:

Written by

Heather Taylor

Edited by

Jenna Klaverweiden

Jenna Klaverweiden joined GOBankingRates in early 2024 as an Editor. Prior to joining GOBankingRates, she was the managing copy editor for a financial publisher, where she edited content focused on economics, retirement planning, investing, bonds and the stock market. She was also the copy editor for the third edition of the book Get Rich with Dividends, which was published in 2023. Education: B.A. in English Language and Literature, University of Maryland, B.A. in American Studies, University of Maryland