Not everything is about money. But how much you have can play a big role in the kind of lifestyle you want to lead. Take the cost of living, for example. An IT pro can easily make a hefty six-figure salary on the west coast, but how far does your dollar go there? If you’re spending too much of your hard-earned salary on the basics, maybe it’s time for a change.
The CompTIA Tech Town Index highlights metro areas throughout the United States where opportunity for tech jobs intersects with affordability and quality of life. The 2021 data puts Lansing, MI; Atlanta, GA; Huntsville, AL; Austin, TX and Raleigh, NC at the top of the affordability category. Let’s look at the tech scene in each of these areas and why taking a slight pay cut to work there may end up feeling like a raise.
The Tech Town Data
Based on 2021 job posting data, CompTIA looked at 20 metropolitan areas with populations over 250,000 where demand for tech workers is greatest. The cities were then ranked based on cost of living, number of postings for open IT positions and projected job growth over the next year, as well as the next five years.
Did your town make the list? Download the report to see the top 20 U.S. Tech Towns.
1. Lansing, Michigan
Stereotypically considered a manufacturing state, Michigan has been a pioneer in technology research and development for quite some time. The area is leveraging that expertise – and its assets – to attract tech companies to the Midwest – and it’s beating out other nearby cities like Chicago, Indianapolis and Columbus.
Those assets include a high concentration of engineers, a strong pipeline of tech students trained at top-notch universities, an attractive business climate that boasts low operating costs and a cost of living that is far lower than any other metro area on the index.
The cost of living in the Lansing-East Lansing metro area is 8% lower than the national average, earning it the no. 1 spot in our affordability category.
Lansing Living Expenses at a Glance
- Median IT salary: $72,582
- Median home price: $137,400
- Cost of groceries: 8% below the national average
- Sales tax: 6%
2. Atlanta, Georgia
One such effort is taking advantage of entrepreneurial talent coming from the area’s network of private and public schools like Georgia Tech, the University of Alabama, Auburn, the University of Georgia, Vanderbilt, Emory and Historically Black Colleges and Universities like Morehouse, Spelman and Xavier.
The cost of living in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metro area is 4% lower than the national average, earning it the no. 2 spot in our affordability category.
Atlanta Living Expenses at a Glance
- Median IT salary: $95,788
- Median home price: $327,568
- Utility prices: 15% lower than the national average
- Sales tax: 8.5%
3. Huntsville, Alabama
When you think of Huntsville, you might conjure up images of military defense and aerospace technology. While that’s a big part of what put the Rocket City on the map, today Huntsville attracts all kinds of IT talent. In fact, new economic developments are estimated to bring 510 new jobs and more than $71 million in investment to the Huntsville community.
Investments like this not only create new job opportunities, but they also help IT pros maintain a certain quality of life. Although Huntsville is growing, it continues to be a hot spot for IT pros to build their career.
The cost of living in the Huntsville metro area is 3.8% lower than the national average, earning it the no. 3 spot in our affordability category.
Huntsville Living Expenses at a Glance
- Median IT salary: $98,251
- Median home price: $263,044
- Cost of groceries: 8% below the national average
- Sales tax: 9%
4. Austin, Texas
The Austin area tops the Tech Town Index for its third consecutive year. It offers an attractive combination of opportunity, affordability and good old-fashioned real estate that keeps tech companies – and talent – flocking. Experts cite ideal conditions for business creation like access to capital, skilled workers and affordable office space as key factors appealing to startups and enterprise companies alike.
Of course, that makes Austin the fastest-growing large metro area in the country. While it can be argued that the city’s affordability rating is decreasing due to a population and housing surge, Austin still sits at no. 4 of 20 metro areas when it comes to cost of living.
The cost of living in the Austin-Round Rock metro area is 3.4% lower than the national average, earning it the no. 4 spot in our affordability category.
Austin Living Expenses at a Glance
- Median IT salary: $90,459
- Median home price: $495,000
- Utility prices: 15% lower than the national average
- No individual income tax
5. Raleigh, North Carolina
In 2021, Apple announced its plans to invest more than $1 billion in North Carolina and build a new campus and engineering hub in the Raleigh area. Apple said that the new campus will create 3,000 jobs in software engineering, machine learning and artificial intelligence – but didn’t offer a timeline for when it would be operational.
As part of the investment, however, Apple plans to set up a $100 million fund to support schools and community programs across the state. This type of reinvestment is just part of Raleigh’s continuing plan to work with local universities, nonprofits and the private sector to build a tech-savvy workforce.
The cost of living in the Raleigh-Cary metro area is 2.9% lower than the national average, earning it the no. 5 spot in our affordability category.
Raleigh Living Expenses at a Glance
- Median IT salary: $95,786
- Median home price: $379,000
- Utility prices: 4% lower than the national average
- Sales tax: 7.25%
What does your dream lifestyle look like? If you’re looking for a change – and a chance to bank some money – consider one of these metro areas where your dollar stretches further.
Calculate your potential IT salary with the CompTIA IT Salary Calculator. Find the job you want in the area you want and plan accordingly.
