Suburbs are assumed to have a higher quality of life than cities — at a much lower price. But how often is that the case in the Charlotte metro area?
Researchers at GOBankingRates analyzed the cost of living and quality of life in the largest cities in America — and compared them to nearby suburbs.
More specifically, we evaluated the annual cost of living and livability (scored 0-100) for three of the largest and most popular suburbs in each major metro area.
Key Findings Include:
- Five major cities had livability scores of 80 or higher — a better score than many suburbs on our list. These cities include Dallas, Austin, Jacksonville, Charlotte and Orlando.
- However, the best-rated suburbs score much higher than the best-rated cities on livability. Four suburbs had a livability score of 90 or higher: The Woodlands (near Houston), Admore (near Philadelphia), Lexington (near Boston) and Farmington (near Detroit).
- The cost of living in suburbs is not drastically cheaper in most places. Just three suburbs had a cost of living that was $10,000+ cheaper: Kannapolis (outside of Charlotte), Plugerville (outside of Austin) and Renton (outside of Seattle) have the biggest cost of living differences from their cities.
The study compared the following metros and found:
Annual Cost of Living in New York City Metro
- New York: $91,153
- Livability score: 75
- New Rochelle, New York: $90,318
- Livability score: 70
- Yonkers, New York: $79,802
- Livability score: 67
- Jericho, New York: $117,886
- Livability score: 77
Annual Cost of Living in Los Angeles Metro
- Los Angeles: $100,697
- Livability score: 67
- Arcadia, California: $182,843
- Livability score: 77
- Burbank, California: $115,401
- Livability score: 74
- Pasadena, California: $119,170
- Livability score: 73
Annual Cost of Living in Chicago Metro
- Chicago, IL: $48,231
- Livability score: 78
- Aurora, Illinois: $42,821
- Livability score: 71
- Elgin, Illinois: $45,807
- Livability score: 82
- Schaumburg, Ilinois: $53,123
- Livability score: 78
Annual Cost of Living in Houston Metro
- Houston: $44,452
- Livability score: 74
- The Woodlands, Texas: $57,783
- Livability score: 91
- Pearland, Texas: $52,272
- Livability score: 81
- Sugar Land, Texas: $57,816
- Livability score: 80
Annual Cost of Living in Phoenix Metro
- Phoenix: $55,661
- Livability score: 76
- Goodyear, Arizona: $85,714
- Livability score: 76
- Chandler, Arizona: $63,076
- Livability score: 79
- Gilbert, Arizona: $66,797
- Livability score: 89
Annual Cost of Living in Philadelphia Metro
- Philadelphia: $43,344
- Livability score: 76
- Ardmore, Pennsylvania: $60,812
- Livability score: 93
- Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: $59,227
- Livability score: 89
- Exton, Pennsylvania: $67,220
- Livability score: 88
Annual Cost of Living in Dallas Metro
- Dallas: $48,597
- Livability score: 81
- McKinney, Texas: $57,310
- Livability score: 74
- Denton, Texas: $49,494
- Livability score: 85
- Prosper, Texas: $82,962
- Livability score: 70
Annual Cost of Living in Austin, Texas, Metro
- Austin, Texas: $48,597
- Livability score: 83
- Pflugerville, Texas: $50,955
- Livability score: 82
- Leander, Texas: $57,487
- Livability score: 81
- Georgetown, Texas: $56,681
- Livability score: 83
Annual Cost of Living in Jacksonville, Florida, Metro
- Jacksonville, Florida: $46,335
- Livability score: 84
- Oakleaf Plantation, Florida: $44,525
- Livability score: 70
- Orange Park, Florida: $48,166
- Livability score: 76
- Fernandina Beach, Florida: $68,410
- Livability score: 72
Annual Cost of Living in Charlotte, North Carolina, Metro
- Charlotte, North Carolina: $52,767
- Livability score: 80
- Matthews, North Carolina: $56,300
- Livability score: 83
- Kannapolis, North Carolina: $41,887
- Livability score: 64
- Davidson, North Carolina: $74,190
- Livability score: 75
Annual Cost of Living in Seattle Metro
- Seattle: $92,451
- Livability score: 75
- Mercer Island, Washington: $180,287
- Livability score: 75
- Shoreline, Washington: $85,621
- Livability score: 84
- Renton, Washington: $81,633
- Livability score: 82
Annual Cost of Living in Denver Metro
- Denver: $67,936
- Livability score: 72
- Centennial, Colorado: $68,367
- Livability score: 80
- Thornton, Colorado: $63,044
- Livability score: 81
- Littleton, Colorado: $72,640
- Livability score: 71
Annual Cost of Living in Nashville, Tennessee, Metro
- Nashville, Tennessee: $56,069
- Livability score: 78
- Smyrna, Tennessee: $49,708
- Livability score: 76
- Franklin, Tennessee: $89,027
- Livability score: 75
- Hendersonville, Tennessee: $60,163
- Livability score: 70
Annual Cost of Living in Boston Metro
- Boston: $85,229
- Livability score: 77
- Lexington, Massachusetts: $131,836
- Livability score: 92
- Cambridge, Massachusetts: $152,776
- Livability score: 86
- Newton, Massachusetts: $143,547
- Livability score: 84
Annual Cost of Living in Detroit Metro
- Detroit: $32,782
- Livability score: 73
- Farmington, Michigan: $47,651
- Livability score: 91
- Beverly Hills, Michigan: $62,695
- Livability score: 83
- Bloomfield Hills, Michigan: $74,269
- Livability score: 72
Annual Cost of Living in Atlanta Metro
- Atlanta: $57,437
- Livability score: 78
- Roswell, Georgia: $69,060
- Livability score: 80
- Decatur, Georgia: $47,806
- Livability score: 87
- Johns Creek, Georgia: $75,996
- Livability score: 66
Annual Cost of Living in Orlando, Florida, Metro
- Orlando, Florida: $54,589
- Livability score: 81
- Horizon West, Florida: $55,450
- Livability score: 72
- Winter Park, Florida: $61,214
- Livability score: 84
- Altamonte Springs, Florida: $52,337
- Livability score: 82
Annual Cost of Living in Newark, New Jersey, Metro
- Newark, New Jersey: $63,385
- Livability score: 67
- North Caldwell, New Jersey: $103,675
- Livability score: 71
- Essex Fells, New Jersey: $125,781
- Livability score: 74
- Passaic, New Jersey: $68,235
- Livability score: 60
