Many families spent summer break chaseing top-rated school districts with communities that offer an appealing lifestyle, small class sizes and walkability, but some came with a hefty price tag.
The data, collected by Realtor.com, shows "out-of-district home shoppers" looked the most between May and July this year at "areas with at least one public school rated 8 or higher." It also focused on districts with an average of at least 100 for-sale properties.
Homes in 27 out of the 50 most sought-after districts came with steep median listing prices, averaging about $1.21 million.
Teacher Nathan Grebil (right) talks to his fourth grade cohort class as they wait socially distant in line at Bel Aire Elementary School on Friday, October 16, 2020, in Tiburon, Calif. The school is part of a sought-after school district Reed Union f (Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle / Getty Images)
"School quality has long been a driver of homebuying decisions," Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com said in a statement. "Our data shows families are making trade-offs—sometimes paying a significant premium for top-rated districts, and other times prioritizing value in areas that still offer strong academics."
An aerial view of the downtown Dallas skyline on February 22, 2024. Carroll Independent School District, which is in nearby Southlake, was one of the top-rated districts with steep price-tagged homes. (Kirby Lee / Getty Images)
Housing market districts that represent value include "areas that combine strong schools with more attainable housing costs, often due to their suburban or rural settings."
Students head to the first day of class at Trabuco Mesa Elementary School in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register / Getty Images)
"This year, we also saw sizable interest in districts outside major urban centers, reflecting both affordability concerns and a desire for lifestyle amenities," Hale said.