25 Best Cities for School Administrators in 2026
School principals and district administrators are well-compensated relative to teachers, and demand is consistent across most metros. We ranked cities balancing income, job stability, safety, and affordability, since administrative roles often come with community leadership responsibilities that make the surrounding environment especially relevant.
Methodology
Scoring weights: median income (30%), unemployment rate (25%, inverted), violent crime rate (25%, inverted), rent-to-income ratio (20%, inverted).
Laconia
New Hampshire
Median Income
$97,692
Unemployment
2.1%
Violent Crime
107/100k
Median Rent
$1,037/mo
Heber
Utah
Median Income
$134,986
Unemployment
2.5%
Violent Crime
232/100k
Median Rent
$2,434/mo
Manchester-Nashua
New Hampshire
Median Income
$103,727
Unemployment
2.4%
Violent Crime
107/100k
Median Rent
$1,668/mo
Concord
New Hampshire
Median Income
$92,110
Unemployment
2.0%
Violent Crime
107/100k
Median Rent
$1,398/mo
Keene
New Hampshire
Median Income
$89,314
Unemployment
2.3%
Violent Crime
107/100k
Median Rent
$1,259/mo
Burlington-South Burlington
Vermont
Median Income
$95,497
Unemployment
1.6%
Violent Crime
210/100k
Median Rent
$1,604/mo
Portland-South Portland
Maine
Median Income
$92,117
Unemployment
2.2%
Violent Crime
102/100k
Median Rent
$1,551/mo
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury
Connecticut
Median Income
$111,058
Unemployment
3.1%
Violent Crime
150/100k
Median Rent
$1,862/mo
Lebanon-Claremont
New Hampshire
Median Income
$78,937
Unemployment
1.9%
Violent Crime
107/100k
Median Rent
$1,218/mo
Lexington Park
Maryland
Median Income
$116,297
Unemployment
2.0%
Violent Crime
426/100k
Median Rent
$1,718/mo
Torrington
Connecticut
Median Income
$91,020
Unemployment
3.0%
Violent Crime
150/100k
Median Rent
$1,141/mo
Kapaa
Hawaii
Median Income
$103,564
Unemployment
2.6%
Violent Crime
187/100k
Median Rent
$1,816/mo
Ogden
Utah
Median Income
$100,461
Unemployment
2.5%
Violent Crime
232/100k
Median Rent
$1,528/mo
Bismarck
North Dakota
Median Income
$83,440
Unemployment
2.0%
Violent Crime
267/100k
Median Rent
$951/mo
Provo-Orem-Lehi
Utah
Median Income
$100,791
Unemployment
2.7%
Violent Crime
232/100k
Median Rent
$1,556/mo
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
Median Income
$103,131
Unemployment
2.6%
Violent Crime
187/100k
Median Rent
$2,033/mo
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
Minnesota
Median Income
$95,102
Unemployment
2.6%
Violent Crime
261/100k
Median Rent
$1,427/mo
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford
Connecticut
Median Income
$92,176
Unemployment
3.2%
Violent Crime
150/100k
Median Rent
$1,397/mo
Putnam
Connecticut
Median Income
$88,806
Unemployment
3.3%
Violent Crime
150/100k
Median Rent
$1,217/mo
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
California
Median Income
$153,202
Unemployment
3.6%
Violent Crime
508/100k
Median Rent
$2,773/mo
Logan
Utah
Median Income
$85,111
Unemployment
2.4%
Violent Crime
232/100k
Median Rent
$1,253/mo
Charlottesville
Virginia
Median Income
$92,265
Unemployment
2.5%
Violent Crime
236/100k
Median Rent
$1,540/mo
Appleton
Wisconsin
Median Income
$83,966
Unemployment
2.3%
Violent Crime
289/100k
Median Rent
$1,087/mo
Watertown-Fort Atkinson
Wisconsin
Median Income
$82,864
Unemployment
2.5%
Violent Crime
289/100k
Median Rent
$953/mo
Fargo
North Dakota
Median Income
$72,889
Unemployment
1.9%
Violent Crime
267/100k
Median Rent
$989/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a school principal earn on average?
Elementary principals earn a national median around $100k, with high school principals often reaching $110,000 to $130,000. Pay varies significantly by district size and state funding levels.
Do school administrators need to live in the district they work in?
Many districts require administrators to live within district boundaries or nearby. This residency requirement makes local affordability especially critical for school leaders.
Is educational leadership a growing field?
Steadily growing, driven by retirement-age administrator turnover and increasing complexity in school management. Districts with strong communities and funding tend to attract and retain top administrators.