#9. Moscow – Affordable Cities 2018
Within a short drive of Pullman, WA, one of this year’s Top 100 Best Places to Live – the two towns share an airport – Moscow, ID, is a small town that boasts some big accolades. Case in point? Moscow also appeared on our 2017 Best Cities for Entrepreneurs.
Why is Moscow a Best Affordable Place to Live? For starters, residents here spend well below the national average on necessities, especially healthcare, and the median rent is only $654.
Learn More About the Best Places to Live in Idaho
In contrast to its low cost of living, Moscow ranked extremely high in livability. The job market is strong, bolstered by the fact that Moscow is home to the University of Idaho, which is the city’s top employer. The University also draws in a well-educated population — nearly a quarter of residents have a postgraduate degree. Further, Latah County ranks fourth out of 44 counties in Idaho for health factors and seventh for health outcomes.
See the Full List of Moscow’s Top Employers
Moscow also is home to 17 neighborhood parks, as well as the Latah Trail — an 11-mile paved trail for humans and dogs alike that spans from Moscow to Troy, Idaho. For a more rustic nature walk, the 65-acre University of Idaho Arboretum & Botanical Garden is the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors. And during the summer months, the Hamilton-Lowe Aquatic Center is a great way for families to have fun in the sun — though for those of us who want to enjoy the lazy river in peace, Saturday and Sunday mornings are strictly times for adults only.