Taxed — taxes Social Security benefits, but income thresholds and age rules exempt many retirees — check the state's own limits before assuming you would owe
Effective property tax rate
1.12%
metro-area
#122 of 200
Median property tax paid
$2,167
metro-area
#75 of 200
Health & childcare
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Life expectancy at birth
76.7 years
metro-area
#93 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult)
$6,800
state
#93 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents)
5.7%
metro-area
#33 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k
103
metro-area
#13 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center)
$16,000
state
#150 of 200
Vehicles & commute
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Annual registration
$200
state
#135 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual)
1.58% of value (~$442/yr)
state
#161 of 200
Emissions testing
Not required
Emissions detail
No vehicle emissions testing
DMV & license offices
2
Avg commute to work
20 min
metro-area
#14 of 200
Commute by driving alone
76.7%
metro-area
#126 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min
22.8%
metro-area
#29 of 200
Utilities & fuel
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Electricity
16.4¢/kWh
state
#81 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill
$148
state
#81 of 200
Gasoline
$3.15/gal
state
#57 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill)
$76
state
#137 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill)
$77
state
#34 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill)
$81
state
#121 of 200
Insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Home insurance (annual)
$2,200
state
#129 of 200
Auto insurance (annual)
$1,600
state
#51 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Main natural hazards
Notable hazards: tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk)
84.2 — Relatively Moderate
metro-area
#61 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP)
$600
state
#16 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual)
$100
state
#1 of 200
Climate & air quality
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner)
39
metro-area
#31 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load)
700
metro-area
#25 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state)
94%
state
#64 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load)
8,000
metro-area
#197 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F
2
metro-area
#6 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F
0
metro-area
#5 of 200
Avg summer high (state)
83°F
metro-area
#21 of 200
Avg winter low
4°F
metro-area
#198 of 200
Annual precipitation
31.6"
metro-area
#48 of 200
Annual snowfall
51.2"
metro-area
#181 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible)
58%
metro-area
#105 of 200
Plant hardiness zone
4b
Frost window
05-20 → 09-25
Safety
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg)
280
state
#21 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg)
1,900
state
#63 of 200
Local amenities & recreation
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Grocery stores
26
metro-area
#143 of 200
Parks
28
Hiking areas
16
Golf courses
9
Shooting ranges
5
Lakes
5
Permits
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5)
3
state
#87 of 200
Permit detail
Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
