Safe inexpensive area to live with bad credit?

[DaveP]

According to CNN Money.com, the fifty least expensive cities in the United States are:

1. McAlester, Oklahoma - $63,698
2. Cookeville, Tennessee - $67,756
3. Lancaster, South Carolina - $68,209
4. Clarksville, Tennessee - $68,349
5. Conway, Arkansas - $68,724
6. Joplin, Missouri - $68,759
7. Pryor Creek, Oklahoma - $68,777
8. Jonesboro, Arkansas - $68,837
9. McAllen, Texas - $69,009
10. Laredo, Texas - $69,102
11. Salina, Kansas - $69,154
12. Douglas, Georgia - $69,432
13. Paris, Texas - $69,496
14. Palestine-Anderson County, Texas - $69,799
15. Longview, Texas - $70,091
16. Harlingen, Texas - $70,128
17. Amarillo, Texas - $70,241
18. Fort Smith, Arkansas - $70,270
19. Lubbock, Texas - $70,338
20. Tupelo, Mississippi - $70,409
21. Nevada, Missouri - $70,424
22. Hot Springs, Arkansas - $70,553
23. Midland, Texas - $70,618
24. Seguin, Texas - $71,053
25. Kingsport, Tennessee - $71,132
26. Florence, Alabama - $71,149
27. Hopkinsville, Kentucky - $71,207
28. Conroe, Texas - $71,294
29. Odessa, Texas - $71,328
30. Knoxville, Tennessee - $71,329
31. Jackson-Madison County, Tennessee - $71,434
32. Weatherford, Texas - $71,438
33. Jackson, Mississippi - $71,464
34. Corpus Christi, Texas - $71,659
35. Murray, Kentucky - $71,793
36. Martinsville-Henry County, Virginia - $71,852
37. Abilene, Texas - $71,935
38. LaGrange-Troup County, Georgia - $72,015
39. Hutchinson, Kansas - $72,190
40. San Angelo, Texas - $72,214
41. Albany, Georgia - $72,219
42. Morristown, Tennessee - $72,221
43. Johnson City, Tennessee - $72,231
44. Springfield, Missouri - $72,233
45. Houston, Texas - $72,237
46. Decatur-Hartselle, Alabama - $72,284
47. Augusta-Aiken, Georgia - $72,325
48. Marshall County, Alabama - $72,371
49. Dothan, Alabama - $72,468
50. Paducah, Kentucky - $72,492

They just happened to run an article in todays paper about the area around number 26 (It's where I hang my hat..)

Shoals fares well in U.S. crime study | TimesDaily.com | The Times Daily | Florence, AL

So there you go...safe AND cheap.

[Justruckin]

I can think of allot of places to live but where do you find work? I'm just looking for some local casual work to get me out of the house for a day or two a week. Nothing going on here, the guys I know that want to use me just don't have any work and what they do have it is not looking good as accounts are cancelling left and right.

Mike

[bentstrider]

According to CNN Money.com, the fifty least expensive cities in the United States are:

1. McAlester, Oklahoma - $63,698
2. Cookeville, Tennessee - $67,756
3. Lancaster, South Carolina - $68,209
4. Clarksville, Tennessee - $68,349
5. Conway, Arkansas - $68,724
6. Joplin, Missouri - $68,759
7. Pryor Creek, Oklahoma - $68,777
8. Jonesboro, Arkansas - $68,837
9. McAllen, Texas - $69,009
10. Laredo, Texas - $69,102
11. Salina, Kansas - $69,154
12. Douglas, Georgia - $69,432
13. Paris, Texas - $69,496
14. Palestine-Anderson County, Texas - $69,799
15. Longview, Texas - $70,091
16. Harlingen, Texas - $70,128
17. Amarillo, Texas - $70,241
18. Fort Smith, Arkansas - $70,270
19. Lubbock, Texas - $70,338
20. Tupelo, Mississippi - $70,409
21. Nevada, Missouri - $70,424
22. Hot Springs, Arkansas - $70,553
23. Midland, Texas - $70,618
24. Seguin, Texas - $71,053
25. Kingsport, Tennessee - $71,132
26. Florence, Alabama - $71,149
27. Hopkinsville, Kentucky - $71,207
28. Conroe, Texas - $71,294
29. Odessa, Texas - $71,328
30. Knoxville, Tennessee - $71,329
31. Jackson-Madison County, Tennessee - $71,434
32. Weatherford, Texas - $71,438
33. Jackson, Mississippi - $71,464
34. Corpus Christi, Texas - $71,659
35. Murray, Kentucky - $71,793
36. Martinsville-Henry County, Virginia - $71,852
37. Abilene, Texas - $71,935
38. LaGrange-Troup County, Georgia - $72,015
39. Hutchinson, Kansas - $72,190
40. San Angelo, Texas - $72,214
41. Albany, Georgia - $72,219
42. Morristown, Tennessee - $72,221
43. Johnson City, Tennessee - $72,231
44. Springfield, Missouri - $72,233
45. Houston, Texas - $72,237
46. Decatur-Hartselle, Alabama - $72,284
47. Augusta-Aiken, Georgia - $72,325
48. Marshall County, Alabama - $72,371
49. Dothan, Alabama - $72,468
50. Paducah, Kentucky - $72,492

Some of those areas are nice, but then again I would still check the actual local information for the city you really want to get into.
I remember staying with some friends up in Portland, OR one time and they had a nice 1/1 place in downtown going for $550/month.
Rates like that are expensive for some, but stacking it up against the state I'm trapped in, anywhere else seems to get you more bang for the buck.

When it comes to looking for an affordable place to live, self-sufficiency and the money required to live on your own should come to mind.
One thing about some of these "low-pay" places is that the rents aren't so exorbitantly high to where they take out most of your paycheck.

LA, OC, and any other popular place in California, you've got 3-4 roommates crammed into a small apartment, people living with parents who own a house, and then those working multiple jobs just to cover rent/mortgage.
The desert areas are cheap out here, but then any money saved from that will be burned up by transportation(no buses or trains, or rideshare) costs.

[Tatertot]

Thanks for the sympathy and advice My mortgage problems started a few yrs ago when fuel was close to $5/gal and freight slowed down in my area. Tried to hang on for the wife and kids.

I did look into Southern Texas, but didn't really find much there. Maybe I'll check it out again. I have met a few drivers in VA and OH that pull $1k/wk doing local. Didn't find anything I could rent in those areas though.

I'm also thinking of renting a cheap place in Vegas and becoming a freight broker. Or agent more likely since my credit is shot. If it's even possible.

[dieselgrl]

I used to live in the Knoxville, TN area after I got the hell out of the Northeast myself. Much cheaper living, never had a problem finding a place to live away from crime, milder climate - though not like Vegas We're actually contemplating going back there in a few years - both the husband and I have had it with Oklahoma.

[jonp]

I used to live in the Knoxville, TN area after I got the hell out of the Northeast myself. Much cheaper living, never had a problem finding a place to live away from crime, milder climate - though not like Vegas We're actually contemplating going back there in a few years - both the husband and I have had it with Oklahoma.

Where in the Northeast did you live? I got out myself last year. Its very cheap to live up in Northern Vermont but there are no jobs.

[dieselgrl]

Where in the Northeast did you live? I got out myself last year. Its very cheap to live up in Northern Vermont but there are no jobs.

I grew up just south of Boston, but without a college degree wasn't going to be able to survive up there. Moved to Tennessee and never looked back...well, ok, so I do miss fresh seafood

[freebirdrfd]

I grew up just south of Boston, but without a college degree wasn't going to be able to survive up there. Moved to Tennessee and never looked back...well, ok, so I do miss fresh seafood

You could have stayed up here and been a seafood hauler like me The cat loves my smell when i come walking thru the door

[jeff1981]

I recently moved due to increasing living costs, and lower income potential in this economy. After doing a bunch of looking and researching, I settled on Tamaqua, PA 18252. Very inexpensive rent, low cost of living. Downside is that it is in the mountains of pa, in the coal region, and a very depressed area. As someone who works for an owner operator and close friend, this doesn't pose a problem for me, as i can keep the truck wherever, but there is very little local work of any kind. That said, it's a safe, friendly town. I rent a 3 bedroom townhouse for $550 a month, and have wonderful neighbors.
Jeff

[Iamblacksheep]

Short story is my house is in foreclosure after a long battle trying to keep my truck & the house last year. Moved out last year, sold the truck.

I'm not partial to any area. Was thinking Vegas at first since it seems easy to get a place to rent with bad credit out there. But the job market looks awful, and I'd have to stay on the road. Would prefer to find a market where I can get a local gig for the standard $1k/wk at least. Inexpensive and safe are key, warm climate would be nice too. Tired of the northeast.

Would appreciate any suggestions, thx.

From the parameters that you have expressed in your post, safe neighborhood for someone with not only bad credit but downright NASTY CREDIT, good local job in a warm climate with no north east, at LEAST 1000.00 a week.......you could be a stand up freakin comedian!! HAHAHAHHA!! you are hilarious.... you would be lucky to get a "gig" washing trucks.....

[DaveP]

From the parameters that you have expressed in your post, safe neighborhood for someone with not only bad credit but downright NASTY CREDIT, good local job in a warm climate with no north east, at LEAST 1000.00 a week.......you could be a stand up freakin comedian!! HAHAHAHHA!! you are hilarious.... you would be lucky to get a "gig" washing trucks.....

Anybody else able to smell BigD's unwashed rear end from a mile away?