What are the top 5 most affordable LGBTQ+ friendly megacities
What are the top 5 most affordable LGBTQ+ friendly megacities? Find out here on this episode. Then download your FREE Queer Money Kickstarter, a 9-step Guide to Kickstart Your Journey to Financial Independence.
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What are the top 5 most affordable LGBTQ+ friendly megacities?
On this Queer Money®, we’re sharing the 5 most affordable, LGBTQ+-friendly megacities on our affordable, LGBTQ+-friendly city series.
We have a tie for #4. The first 4th place winner is Fort Worth, Texas. Fort Worth has the lowest median and average incomes on this list at $52,000 and $67,000, respectively. Fort Worth has its own gay rodeo, gay and lesbian film festival, and lively LGBTQ+ scene. It is home to the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Fort Worth scored 100 on the Human Rights Campaign MEI; Texas is under a state of emergency per Human Rights Campaign.
Coming in at the second #4th spot is Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta was the runner-up for the state of Georgia on Queer Money® episode #465. The winner for Georgia was Decatur, a suburb of Atlanta if you are curious. It has the highest home value on this list at $377,000. Atlanta has the highest cost of living on this list at 113.3% of the national average. Atlanta has the highest median and average incomes at $70,000 and $105,000, respectively. Atlanta is #11 for the most affordable, LGBTQ+ friendly, and prepped for climate change. Atlanta is home to the world’s largest Black Pride, and Georgia is under a state of emergency per HRC.
Coming in at #3 is Chicago, Illinois. Chicago is the Midwest’s cosmopolitan queer hub. Chicago ranked the highest rents of the top 5 at $2,077 a month for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. Chicago has the lowest home values of the top 5 at $291,000. Chicago ranked #4 for most affordable, dog-friendly cities for LGBTQ+ folks. It ranked #3 for most affordable cities for same-sex couples. It ranked #15 for affordable, climate change-ready states. And Chicago came in second for the most downloads of the Queer Money ® podcast.
Dallas, Texas, comes in at #2. Dallas is home to the LGBT mega-church, The Cathedral of Hope. Dallas hosted the First official Pride in 1980 and the first LGBT rights event in 1972. Dallas has the lowest cost of living at 101%. It came in at #7 for affordable cities for same-sex couples.
It is worth noting that 80 cities that are part of metro areas are considered megacities by our definition. 32 of them scored 100 HRC MEI. Only 5 of the 80 had a cost of living below the national average. All those except 1 were in the Chicago metro area.
We have three honorable mentions. Wilton Manors, Florida, came in at #8. The winner was a tie between Tampa and St Petersburg. Florida is also in a state of emergency, per HRC. It has a combination of lower cost of living and higher incomes. Alexandria, Virginia, came in at #11. Despite a high cost of living, Alexandria has lower rents and high incomes. Scottsdale, Arizona, came in at #7 primarily because of higher incomes and lower cost of living.
Coming in at #1 is Philadelphia Pensylvania. Philadephia is a city with a government-sponsored LGBTQ+ guide. We walked in its 2019 Pride. You must hit Woody’s. Philadelphia has the lowest rent at $1,773 a month for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. Philadelphia came in at #5 for affordable cities for same-sex couples and #14 for affordable, LGBTQ+ friendly, and climate-ready.
If you’d like to see the data for this growing series, get the dynamic list of Affordable LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities in the U.S. here. or click the link in your podcast player for a growing analysis.
For the resources and to connect with our guests, get the show notes at: https://queermoneypodcast.com/subscribe.
Previous Bonus Podcast Episodes
- Top 5 Most Affordable, LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities in Red States
- Top 5 Most Affordable, LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities in Purple States
- Top 5 Most Affordable, LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities in Blue States
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