Job seekers attracted by strong wages plus affordable housing, services, and goods

In a new study from the Indeed Hiring Lab, chief economist Jed Kolko analyzed 185 cities across the country to see where worker’s paychecks stretch furthest.

Cincinnati was No. 3 out of 17, with an average salary listed at $67,900, but after adjusting for cost of living (housing, services, and goods), it’s more like $75,400.

The analysis revealed that salaries go furthest in Southern and Midwestern cities. “For job seekers in most places,” says Kolko, “there’s another metro with a similar mix of jobs that offers higher adjusted salaries.”