On your list of must-haves for your next home, don’t forget about one critical feature: the quality of the local school district. Even if you don’t have children, it’s still a good idea to purchase a home within the boundaries of a good school district. In an article for Public School Review, writer Robert Kennedy notes that this is one of the best things you can do to increase your home’s resale value.
“Not only are the values for these homes higher, but these homes tend to take less time to sell when they hit the market,” Kennedy says. “If you don’t move, you are still in a great position to build long-term equity for your home by buying in a good school district.”
So, while you’re browsing houses for sale and contemplating that next move, be sure to keep this information in mind. To save you a little bit of homework, here are some excellent Utah school districts that we determined home values are booming.
Davis School District
The Davis School District in Farmington is a good place to start. The ranking website Niche gives this district a B+ grade overall thanks to its high scores for teachers, health and safety and college prep, among other things. The student-teacher ratio is 24-to-1 with expenditures per student hitting $7,134.
As for the housing market, Utah Real Estate reports that the median listing home price in Farmington was $649,900 in May 2022, trending up 20.6% year-over-year. In May 2021, the median listing price was $539,000. The latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau reports that the median household income for the area is $99,208.
Canyons School District
Moving down to Sandy, you’ve got the Canyons School District, which also earned a B+ grade from Niche for its academics, teachers, college prep and health and safety. Voted the No. 1 school district in Salt Lake County, the student-teacher ratio is 23-to-1 with expenditures per student reaching $10,077.
Utah Real Estate reports that the median home price in Sandy was $662,5000 in May 2022, trending up 22.7% year-over-year. In May 2021, the median home price was $540,000. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income is $95,715.
Alpine School District
In Utah County, the Alpine School District is one worth checking out. Niche gives it a grade of B+ with a student-teacher ratio of 26-to-1. The school district spends about $7,299 per student per year.
Not only is the area gorgeous, but the homes are, too. The home value there increased significantly year-over-year, and it currently averages about $1.2 million. In 2020, the average household income was about $123,450, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Salt Lake School District
As with the previous three districts, the Salt Lake School District also gets a B+ ranking from Niche. The district received high marks for teachers, college prep and diversity and ranks No. 2 on Niche’s list of best schools in Salt Lake County. The student-teacher ratio is 20-to-1 and the district spends $9,448 per student.
Utah Real Estate reports that the median home price in Salt Lake City was $569,600 in May 2022, trending up 21.5% year-over-year. The median home price in May 2021 was $469,000. The U.S. Census Bureau lists the median household income at $63,156.
Jordan School District
Finally, there’s the Jordan School District in West Jordan, which received a B grade and is the No. 3 best school in Salt Lake County, according to Niche. This district ranks well for clubs and activities, health and safety and college prep. The student-teacher ratio is 23-to-1 with expenditures per student coming in at $8,185.
Utah Real Estate reports that the median home price for May 2022 was $529,500, trending up 29.1% year-over-year. In May 2021, the median home price was $410,000. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income is $84,722.
Find a home in the school district of your choice
These aren’t the only good school districts in the state, but this list does provide a good starting point for areas with high resale values. If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in a great school district, contact The Stern Team. With hundreds of 5-star Google reviews, you can count on a quality experience for all of your buying or selling needs.
