25 Best Cities for Real Estate Agents in 2026
Real estate agents earn commissions tied directly to local transaction volume and home prices, making market selection one of the most critical career decisions in this field. We ranked metros on median income as a proxy for market activity, balanced against cost of living during lean periods and overall job stability.
Methodology
Scoring weights: median income (40%), unemployment rate (25%, inverted), rent-to-income ratio (25%, inverted), violent crime rate (10%, inverted).
Heber
Utah
Median Income
$134,986
Median Home Value
$973,000
Median Rent
$2,434/mo
Unemployment
2.5%
Laconia
New Hampshire
Median Income
$97,692
Median Home Value
$411,900
Median Rent
$1,037/mo
Unemployment
2.1%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
California
Median Income
$153,202
Median Home Value
$1,393,400
Median Rent
$2,773/mo
Unemployment
3.6%
Lexington Park
Maryland
Median Income
$116,297
Median Home Value
$434,200
Median Rent
$1,718/mo
Unemployment
2.0%
Manchester-Nashua
New Hampshire
Median Income
$103,727
Median Home Value
$430,300
Median Rent
$1,668/mo
Unemployment
2.4%
Burlington-South Burlington
Vermont
Median Income
$95,497
Median Home Value
$400,000
Median Rent
$1,604/mo
Unemployment
1.6%
Concord
New Hampshire
Median Income
$92,110
Median Home Value
$372,200
Median Rent
$1,398/mo
Unemployment
2.0%
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury
Connecticut
Median Income
$111,058
Median Home Value
$574,800
Median Rent
$1,862/mo
Unemployment
3.1%
Ogden
Utah
Median Income
$100,461
Median Home Value
$487,400
Median Rent
$1,528/mo
Unemployment
2.5%
Keene
New Hampshire
Median Income
$89,314
Median Home Value
$328,200
Median Rent
$1,259/mo
Unemployment
2.3%
Bismarck
North Dakota
Median Income
$83,440
Median Home Value
$289,400
Median Rent
$951/mo
Unemployment
2.0%
Provo-Orem-Lehi
Utah
Median Income
$100,791
Median Home Value
$566,900
Median Rent
$1,556/mo
Unemployment
2.7%
Kapaa
Hawaii
Median Income
$103,564
Median Home Value
$888,500
Median Rent
$1,816/mo
Unemployment
2.6%
Portland-South Portland
Maine
Median Income
$92,117
Median Home Value
$444,600
Median Rent
$1,551/mo
Unemployment
2.2%
Torrington
Connecticut
Median Income
$91,020
Median Home Value
$331,100
Median Rent
$1,141/mo
Unemployment
3.0%
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
Minnesota
Median Income
$95,102
Median Home Value
$369,500
Median Rent
$1,427/mo
Unemployment
2.6%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
California
Median Income
$127,792
Median Home Value
$1,105,100
Median Rent
$2,397/mo
Unemployment
3.6%
Lebanon-Claremont
New Hampshire
Median Income
$78,937
Median Home Value
$326,600
Median Rent
$1,218/mo
Unemployment
1.9%
Watertown-Fort Atkinson
Wisconsin
Median Income
$82,864
Median Home Value
$283,700
Median Rent
$953/mo
Unemployment
2.5%
Appleton
Wisconsin
Median Income
$83,966
Median Home Value
$274,600
Median Rent
$1,087/mo
Unemployment
2.3%
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
Median Income
$103,131
Median Home Value
$899,300
Median Rent
$2,033/mo
Unemployment
2.6%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Massachusetts
Median Income
$110,697
Median Home Value
$646,600
Median Rent
$2,000/mo
Unemployment
3.2%
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
Median Income
$76,226
Median Home Value
$307,600
Median Rent
$988/mo
Unemployment
1.7%
Charlottesville
Virginia
Median Income
$92,265
Median Home Value
$431,200
Median Rent
$1,540/mo
Unemployment
2.5%
Logan
Utah
Median Income
$85,111
Median Home Value
$466,900
Median Rent
$1,253/mo
Unemployment
2.4%
Frequently Asked Questions
Do real estate agents earn more in expensive markets?
Generally yes. Higher home prices mean larger commissions per transaction. However, expensive markets also have more agents competing for deals. The sweet spot is often a growing mid-tier market with rising prices and manageable competition.
How long does it take to build a sustainable real estate income?
Most agents need 2 to 3 years to build a referral base sufficient for consistent income. Having 6 to 12 months of expenses saved before going full-time in real estate is commonly advised.
How is real estate agent compensation changing?
Recent NAR settlement changes are reshaping how buyer agent commissions are disclosed and negotiated. This is creating pressure on commission structures and increasing the importance of demonstrating value to buyers.