Despite the reputation the Midwest gets for being "lifeless and flat," this region of the country is the most economically efficient, says Clever. In the West, the job-to-income ratio is a shocking 4.2, whereas the Midwest offers a 2.9 ratio. As housing prices increased, so did the median household income, meaning Midwesterners have a greater shot at attaining the American Dream (or, as some people are calling it, "financial independence"). So, what makes the Midwest such an affordable place to live? When it comes down to it, the reason living in the Midwest is so cheap is because of supply and demand, ToughNickel says.

Big cities are saturated with people but don't have enough housing available to accommodate all of them. This drives the housing prices (and the cost of living) up, which is why you'll notice a drastic comparison between costs of goods in San Francisco versus Cleveland, for example. The demand for property, fuel, and food is much less in the Midwest, so there's no need to create a competitive market by increasing costs. Combine all of that together, and you get a region in the U.S. that grants its citizens more financial freedom, who are free to live out the American Dream.

The rest is here:

The Most Affordable Region In The US Where The American Dream Is Still Alive - House Digest