Earning a $55,000 Salary in Boise is Enough for a Happy Life

The average American family earns about $55,000 per year, and one website looked at popular cities in each state to figure out if that's enough to live a satisfying life.  Is it?

Census Bureau estimates show $55,000 is an average earning for a family in the US, and in some capital cities with skyrocketing housing costs and a high cost of living, that amount doesn't stretch very far.

The personal finance website, SmartAsset, says Boise breaks that stereotype and ranks in the top ten for leading a satisfying life on a $55,000 salary.

We've got good people, great food, and plenty to do, from outdoor rec to live music and sporting events.  And most of it doesn't break the bank.  In theory anyway.

SmartAsset tells me that a resident of Boise can expect to contribute about 21% of their income to housing costs, which land at a monthly average of $951. The low unemployment and poverty rates in Boise ranked in the top 30 for the whole study, which included 126 cities.  Here's how it all breaks down for cities in general, and not just capital cities.

Best Cities to Live on a $55,000 Salary – 2018 Edition

1. Fargo, North Dakota

2. Billings, Montana

3. Appleton, Wisconsin

4. Santa Fe, New Mexico

5. Lincoln, Nebraska

6. Cheektowaga, New York

7. Cedar Rapids, Iowa

8. (tie) Little Rock, Arkansas

8. (tie) Boise, Idaho

10. Omaha, Nebraska

SmartAsset said in addition to the low poverty rates and good job market, Boise is a balanced city without too many glaring problems.  That makes Boise an all-around livable city for people living off $55,000.

Thoughts?  I can hear you yelling right now, "But I got bills!"  I know, I know.  We could probably all use some extra.  The good news is, Boise is a stable place to be and we don't have to spend thousands on housing and things here that other cities are stuck with.  But it sure would be nice to have a cushion just in case.

If the boss isn't boosting your salary, maybe you can win cash right here.  Listen for those code words and plug them in here on the website, and life might get even better.

Or we could move to Fargo.  Yeah, no.  Boise is a pretty awesome place to be even when money is completely out of the equation.  We'll take it.