I live in South Jersey where prices are a bit lower, but $200,000 to $400,000 is pretty standard for mid to high end homes the Philadelphia metro area. Sure there are plenty of million dollar homes too, but there are plenty under $400,000. I have 5 acres, a three car garage(barn), an outbuilding, and a 3,000 sq foot house with 6 fireplaces, that I bought for $220,000 in 2003. God knows what it is worth now with the housing bubble...mid 400's perhaps. But, if I sold it, I would just have to buy another $400,000 house to get the same level of "comfort."

Frankly I don't know how people buy homes now. They are VERY expensive. People must be eating a lot of boiled potatoes and beans for dinner.

Yes, we have pay almost as high as San Diego, but much lower housing and rental prices. As long as you can put up with 100 degrees and humid in the summer and cold, wet, and snowy in the winter all is good.

You are paying a lot for that wonderful weather.