The American East Coast is a landscape of beautiful variety that runs from the snowcapped loveliness of Maine to the tropical beaches of Florida. It’s also a stretch of America that’s easy to move to if you have the money — let’s say an annual salary of $150,000. That begs the question, though: What are the best East Coast cities to live in if you do make that kind of dough?
To answer that question, GOBankingRates scoured AreaVibes to find the coastal cities with the greatest livability indexes (anything over 85). From that list, we also cross-referenced cost-of-living indexes and housing prices, all to determine the cities in which someone who makes $150,000 annually would be the most comfortable.
Key Findings
- Florida dominates the list: The Sunshine State has more of the best East Coast cities to make $150,000 in than another state with five metros.
- Lynchburg, Virginia has the best cost of living: Of the best cities on the East Coast to make $150,000 annually, Lynchburg, Virginia has the lowest cost of living — $80,523 per year.
- The most affordable homes? Also Lynchburg: At $260,863, Lynchburg, Virginia also has the lowest average value for a single-family home.
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1. Pompton Lakes, New Jersey
- Median household income: $119,038
- Average home value: $552,732
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $64,101
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $128,201
- Livability: 92
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2. Wilton Manors, Florida
- Median household income: $79,390
- Average home value: $694,674
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $73,163
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $146,325
- Livability: 91
3. Lynchburg, Virginia
- Median household income: $59,808
- Average home value: $260,863
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $40,262
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $80,523
- Livability: 91
4. Cary, North Carolina
- Median household income: $129,399
- Average home value: $625,967
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $65,216
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $130,432
- Livability: 90
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5. Springfield, Virginia
- Median household income: $123,691
- Average home value: $704,500
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $74,465
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $148,930
- Livability: 89
6. Doctor Phillips, Florida
- Median household income: $101,540
- Average home value: $559,154
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $63,310
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $126,619
- Livability: 89
7. Seminole, Florida
- Median household income: $77,335
- Average home value: $417,344
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $53,095
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $106,190
- Livability: 89
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8. Blacksburg, Virginia
- Median household income: $48,070
- Average home value: $417,720
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $51,698
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $103,397
- Livability: 89
9. Exeter, New Hampshire
- Median household income: $83,862
- Average home value: $665,541
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $68,838
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $137,675
- Livability: 56
10. Highland Park, New Jersey
- Median household income: $101,991
- Average home value: $586,161
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $67,129
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $134,257
- Livability: 58
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11. Milford, Connecticut
- Median household income: $110,126
- Average home value: $516,189
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $63,243
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $126,486
- Livability: 88
12. Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
- Median household income: $94,411
- Average home value: $526,061
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $61,342
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $122,685
- Livability: 88
13. Dover, New Hampshire
- Median household income: $92,748
- Average home value: $560,321
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $61,342
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $122,018
- Livability: 88
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14. Concord, New Hampshire
- Median household income: $83,701
- Average home value: $468,158
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $54,171
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $108,342
- Livability: 88
15. St. Augustine, Florida
- Median household income: $80,473
- Average home value: $446,861
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $53,443
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $106,886
- Livability: 87
16. Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Median household income: $85,825
- Average home value: $667,797
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $68,470
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $136,939
- Livability: 87
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17. Apex, North Carolina
- Median household income: $138,442
- Average home value: $602,095
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $63,877
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $127,754
- Livability: 87
18. Safety Harbor, Florida
- Median household income: $105,813
- Average home value: $522,822
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $60,397
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $120,794
- Livability: 87
19. King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
- Median household income: $111,600
- Average home value: $495,583
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $58,509
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $117,018
- Livability: 87
20. Brunswick, Maine
- Median household income: $68,190
- Average home value: $498,544
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $56,655
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $113,310
- Livability: 87
Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed places across America to find the best to live once your salary hits $150K. First, GOBankingRates identified cities with the highest livability indexes, as sourced from AreaVibes. For each city, a number of factors were found including: total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, and median household income — all sourced from the U.S. Census 2023 five-year ACS. The cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces and, by using the national average expenditure costs for all households as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for all consumer units, the average expenditure cost can be calculated. The average single family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index and, by using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage can be calculated. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the cost of living for necessities can be calculated. Using the 50/30/20 finance rule that states needs should not exceed 50% of median household income, the cost of living for necessities was doubled to find the comfortable cost of living. Places with a comfortable cost of living above $150,000 were removed for this study. Places with a livability of 85 and below were removed, as well, as they represent places with less than ideal quality of life. The remaining cities were sorted to show the highest livability locations first, representing the best places to live once your salary hits $150K. Places with tied livability were sorted by the lowest cost of living first. All data was collected on and is up to date as of November 25th, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 20 Best East Coast Cities To Live on a $150K Salary
