Region guide
Moving to the Great Lakes
The Great Lakes states — Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota — are the country's value belt: reachable home prices, big-city amenities in Chicago and Minneapolis, and cold, snowy winters. Steady costs, freshwater everywhere, and low natural-disaster risk.
Cities covered
15
States
6
Median rent
$1,411/mo
Median est. cost
$3,854/mo
Standouts among the Great Lakes
Cheapest
Toledo, OH
$3,484/mo
Lowest estimated monthly essentials for one person.
Best overall
Columbus, OH
Fit 81
Highest default Fit Score of the cities here.
Safest
Aurora, IL
Safety 83
Lowest violent and property crime per capita.
Best for jobs
Fort Wayne, IN
Jobs 86
Strongest labor market (BLS unemployment + growth).
Sunniest
Minneapolis, MN
209 sunny days
Most sunny days per year.
States we cover in the Great Lakes
Every the Great Lakes city, ranked by Fit Score
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