The Top 10 from Livability. They didn’t really account of ratio of median household income to median home price; i.e. affordability so I calculated it and added it.

Personally, I love Palo Alto but it’s the least affordable. The wild gyration of median household income to median home price speaks to the town’s two sides of the tracks. East Palo Alto versus the rest of Palo Alto. If you remove East Palo Alto from the numbers, I’m sure the median income goes up but the median home price goes up even higher.

Rochester, Minnesota has the best ratio but alas, not the best weather. Durham is looking like a great place to retire to with decent weather and an even better ratio.

And what about Rockville? Don’t go back to Rockville? Or maybe, actually, you should!

As for Newton, MA, it may be #68th on this list, but it’s #4 on the Money list!

1. Palo Alto, CA
Population: 65,260
Median Household Income: $124,465
Average Work Commute: 18.61 minutes
Median Home Price: $1,240,250

Ratio of median household income to median home price: 1:10

2. Boulder, CO
Population: 97,674
Median Household Income: $53,404
Average Work Commute: 15.15 minutes
Median Home Price: $399,750

Ratio of median household income to median home price: 1:7.5

3. Berkeley, CA
Population: 114,764
Median Household Income: $59,581
Average Work Commute: 22.38 minutes
Median Home Price: $549,500

Ratio of median household income to median home price: 1:9

4. Durham, NC
Population: 231,975
Median Household Income: $47,863
Average Work Commute: 18.05 minutes
Median Home Price: $165,000

Ratio of median household income to median home price: 1:3

5. Miami Beach, FL

Population: 89,243
Median Household Income: $43,562
Average Work Commute: 21.14 minutes
Median Home Price: $218,000

Ratio of median household income to median home price: 1:5

6. Rochester, MN
Population: 108,405
Median Household Income: $65,009
Average Work Commute: 12.57 minutes
Median Home Price: $136,500

Ratio of median household income to median home price: 1:2

7. Salt Lake City, UT
Population: 188,278
Median Household Income: $44,447
Average Work Commute: 16.65 minutes
Median Home Price: $196,812

Ratio of median household income to median home price: 1:4

8. Eugene, OR
Population: 157,752
Median Household Income: $42,241
Average Work Commute: 14.43 minutes
Median Home Price: $205,000

Ratio of median household income to median home price: 1:5

9. Reno, NV
Population: 225,561
Median Household Income: $51,525
Average Work Commute: 15.65 minutes
Median Home Price: $142,330

Ratio of median household income to median home price: 1:3

10. Rockville, MD
Population: 58,878
Median Household Income: $90,510
Average Work Commute: 28.46 minutes
Median Home Price: $430,000

Ratio of median household income to median home price: 1:5

68. Newton, MA

Population: 84,655
Median household income: $111,987
Average Work Commute: 23.73 Minutes
Median Home Price: $669,500

Ratio of median household income to median home price: 1:6

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