Here's the Salary Needed To Live in America's Best School Districts
Families interested in moving to one of the 50 best school districts in America must earn a substantial annual income before entertaining this kind of relocation. A six-figure income is the financial threshold to live comfortably in all but four locations considered “best” in the nation, according to Niche.com’s latest ranking. But earnings at the low end of $100,000 won’t cut it. Key findings from a new MoneyLion study reveal families must make more than $250,000 annually to cover the cost of living comfortably in 22 top school districts.
For this study, MoneyLion sourced Niche.com’s 2026 Best School Districts in America ranking to find the top 150 districts. Additional information sourced for each district includes its location, number of students and number of schools. Average expenditure costs for each location were calculated using the national average expenditure costs from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for households of married couples with children. Each location’s total cost of living for necessities was calculated using the average mortgage and expenditure costs and then doubled to find the comfortable cost of living for families.
All school districts are listed out according to Niche.com’s latest ranking.
Key Findings
A staggering $450,000+ annual income is necessary to live comfortably in five of the nation’s best school districts. These districts are in Palo Alto, California ($592,025); Old Westbury, New York ($494,991); Los Gatos, California ($459,632); San Marino, California ($454,334); and Palos Verdes Estates, California ($451,714).
You'll need more than $170,000 annually to live comfortably in the country's No. 1 best school district, Glenbrook High School District 225 in Glenview, Illinois. But that's actually one of the most affordable options on the list.
Illinois swept the ranking with the most school districts, surpassing coastal states like California and New York. The 12 districts are based in Hinsdale, Northfield, Highland Park, Glenview, Barrington, Naperville, Arlington Heights, Vernon Hills, Palatine, Skokie, Aurora and Normal.
California and New York tied with 11 ranking districts, respectively. In California, these districts are based in Palo Alto, Los Gatos, San Marino, Palos Verdes Estates, Piedmont, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, La Cañada Flintridge, Encinitas, South Pasadena and Redondo Beach. New York’s 11 best school districts are in the following cities: Old Westbury, Manhasset, Roslyn, Great Neck, Chappaqua, Woodmere, Jericho, Dix Hills, Syosset, New Hyde Park and Bethpage.
A six-figure salary is not necessary to live comfortably in four ranking districts. These districts are based in Normal, Illinois ($94,468); Pittsburgh ($91,013); Cincinnati ($90,793); and St. Louis ($81,003).
Here’s how much you need to earn annually to reside in America’s best school districts. Plus, we ranked America’s 50 richest school districts, and you may be surprised by the results.
1. Glenview, Illinois (Glenbrook High School District 225)
Median household income: $143,056
Average home value: $817,739
Annual cost of living: $85,583
Salary needed to live comfortably: $171,165
2. Syosset, New York (Syosset Central School District)
Median household income: $187,273
Average home value: $1,141,704
Annual cost of living: $115,461
Salary needed to live comfortably: $230,923
3. Roslyn, New York (Roslyn Union Free School District)
Median household income: $116,386
Average home value: $1,811,153
Annual cost of living: $161,633
Salary needed to live comfortably: $323,267
4. Northfield, Illinois (New Trier Township High School District No. 203)
Median household income: $161,500
Average home value: $1,077,793
Annual cost of living: $104,136
Salary needed to live comfortably: $208,271
5. Highland Park, Illinois (Township High School District No. 113)
Median household income: $168,094
Average home value: $878,635
Annual cost of living: $89,307
Salary needed to live comfortably: $178,613
6. Vernon Hills, Illinois (Community High School District 128)
Median household income: $121,943
Average home value: $543,079
Annual cost of living: $65,760
Salary needed to live comfortably: $131,519
7. La Cañada Flintridge, California (La Cañada Unified School District)
Median household income: $241,875
Average home value: $2,365,100
Annual cost of living: $194,079
Salary needed to live comfortably: $388,158
8. Hinsdale, Illinois (Hinsdale Township High School District No. 86)
Median household income: $250,000+
Average home value: $1,387,426
Annual cost of living: $125,940
Salary needed to live comfortably: $251,881
9. Dix Hills, New York (Half Hollow Hills Central School District)
Median household income: $227,944
Average home value: $1,233,540
Annual cost of living: $119,302
Salary needed to live comfortably: $238,604
10. Jericho, New York (Jericho Union Free School District)
Median household income: $167,935
Average home value: $1,320,124
Annual cost of living: $127,673
Salary needed to live comfortably: $255,346
11. Austin, Texas (Eanes Independent School District)
Median household income: $93,658
Average home value: $539,281
Annual cost of living: $66,015
Salary needed to live comfortably: $132,030
12. Mountain View, California (Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District)
Median household income: $189,917
Average home value: $2,444,506
Annual cost of living: $200,950
Salary needed to live comfortably: $401,900
13. Novi, Michigan (Novi Community School District)
Median household income: $110,723
Average home value: $556,959
Annual cost of living: $66,573
Salary needed to live comfortably: $133,146
14. St. Louis (Ladue School District)
Median household income: $56,160
Average home value: $191,974
Annual cost of living: $40,502
Salary needed to live comfortably: $81,003
15. Buford, Georgia (Buford City Schools)
Median household income: $69,471
Average home value: $476,120
Annual cost of living: $60,876
Salary needed to live comfortably: $121,753
16. Encinitas, California (San Dieguito Union High School District)
Median household income: $162,229
Average home value: $2,076,840
Annual cost of living: $173,629
Salary needed to live comfortably: $347,258
17. Great Neck, New York (Great Neck Public Schools)
Median household income: $137,981
Average home value: $1,721,855
Annual cost of living: $155,816
Salary needed to live comfortably: $311,631
18. Manhasset, New York (Manhasset Union Free School District)
Median household income: $165,932
Average home value: $2,363,939
Annual cost of living: $200,098
Salary needed to live comfortably: $400,195
19. Palatine, Illinois (Township High School District No. 211)
Median household income: $97,819
Average home value: $483,743
Annual cost of living: $62,135
Salary needed to live comfortably: $124,269
20. Palo Alto, California (Palo Alto Unified School District)
Median household income: $231,101
Average home value: $3,817,538
Annual cost of living: $296,012
Salary needed to live comfortably: $592,025
21. Los Gatos, California (Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District)
Median household income: $217,554
Average home value: $2,846,170
Annual cost of living: $229,816
Salary needed to live comfortably: $459,632
22. Pittsburgh (North Allegheny School District)
Median household income: $65,742
Average home value: $246,027
Annual cost of living: $45,506
Salary needed to live comfortably: $91,013
23. Old Westbury, New York (East Williston Union Free School District)
Median household income: $250,000+
Average home value: $3,054,183
Annual cost of living: $247,496
Salary needed to live comfortably: $494,991
24. Northville, Michigan (Northville Public Schools)
Median household income: $145,530
Average home value: $695,071
Annual cost of living: $76,119
Salary needed to live comfortably: $152,239
25. New Canaan, Connecticut (New Canaan Public Schools)
Median household income: $146,700
Average home value: $2,198,939
Annual cost of living: $187,341
Salary needed to live comfortably: $374,682
26. Bethpage, New York (Bethpage Union Free School District)
Median household income: $122,257
Average home value: $796,520
Annual cost of living: $90,973
Salary needed to live comfortably: $181,945
27. Demarest, New Jersey (Northern Valley Regional High School District)
Median household income: $208,036
Average home value: $1,554,565
Annual cost of living: $140,074
Salary needed to live comfortably: $280,148
28. Brookline, Massachusetts (Public Schools of Brookline)
Median household income: $142,101
Average home value: $1,497,807
Annual cost of living: $135,552
Salary needed to live comfortably: $271,104
29. Plymouth, Minnesota (Wayzata Public Schools)
Median household income: $136,534
Average home value: $549,858
Annual cost of living: $65,696
Salary needed to live comfortably: $131,393
30. Skokie, Illinois (Niles Township Community High School District No. 219)
Median household income: $95,337
Average home value: $478,164
Annual cost of living: $61,834
Salary needed to live comfortably: $123,668
31. Woodmere, New York (Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School District)
Median household income: $172,537
Average home value: $1,425,482
Annual cost of living: $135,077
Salary needed to live comfortably: $270,155
32. Normal, Illinois (Isu Laboratory Schools)
Median household income: $64,785
Average home value: $272,491
Annual cost of living: $47,234
Salary needed to live comfortably: $94,468
33. Aurora, Illinois (Indian Prairie Community Unit School District No. 204)
Median household income: $93,633
Average home value: $339,839
Annual cost of living: $51,228
Salary needed to live comfortably: $102,456
34. Barrington, Illinois (Barrington Community Unit School District No. 220)
Median household income: $147,989
Average home value: $678,881
Annual cost of living: $76,267
Salary needed to live comfortably: $152,534
35. West Lafayette, Indiana (West Lafayette Community School Corporation)
Median household income: $34,891
Average home value: $380,231
Annual cost of living: $53,040
Salary needed to live comfortably: $106,079
36. New Hyde Park, New York (Herricks Union Free School District)
Median household income: $142,927
Average home value: $993,095
Annual cost of living: $104,867
Salary needed to live comfortably: $209,734
37. Cincinnati (Mariemont City Schools)
Median household income: $52,909
Average home value: $261,855
Annual cost of living: $45,397
Salary needed to live comfortably: $90,793
38. Clayton, Missouri (School District of Clayton)
Median household income: $123,000
Average home value: $1,192,153
Annual cost of living: $110,527
Salary needed to live comfortably: $221,055
39. San Marino, California (San Marino Unified School District)
Median household income: $214,167
Average home value: $2,840,128
Annual cost of living: $227,167
Salary needed to live comfortably: $454,334
40. Chappaqua, New York (Chappaqua Central School District)
Median household income: $241,432
Average home value: $1,573,156
Annual cost of living: $144,473
Salary needed to live comfortably: $288,946
41. Palos Verdes Estates, California (Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District)
Median household income: $242,014
Average home value: $2,825,334
Annual cost of living: $225,857
Salary needed to live comfortably: $451,714
42. Homewood, Alabama (Homewood City Schools)
Median household income: $94,485
Average home value: $600,563
Annual cost of living: $71,248
Salary needed to live comfortably: $142,497
43. Mason, Ohio (Mason City School District)
Median household income: $125,401
Average home value: $575,327
Annual cost of living: $67,810
Salary needed to live comfortably: $135,621
44. South Pasadena, California (South Pasadena Unified School District)
Median household income: $127,175
Average home value: $1,879,176
Annual cost of living: $160,337
Salary needed to live comfortably: $320,674
45. Minnetonka, Minnesota (Minnetonka Public School District
Median household income: $119,517
Average home value: $537,580
Annual cost of living: $64,724
Salary needed to live comfortably: $129,448
46. Sunnyvale, California (Fremont Union High School District)
Median household income: $186,170
Average home value: $2,372,908
Annual cost of living: $195,713
Salary needed to live comfortably: $391,426
47. Naperville, Illinois (Naperville Community Unit School District No. 203)
Median household income: $155,105
Average home value: $674,395
Annual cost of living: $76,156
Salary needed to live comfortably: $152,312
48. Redondo Beach, California (Redondo Beach Unified School District)
Median household income: $150,245
Average home value: $1,625,120
Annual cost of living: $142,533
Salary needed to live comfortably: $285,065
49. Arlington Heights, Illinois (Township High School District No. 214)
Median household income: $116,723
Average home value: $580,315
Annual cost of living: $68,875
Salary needed to live comfortably: $137,751
50. Piedmont, California (Piedmont City Unified School District)
Median household income: $250,000+
Average home value: $2,585,443
Annual cost of living: $210,546
Salary needed to live comfortably: $421,092
Methodology: For this study, MoneyLion analyzed the best school districts in America to find the salary needed to comfortably live in each one. Using Niche.com's 2026 Best School Districts in America, the top 150 school districts were sourced. For each school district several factors were sourced including school district location, number of students, and number of schools. With the locations isolated, several factors were sourced from the U.S. Census 2024 5-Year ACS including the total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, and median household income. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling's BestPlaces and using the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for households of married couples with children, the average expenditure costs were calculated for each location. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage can be calculated for each location. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living for necessities was calculated. Using the 50/30/20 finance rule, the total cost of living for necessities was doubled to find the comfortable cost of living for families. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes for each location. The cost of living and livability was included as supplemental information. The locations were sorted to show the top-ranking school districts first. All data is up to date as of July 29, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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