When you've got kids (or are planning to have them soon), choosing where to live depends on a lot of factors -- including safety, schools, and proximity to family. But it's hard to overestimate the importance of living in an area that you can actually afford and live well in.

That's why we've rounded up the top 10 most affordable cities, according to WalletHub data. We've also included information on median household income, home price, and what a family of four needs to get by (from the Economic Policy Institute) to give you a better sense of what you're in for.

Note: Several towns in Arizona make the list (so we grouped them together). But in terms of affordable states, it looks like you can't beat Arizona, Texas, or Nebraska. Interestingly, the East and West coasts are almost nowhere to be found.

start slideshow

real estate