Chicago is walkable and affordable. So are many smaller cities like Cincinnati.
Most of the rapidly growing Southern cities have great quality of life and are walkable if you can afford to live in the desirable urban areas, which you certainly can if NYC is even on your radar.
Most of the rapidly growing Southern cities have great quality of life and are walkable if you can afford to live in the desirable urban areas, which you certainly can if NYC is even on your radar.