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Active Adult Housing Most Expensive in Aspen, Colorado

While California remains among the most expensive states for home owners ages 55 to 74, Pitkin County, CO, tops the list of U.S. counties with the highest average active adult home values, according to an NAHB analysis of 2000 U.S. Census data.

The 1,275 homes occupied by active adults in Pitkin County, best known for Aspen and its world-class ski resorts, were worth an average of $946,036.

Pitkin was followed by New York County, NY, whose 42,844 homes owned by active adults averaged $829,631, and Teton County, WY, the location of 1,306 active adult homes averaging $650,526.

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Ten of the top 25 most expensive counties in the country were in California, led by fourth-place Marin County with 22,212 homes averaging $616,915 and fifth-place San Mateo, whose 49,245 homes were worth an average of $570,032.

In all, 16 counties had average active adult home values of more than $400,000.

The averages were computed by dividing the aggregate value of homes owned by the number of homes. Home values are based on owners’ estimates of how much their homes would sell for at the time of the 2000 U.S. Census.

“The highest-priced counties are generally in resort areas near mountains or on islands, where the supply of land is severely limited by geography,” said Bonnie Solomon, chair of the NAHB Seniors Housing Council and a vice president of several retirement communities in St. Louis and Kansas City, MO, and Atlanta. “The others are in parts of the country known for extremely high housing costs, such as California and New York.”

The chart below shows U.S. counties with the most high-priced active adult communities:

Counties With The Most High-Priced Active Adult Communities

	County	# Homes	Avg. Value
1.	Pitkin County, CO	1,867	$946,036
2.	New York County, NY	42,844	$829,631
3.	Teton County, WY	1,306	$650,526
4.	Marin County, CA	22,212	$616,915
5.	San Mateo County, CA	49,245	$570,032
6.	Blaine County, ID	1,610	$563,135
7.	Eagle County, CO	1,754	$557,651
8.	Santa Clara County, CA	96,966	$556,947
9.	San Francisco County, CA	35,479	$468,943
10.	San Juan County, CA	1,867	$460,011
11.	Santa Cruz County, CA	15,367	$452,229
12.	Dukes County, MA	1,409	$451,880
13.	Summit County, CO	1,011	$446,196
14.	Santa Barbara County, CA	25,778	$412,658
15.	Fairfield County, CT	68,403	$402,814
16.	Westchester County, NY	66,293	$401,859
17.	Monterey County, CA	21,266	$390,511
18.	Summit County, UT	1,639	$390,161
19.	Napa County, CA	9,794	$361,977
20.	Honolulu County, HI	54,951	$357,605
21.	Contra Costa, CA	68,619	$351,144
22.	Alameda County, CA	80,843	$345,653
23.	Orange County, CA	168,970	$342,763
24.	Alexandria City, VA	6,821	$341,332
25.	Monroe County, FL	8,569	$340,877

For more information, e-mail Jeff Jenkins at NAHB or call him at 800-368-5242 x8292.
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