Since the start of the pandemic, an estimated 5 million Americans have relocated thanks to the flexibility of remote work, but rather than flocking to major cities, many have settled in mid-sized metros offering affordability and greater livability. The median household income exceeded $76,000 across the top 10 cities, and surprisingly, only one Sunbelt metro made the list.
Rochester, Minnesota reclaimed the top spot for the second year in a row thanks to its low 1.2% unemployment rate and fast growth. Cary, North Carolina is the only southern metro on the top 10 list with a low crime rate, a 4.7% poverty rate, and a median household income of nearly $107,500, SmartAsset reports.
Across all 214 cities in our study, two Silicon Valley cities in the top 10 (Sunnyvale and Santa Clara) have the No. 1 and No. 2 highest median household incomes ($150,464 and $136,870, respectively). Comparatively, the lowest median household income belongs to Dayton, Ohio ($34,457), which ranked in the bottom 10 cities.
Across the 214 cities in our study, the average four-year change in median home value is about 13%. Four cities had an increase exceeding 30%, with Palm Bay, Florida seeing the largest four-year growth in its median home value, at 33.90%.
Advertisement
Related Stories
Housing Markets
Which US Cities Are Seeing the Most New-Construction Homes?
Texas metros top list of cities with high rates of new construction but not of cities with highest sales prices for new-construction homes
Housing Markets
5 Housing Markets That Would See a Huge Increase in Homeownership if Mortgage Rates Dropped
Spokane, Wash., would experience an 11.4% increase in affordability if rates dropped to 6%
Housing Markets
Spring Housing Markets: Which Markets Saw the Most Appreciation, and Which Saw the Least?
Florida metros saw the weakest appreciation of all housing markets in the US