Many people are looking to buy homes, not across the street, not somewhere else in town, but in other parts of the country. The motivator for this is that there are significant differences in the median prices for home sales in different parts of America. This is not a result of the places being undesirable.
Many of the places with excellent values in home prices are very desirable. In these nice cities, the lower prices are more about the local economy, the cost of living, and the availability of homes for sale.
Popular Cities For Relocation
A study done by REALTOR® identified the most popular cities that people search for when looking for a new home in another area that is different from where they currently live.
The median home price in America is $226,800.
Areavibes ranks American cities based on a livability score that considers many factors, which include the cost of living, crime, school, employment, and amenities (take a look at their Best Places to Live in America page here). The livability score is a scale that goes up to 100.
Here are the top choices in the order of their popularity for searches and median home prices along with their livability score:
- Charleston, South Carolina – Median home price is $269,400. Livability score is 77.
- Boise, Idaho – Median home price is $191,000. Livability score is 80.
- Honolulu, Hawaii – Median home price is $601,500. Livability score is 73.
- Columbia, South Carolina – Median home price is $164,200. Livability score is 63.
- Fort Myers, Florida – Median home price is $160,800. Livability score is 70.
- Portland, Maine – Median home price is $248,000. Livability score is 66.
- Sarasota, Florida – Median home price is $109,500. Livability score is 74.
- Greenville, South Carolina – Median home price is $237,800. Livability score is 73.
- Tucson, Arizona – Median home price is $135,200. Livability score is 65.
- Las Vegas, Nevada – Median home price is $184,900. Livability score is 71.
Cost Of Living
The cost of living is a big factor that impacts the quality of life for the average person. The cost of living includes the cost of housing, groceries, transportation, health care, utilities, and other goods and services. The national standard for America’s cost of living is set at 100.
The cost of living index in each city is a number that is higher or lower than 100. Higher figures than 100 represent a percentage higher than the national average. Lower numbers than 100 are cities that cost less than other cities in America.
Here is the cost of living index for these popular cities:
- Charleston, South Carolina – 115
- Boise, Idaho – 96
- Honolulu, Hawaii – 182
- Columbia, South Carolina – 101
- Fort Myers, Florida – 94
- Portland, Maine – 114
- Sarasota, Florida – 108
- Greenville, South Carolina – 106
- Tucson, Arizona – 92
- Las Vegas, Nevada – 100
Conclusion
The lowest median price for a home is found in Sarasota, Florida. The city with the highest livability score is Boise, Idaho. The lowest cost of living is in Tucson, Arizona. These are all great cities to live in. For those who have the option to relocate, to get a better price when buying a home, they should all be considered as decent choices.
If you are in the market for a new home or interested in refinancing your current property, be sure to contact your trusted home mortgage professional.
