This Underrated Suburb Is One Of The Best Affordable Places To Live In America

According to U.S. News & World Report's list of the best, most affordable United States cities in 2025 and 2026, Florissant, Missouri ranks No. 24. With a population of over 51,000, the historic city is located 20 miles away from St. Louis' downtown and has a storied history. Native Americans hunted and gathered there for thousands of years before the Spanish organized the community in 1786 as San Fernando. When compiling its list, U.S. News & World Report used quality of life and affordability as its two most important considerations. In terms of cost of living, the city ranks No. 56 when extrapolating median household income, housing prices, and the regional cost of living index. Of the top 25 locales on this list, Florissant's median rent is on the higher side at $959. The median household income is $69,194 — about $10,000 below the country's average — so the average renter would use 16.6% of their paycheck on housing.

Missouri, overall, is one of the best places to retire, and it can be a great fit for workers, too. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, the Show-Me State comes in sixth in the lowest costs of living in 2025's Q2 when averaging index information. According to Payscale, the cost of living in Florissant is 14% less than the national average with housing expenses 45% less and groceries and utilities each 3% more affordable. In short, Florissant could be a great option for households on a budget.

For prospective homeowners, U.S. News & World Report lists Florissant's median home value at $149,125. If you're handy, you could find even more of a bargain home that, with some loving care, could turn into a dream home. According to Point2Homes, when leveraging the American Community Survey Five-Year Data from 2019 to 2023, the median construction year in Florissant is 1963 with 1.4% of homes constructed before the 1940s and another 4.6% built by 1949. That can translate into solidly built homes that might need some renovating. 

When looking at the top-ranking factor used by U.S. News & World Report – quality of life — Florissant ranks much lower than its affordability factor (No. 56) at No. 256. Even so, the city has a lot to offer in terms of shopping, dining, and healthcare. Plus, there are plenty of ways to spend money frugally without sacrificing your quality of life. Florissant is known for its parks, picnic pavilions, community centers, pools, golf course, roller rink, and covered ice rink that each provide free or low-cost entertainment. Adult leagues exist for basketball, kickball, pickleball, sand volleyball, and softball, and there's a youth soccer league as well. Having inexpensive hobbies may seem like a small thing, but saving money on entertainment is a big money move. Music fans can see live performances at the James J. Eagan Center, while history and architecture fans can take free tours of the 1789-built Old St. Ferdinand Shrine.