American families are stressed and squeezed by economic math that works against them. For example, as I wrote recently, homes in zip codes with at least one above-average school cost twice as much as homes in zips without a good school. I’ll repeat this message because it’s so important: the numbers say families with average incomes can’t afford average-priced homes in most of America. That’s the sign of a broken market, but more important, it’s driving people crazy. That’s what I’m covering in The Restless Project.
But while many families in America’s big cities struggle in the get-a-great-job-so-we-can-beat-the-odds game (a game that, sadly, the majority cannot win), there are ways to escape the craziness. There are hundreds of communities where homes are inexpensive relative to incomes, and there are still good schools. None of them are on the coasts; but they do exist. If you feel restless, you should consider moving to one of these areas. At the very least, you should learn about them and realize that not everyone lives under constant economic uncertainty bred by outsized housing costs.
Last year, my most popular Restless Project story revealed the top 100 “sane circles” — places with jobs and schools and reasonably-priced homes. So today, I’m revealing the 2015 sane circles map, once again thanks to the hard work of the folks at RealtyTrac. Below, you’ll find an interactive map that will let you zoom in and out, and get additional details on communities in the top 100. If for some reason the map won’t load for you, click here.
Before you dive in, here are a few observations. First of all, there are hundreds more zip codes that fit he good jobs-homes-schools description — this map shows only the least expensive 100. So other areas cannot be disqualified. That said, it’s remarkable how narrowly grouped the circles are. A bit of Florida, a bit of North Carolina-Tennessee-Ohio, a bit of update New York, and a lot of Wisconsin and non-Chicagoland Illinois.
In other words, want a simpler life? Buy a warm coat. To put it nicely, tolerance for changing seasons will open up opportunities for you.
As for the 2014 vs 2015 comparison, there aren’t major shifts, but it does seem like the good times might be coming to an end in upstate New York (I’ll have more on that soon. Buffalo has become like San Francisco, Marketwatch just proclaimed!) . And affordability really seems to be tilting towards Wisconsin and its neighbors.
I’d love to hear your impressions of this map. If you’ve moved into one of these “sane circles” recently, I’d really love to hear from you. In the search for affordable America, we are all in this together.
NOTES: To qualify: schools had test scores that were at least one-third higher than their state’s average. The intra-state standard means a better school in a state where education is better overall could be penalized. And of course, school scoring is fraught with peril anyway. The unemployment rate criteria is simpler — 5.9 percent or lower. And affordability means home payments (using the formula we used last time) are 33 percent of income or lower.
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