Housing is more than the price tag
Compare total monthly cost: mortgage or rent, property tax estimates, insurance, utilities, HOA costs and future repairs.
Daily life has a geography
Commute, parking, childcare, activities and household habits can change your spending. Test the drives you expect to make, not just the mileage on a map.
Compare a realistic sample
Use three or four actual homes or rental options and estimate each carefully. Costs change quickly, so a stale citywide average is not a substitute for property-specific numbers.
This is general education, not tax, legal, financial or school-enrollment advice. Confirm property-specific details through official sources.