Cost of Living
per year
per month
How Hamilton's prices compare to the US city average across major spending categories.
How far does your salary go in Hamilton?
Your $100,000 in Hamilton has the same purchasing power as $108,578 in the average US city. You'd need $8,578 less here to maintain that standard of living.
Demographics and workforce data from the US Census ACS 5-Year.
bachelor's or higher
Climate, safety, and walkability indicators.
See a side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, housing, and salaries.
Popular comparisons
Sorted by affordability — most affordable first.
Within 10 points of Hamilton's cost index of 92, sorted by closest match.
Wondering whether you should move to Hamilton? It depends on what you're optimizing for, but the city has real arguments in its favor: your dollar carries more weight here and safer than the typical us city, plus 2 more things worth knowing. The data behind each is below.
Hamilton sits at 92 on the composite cost-of-living index — about 8% under the national average. Not the cheapest place in the country, but enough of a discount to notice on rent and groceries every month. Median rent in town runs about $947/mo against a typical household income of $52,995, which is the kind of ratio that leaves room to save.
Hamilton reports about 2,643 crime incidents per 100,000 residents — a step below the US average of around 3,500. The citywide number averages over neighborhoods that can vary a lot, but the headline number is friendlier than most American cities of comparable size.
Hamilton earns a Walk Score of 72/100 — above the US median, with denser neighborhoods scoring higher than the citywide aggregate suggests. A car is still useful for longer trips, but everyday life works on foot for a lot of residents.
Hamilton's Bike Score is 68/100 — the kind of number you only get when a city has built real bike infrastructure (protected lanes, connected routes, drivers who expect cyclists). For commuting or just for getting around, the bike is a serious option here, not a hobby.
Reasons are pulled from Hamilton's actual data — Census ACS, BLS, BEA, NOAA, EPA AQS, FBI, and Walk Score. We don't list positives that aren't supported by the numbers, which is why different cities show different sections.
Hamilton gets a handful of meaningful snow days each year. Winters average about 26°F — cold enough for several inches at a time, warm enough for everything to melt between storms.
Cold but workable. Winter in Hamilton averages about 26°F — colder than the national norm, mild compared to the upper Midwest. A solid coat handles most days; the genuine cold snaps are short.
Hot, but not desert-hot. Summer in Hamilton runs about 85°F on average, with afternoons in the 90s and humidity that varies by region. AC is standard rather than optional.
Hamilton falls in roughly USDA Zone 8. The zone classification is based on average annual minimum temperatures, so it's the right lookup for whether perennials and trees will overwinter here. Note that this is approximate from our winter-temperature data — check the USDA map for the exact zone before betting an expensive plant on it.
Hamilton is at about 591 feet (180 m) above sea level. High enough to be solidly above any coastal concern, low enough that altitude isn't a factor.
Average for an American city. Hamilton's reported crime rate of about 2,643 per 100,000 residents sits roughly in line with the US baseline of ~3,500. Like anywhere else, the citywide number masks real differences between neighborhoods — worth looking at specific areas before deciding.
Roughly average. Hamilton's cost-of-living index is 92, putting it in the band where rent, groceries, and utilities track the national norm. Not a bargain, not a premium.
Yes — Hamilton is one of the more walkable US cities. A Walk Score of 72/100 means most daily errands can be done on foot in most neighborhoods. Transit Score is 24 out of 100. Many residents go car-free comfortably.
Roughly $64,470 a year would match the lifestyle of someone earning $70,000 in an average US city. That's a starting point, not a target — negotiate higher when you can. Median rent in Hamilton runs about $947/mo — keeping housing under 30% of gross income points to a similar floor on what you'd want to earn.