If you’re looking to stretch your dollar, rural America might be the place to do it.

A new analysis by 24/7 Wall St. ranks the 50 least expensive counties to live in across the U.S., which used cost-of-living data from the U.S. Department of Commerce and supplemental data from the Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey.

Most of the counties on the list are located in the South and with median home values 16% to 80% lower than the national average, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The counties on the list are home to relatively low-income populations. The average American household brings in $77,719 per year, while most of the least expensive counties have an average income of less than $55,000, reported 24/7 Wall St.

These lower costs in the least expensive counties are primarily due to smaller populations where demand for goods and services tends to be lower, pushing consumer prices down.

According to the analysis, counties in Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, and Oklahoma dominate the list, suggesting that the South continues to be one of the most affordable regions in the country.

These are the 25 least expensive counties to live in:

1. Baca County, Colorado

• Estimated cost of living: 25.2% lower than national average
• Median household income: $40,380 (48% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $122,000 (64.1% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 1.3% (3.9 ppt. lower than national average

2. Santa Cruz County, Arizona

• Estimated cost of living: 24.4% lower than national average
• Median household income: $53,614 (31.0% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $216,000 (36.5% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 10.5% (5.3 ppt. higher than national average

3. Greenlee County, Arizona

• Estimated cost of living: 21.9% lower than national average
• Median household income: $75,239 (3.2% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $136,300 (59.9% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 3.5% (1.7 ppt. lower than national average

4. Franklin County, Alabama

• Estimated cost of living: 21.3% lower than national average
• Median household income: $51,493 (33.7% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $128,000 (62.4% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 3.6% (1.6 ppt lower than national average

5. Kemper County, Mississippi

• Estimated cost of living: 20.9% lower than national average
• Median household income: $43,595 (43.9% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $90,200 (73.5% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 11.0% (5.8 ppt higher than national average

6. Tishomingo County, Mississippi

• Estimated cost of living: 20.9% lower than national average
• Median household income: $46,257 (40.5% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $132,500 (61.1% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 3.1% (2.1 ppt. lower than national average

7. Cheyenne County, Colorado

• Estimated cost of living: 20.8% lower than national average
• Median household income: $67,768 (12.8% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $187,100 (45% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 1.9% (3.3 ppt lower than national average

8. Leake County, Mississippi

• Estimated cost of living: 20.5% lower than national average
• Median household income: $48,418 (37.7% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $114,600 (66.3% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 6.7% (1.5 ppt. higher than national average

9. Prentiss County, Mississippi

• Estimated cost of living: 20.5% lower than national average
• Median household income: $51,446 (33.8% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $116,500 (65.8% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 3.5% (1.7 ppt. lower than national average

10. Clay County, Alabama

• Estimated cost of living: 20.5% lower than national average
• Median household income: $51,852 (33.3% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $144,700 (57.5% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 3.5% (1.7 ppt. lower than national average

11. Jefferson County, Mississippi

• Estimated cost of living: 20.3% lower than national average
• Median household income: $36,207 (53.4% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $81,400 (76.1% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 5.0% (0.2 ppt. lower than national average

12. Winston County, Alabama

• Estimated cost of living: 20.3% lower than national average
• Median household income: $48,032 (38.2% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $110,500 (67.5% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 4.2% (1.0 ppt. lower than national average

13. Benton County, Mississippi

• Estimated cost of living: 20.1% lower than national average
• Median household income: $42,139 (45.8% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $109,300 (67.9% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 2.7% (2.5 ppt. lower than national average

14. Wilkinson County, Mississippi

• Estimated cost of living: 20.1% lower than national average
• Median household income: $35,930 (53.8% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $80,200 (76.4% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 7.5% (2.3 ppt. higher than national average

15. Union County, New Mexico

• Estimated cost of living: 20.1% lower than national average
• Median household income: $45,319 (41.7% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $135,900 (60.1% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 6.6% (1.4 ppt. higher than national average

16. Winston County, Mississippi

• Estimated cost of living: 20.0% lower than national average
• Median household income: $49,071 (36.9% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $121,200 (64.4% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 7.9% (2.7 ppt. higher than national average

17. Scott County, Mississippi

• Estimated cost of living: 19.9% lower than national average
• Median household income: $48,492 (37.6% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $89,900 (73.6% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 4.4% (0.8 ppt. lower than national average

18. Lamar County, Alabama

• Estimated cost of living: 19.9% lower than national average
• Median household income: $47,447 (39.0% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $112,700 (66.9% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 6.4% (1.2 ppt. higher than national average

19. Attala County, Mississippi

• Estimated cost of living: 19.9% lower than national average
• Median household income: $48,098 (38.1% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $107,600 (68.4% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 6.0% (0.8 ppt. higher than national average

20. Prowers County, Colorado

• Estimated cost of living: 19.9% lower than national average
• Median household income: $57,601 (25.9% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $150,900 (55.6% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 4.8% (0.4 ppt. lower than national average

21. Tippah County, Mississippi

• Estimated cost of living: 19.9% lower than national average
• Median household income: $51,141 (34.2% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $128,400 (62.3% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 5.3% (0.1 ppt. lower than national average

22. Neshoba County, Mississippi

• Estimated cost of living: 19.8% lower than national average
• Median household income: $53,087 (31.7% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $96,600 (71.6% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 8.1% (2.9 ppt. higher than national average

23. Sedgwick County, Colorado

• Estimated cost of living: 19.8% lower than national average
• Median household income: $52,833 (32.0% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $142,700 (58.1% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 2.3% (2.9 ppt. lower than national average

24. Apache County, Arizona

• Estimated cost of living: 19.6% lower than national average
• Median household income: $40,338 (48.1% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $68,500 (79.9% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 10.0% (4.8 ppt. higher than national average

25. Fayette County, Alabama

• Estimated cost of living: 19.5% lower than national average
• Median household income: $50,733 (34.7% lower than national median)
• Median home value: $121,200 (64.4% lower than national median)
• 5-year average unemployment rate: 9.5% (4.3 ppt. higher than national average

What are the least expensive counties in Alabama?

Alabama has 10 of the least expensive counties in the country, according to 24/7 Wall St. Their rankings place Franklin County as having the lowest cost of living at 21.3% below the national average. The county has a median household income of $51,493 (33.7% lower than the national median), a median home value of $128,000, and a 5-year average unemployment rate of 3.6% (1.6 percentage points lower than the national average).