Homes in Highly Rated School Zones Cost 35% More Than the Average U.S. Home--But the Premium Is Much Smaller in Some Parts of the Country

The typical U.S. home in a highly rated school zone costs $580,000, 35% more than the overall median of $430,000. Buyers need an income of $159,157 to afford these homes, compared to $117,995 for typical homes. Only 13% of listings in top school zones are affordable to median earners. Price premiums vary by metro, with Philadelphia showing the highest premium (93.5%) and Little Rock the lowest (-5%). In expensive California metros, homes in top school zones consume up to 99% of median income.