When something has a higher price tag, you hope to get a lot of value in return. Despite what some cite as a housing downturn there is still stability & high prices in some of America's Top Cities.

Why are people willing to pay fortunes to live in certain cities? According to University of Michigan economist David Albouy, there is a tremendous value to be found in those high prices.

Economists look at all assets as having an amenity value, which measures the level of satisfaction the asset brings to its owner. How nice is the weather in Boston? How close is are you to the coast? How many cultural and recreational opportunities are nearby? The answers in Boston's case surly provide a favorable case. To see what current homes are selling for in Boston search our free MLS

Another big component of a city's amenity value is trade productivity.  Trade productivity ascertains how many goods & services a city produces that other people value. Think of the San Francisco area's Silicon Valley. New York City's Wall Street. Productivity sources come in other forms, such as universities that produce an educated work force & population or easy access to water or other transportation. So as you can imagine, Boston's business & educational institutions provide high levels of productivity.

The property prices in Boston may be on the higher end but so are the services and amenities according to an annual report. You may pay more for your home in Boston than many other US cities, but the experts say "it's worth it!" Apart from New York, the only other East Coast city to rank highly in value, Boston's weather lowers its quality of life far below some of the other cities on this list. Assuming you eliminate the weather clause, we think Boston would rank even higher than the 30th highest on the quality of life in Albouy's ranking. But also like New York, Boston has significant trade productivity — the fourth-highest on the list. Cooler-weather cities, like Boston increase their value by offering well-paying jobs and very successful businesses. Innovation stemming from the high level of education among Boston's residents is just one reason the city is so productive as it is the educational heart & soul of the country if not the world. Many people consider buying a home in Boston to be buying a piece of American History.