Aurora Named No. 1 City in America to Buy an Affordable Home
After researching area communities, Andre and April Meeks bought their new home in Aurora this summer.
The city of Aurora has been named the top place in the country to settle in and buy a well-priced home.
National personal finance site GOBankingRates.com listed the top 50 places in the nation where the median home list price is $250,000 or less and the quality of life is good.
Aurora, IL, is ranked No. 1 in the United States of America.
(CREDIT: Google Maps)
“Earlier this year, we were ranked the number one place in country to live the American Dream,” said Aurora Mayor Richard C. Irvin. “A part of achieving that dream is homeownership and personal growth in a place where you love to live. We know Aurora is a special place, but it is always great to see others throughout the country recognize it as well.”
GOBankingRates identified the 100 most populous cities where home listing prices in 2019 were below $250,000, as sourced from Zillow’s 2019 data.
Once these 100 cities were determined, GOBankingRates looked at the following criteria to determine the 50 best places: median household income, an overall livability score, violent crime rate per 1,000 residents, property crime rate per 1,000 residents, unemployment rate, percentage of the population living below the poverty line, and annual cost-of-living expenditures.
All factors were then scored and combined, with the lowest overall score being best.
“The goal is to find a well-priced home in an area with low crime rates, an affordable cost of living and plenty of amenities,” said researchers. “Aurora, Illinois has proven to be that desirable place!”
(CREDIT: Google Maps)
New local homeowners agree.
“After completing a ton of research, planning and asking what felt like a million questions, we were able to purchase our first home in Aurora,” said April Meeks who purchased her first home this summer with husband Andre. “The process was painless thanks to our team.”
The team Meeks is referring to was led by local real estate broker Sheena Baker of CarMarc Realty. Named the 2018 Realtor of the Year by the Women’s Council of Realtors, Baker works closely with prospective Aurora homeowners to find their ideal home.
“My clients in Aurora appreciate the affordability. They are able to purchase a home in a great neighborhood, raise a family at a great value with ample space,” said Baker who is also an Aurora resident and business owner. “They are attracted to great schools, easy access to public transportation, shopping and so many amazing local restaurants and amenities.”
Due to the increase in Aurora sales, Baker is opening a new office in downtown Aurora next month.
The median home price in Aurora is $217,813 compared to other medium and large cities on the Top 50 list:
- 50. Winston-Salem, NC ($188,606)
- 44. Pittsburgh, PA ($217,463)
- 35. Louisville, KY ($214,337)
- 26. San Antonio, TX ($242,986)
- 17. Hampton, VA ($213,798)
- 4. Port St. Lucie, FL ($247,748).
“All things considered, Aurora, IL, is the top place in the country to settle in and buy a home under $250,000,” GOBankingRates tweeted this week.
SOURCE: city of Aurora news release
