Metro area along Kentucky border named the third ‘best affordable place to live’ in US

A metro area that includes a Kentucky city was recently named among the “best affordable places” to live in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

The area that includes Ashland, which lies along Kentucky’s border with Ohio, and Huntington, W.Va., took third place on a list of 25, ranking right below Youngstown, Ohio, and Hickory, N.C., in the No. 1 spot.

The Ashland-Huntington metro area also took 66th in the “Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2023-2024” and 58th in the list of “Best Places to Retire in the U.S. in 2023-2024.”

U.S. News & World Report analyzed 150 metro areas in the U.S. by quality of life, job market, value of living there and overall desire to live in each area.

Covering portions of three states and five counties, the population of the Ashland-Huntington area sits at more than 360,000, according to U.S. News & World Report. The median home price in the area is at $142,775, and the median monthly rent is $764.

The ranking puts the average annual salary for the area at $45,520, and 20.69% of the median household income is spent on living expenses.

Ashland is home to multiple museums, including the C.B. Nuckolls Community Center and Black History Museum and the Highlands Museum and Discovery Center. History buffs might like to take Ashland’s historic walking tour, a relaxed stroll by notable spots around the city.

If you like art, you can take a look at downtown Ashland’s art alley to see a collection of outdoor murals. If you’re looking for entertainment, you can see a show at the Paramount Arts Center.

The area, also called the Tri-State, sits alongside the Ohio River. U.S. News & World Report says the area is “working on rebranding itself to highlight and enhance its lesser-known features, such as its abundance of outdoor activities as well as local theaters, museums and shops.”

‘The 25 Best Affordable Places to Live in the U.S. in 2023-2024’

Here are the top 10 best affordable places to live in the country, according to the U.S. News & World Report:

1. Hickory, N.C.
2. Youngstown, Ohio
3. Huntington, W.Va., and Ashland, Ky.
4. Huntsville, Ala.
5. Fort Wayne, Ind.
6. Beaumont, Texas
7. Peoria, Ill.
8. Green Bay, Wis.
9. Davenport-Bettendorf, Iowa, and Moline-Rock Island, Ill.
10. Knoxville, Tenn.

Do you have a question about Kentucky for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.

Lindsay Smith

The Wichita Eagle

Lindsay Smith is a suburban news reporter for the Wichita Eagle, covering the communities of Andover, Bel Aire, Derby, Haysville and Kechi. She has been on The Eagle staff since 2022 and was the service journalism reporter for three years. She has a degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism from Wichita State, where she was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Sunflower, for two years. You can reach her via email at lsmith@wichitaeagle.com.