
San Francisco and San Jose: The High Cost of “Housing Happiness”
A recent study has revealed that the cities of San Francisco and San Jose, the two most populous cities in the Bay Area, ranked last and second-to-last, respectively, in terms of “housing happiness” for homeowners. The study analyzed data from the American Housing Survey and compared median home values with homeowners’ ratings of their overall satisfaction. It found that residents of San Francisco and San Jose pay exorbitant prices for their homes but have low happiness scores. The study also highlighted some of the top reasons why Americans dislike their neighborhoods, including the presence of “weird people,” homes being too close together, rude individuals, and noise issues. On the other hand, cities like Detroit, Rochester, and Birmingham ranked highest for providing the “best bang for your buck.” Interestingly, the study also revealed that happiness with homeownership tends to decrease over time, with nearly three out of four Americans liking their homes less than when they first purchased them.