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You’re about to be schooled on seriously high prices.
A new analysis has revealed the astronomical amount of money needed to live in America’s top school districts, with a household income of more than half a million dollars required to be comfortable in two highly sought-after areas.
GOBankingRates took Niche.com’s “2025 Best School Districts in America” and examined the cost of living in each area from that list, analyzing home value, mortgage costs, property taxes, and other “necessities expenditures” for a married couple with children.
They subsequently determined the minimum annual household income needed to comfortably afford each area by using the 50/30/20 rule – 50% of after-tax income to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings and debt repayment.
Palo Alto Unified School District in California is the priciest in the country, with a yearly pre-tax income of $611,319 needed to live there comfortably.
While the school district was ranked eighth in Niche.com’s “2025 Best School Districts in America,” GOBankingRates determined it to be the priciest to live in, thanks to its eye-popping property prices and taxes.
The average home value in the Silicon Valley town stands at $3.8 million, while annual necessities expenditures amount to $305,660.
Closer to home, East Williston Union Free School District, located in affluent Old Westbury on Long Island, was named the second most expensive school district in America.
It came in fourth place on the Niche.com list of “2025 Best School Districts in America,” but was determined to be the second most expensive by GOBankingRates, with a pre-tax income of $513,459 required to live there without any financial discomfort.
In Old Westbury, annual necessities expenditures for a family come out to $256,730, including a property tax bill of $42,048.
Meanwhile, New Canaan Public Schools in Fairfield County, Connecticut, was determined to be the sixth priciest school district in the US. There, an annual pre-tax income of $420,143 is needed for comfort.
Nearby Westport School District, also located in Fairfield County, came in 10th spot, with $380,7156 needed for that neighborhood, per GOBankingRates.
GOBankingRates list: What It Costs to Live in the Top School Districts in the Country
| Rank | Area | Annual Cost of Necessities | Yearly Pre-Tax Income Needed to Live Comfortably | School District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto, California | $305,660 | $611,319 | Palo Alto Unified School District |
| 2 | Old Westbury, New York | $256,730 | $513,459 | East Williston Union Free School District |
| 3 | Los Gatos, California | $233,896 | $467,792 | Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District |
| 4 | Palos Verdes Estates, California | $232,683 | $465,365 | Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District |
| 5 | Mountain View, California | $212,946 | $425,892 | Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District |
| 6 | New Canaan, Connecticut | $210,072 | $420,143 | New Canaan Public Schools |
| 7 | La Canada Flintridge, California | $208,821 | $417,642 | La Canada Unified School District |
| 8 | Sunnyvale, California | $205,278 | $410,555 | Fremont Union High School District |
| 9 | Weston, Massachusetts | $201,788 | $403,576 | Weston Public Schools |
| 10 | Westport, Connecticut | $190,358 | $380,715 | Westport School District |
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