The ‘Naughtiest, Nicest Housing Market’ List
Researchers have been checking their lists, trying to find out which housing markets have been naughty or nice this year. RealtyTrac analyzed 334 U.S. cities with populations of at least 100,000 to compile lists of the nicest — those markets with some of the lowest crime rates and foreclosures, highest employment, and best school scores — and to fish out those that have been the naughtiest.
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RealtyTrac’s analysis found that in the 10 “nicest” housing markets school scores were nearly twice the national average, crime rates were one-third the national average, and the unemployment rate was at an average of 4.6 percent. They also found that foreclosures were lowest — 24 foreclosures per 10,000 housing units.
The 10 cities that made RealtyTrac’s “nicest” list this year are:
Cary, N.C.
Fairfax, Va.
Pearland, Texas
Irvine, Calif.
Frisco, Texas
Sugar Land, Texas
Richardson, Texas
Katy, Texas
College Station, Texas
Fremont, Calif.
On the other hand, in the “naughtiest” cities this year, RealtyTrac found that school scores were one-half the national average; crime rates were nearly twice the national average, and the average unemployment rate was 7.8 percent. Milwaukee, Detroit, and Stockton, Calif., topped RealtyTrac’s list as the “naughtiest” this year.
Source: “The 10 Naughtiest and Nicest Housing Markets,” RealtyTrac (Dec. 18, 2014)
