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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Spokane-Spokane Valley ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $128,261/year, better purchasing power than Spokane-Spokane Valley's higher nominal pay of $128,710. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Spokane-Spokane Valley$128,710
#2 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$117,990
#3 Boston-Cambridge-Newton$106,050

Best purchasing power

#1 Spokane-Spokane Valley$128,261
#2 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$106,173
#3 Midland$100,752

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed property, real estate, and community association managers excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Spokane-Spokane Valley
11% rent burden
$128,710
$128,261
#2
$117,990
$106,173
#3
Midland
22% rent burden
$96,500
$100,752
#4
$106,050
$97,950
#5
Springfield
23% rent burden
$89,660
$93,337
#6
Worcester
26% rent burden
$93,630
$91,329
#7
Richmond
23% rent burden
$87,440
$89,352
#8
$96,950
$86,132
#9
Wildwood-The Villages
22% rent burden
$73,140
$85,624
#10
$92,750
$85,186
#11
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
20% rent burden
$80,780
$84,286
#12
Milwaukee-Waukesha
20% rent burden
$80,200
$82,732
#13
Barnstable Town
36% rent burden
$80,280
$81,627
#14
Oklahoma City
20% rent burden
$73,740
$81,562
#15
Savannah
26% rent burden
$77,150
$81,031
#16
Athens-Clarke County
21% rent burden
$75,050
$80,405
#17
$85,770
$80,264
#18
Madison
18% rent burden
$77,460
$79,618
#19
Hagerstown-Martinsburg
20% rent burden
$74,570
$79,187
#20
$78,360
$78,698
#21
Salisbury
22% rent burden
$75,210
$78,655
#22
$86,840
$78,645
#23
Providence-Warwick
26% rent burden
$79,650
$78,265
#24
$78,410
$78,222
#25
$81,670
$78,161

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $128,710 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $107,258 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A property, real estate, and community association managers in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers?

Spokane-Spokane Valley has one of the lowest rent burdens for Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,131/month, with a median salary of $128,710.

Where do Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers get paid the most in nominal terms?

Spokane-Spokane Valley pays the highest nominal median salary at $128,710/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersView →How to become a property, real estate, and community association managersGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →