Imagine stepping out your front door and being just blocks away from the thrill of live music at legendary venues like The Hollywood Bowl or Madison Square Garden. For many, living near an iconic amphitheater or historic music hall is a dream—but what’s the cost of making that dream a reality?
To find out, BetMGM analyzed home values around America’s most celebrated concert venues, using data from Zillow’s Home Value Index (ZHVI). Using sources like Travel Pulse, Ticketmaster, and Yelp, we identified the most popular concert venues in the 50 largest U.S. cities. We then found the average home values in the zip codes of those concert venues and compared them to the citywide average home values. This allowed us to calculate the housing premiums (or discounts) for living near these sought-after locations, revealing where proximity to a beloved music venue comes with a high price—or surprising affordability.
Paying a Premium for the Beat: The Priciest Cities to Live Near Iconic Venues
Buying a home near the sounds of iconic concert venues can be a dream come true for music lovers, but in some cities, this dream might come with a hefty price tag. Here are the top five cities where proximity to a popular venue costs significantly more:
- Detroit, MI
Live close to Fox Theatre, one of Detroit’s most popular music venues, and your home might cost you over six times the city’s average.
Average City Home Value: $72,300
Average Home Value Near Venue: $445,680
Percentage Premium: 516.4%
- Birmingham, AL
Living near music venues in Birmingham comes at a premium, with home prices over 2.6 times the city average.
Average City Home Value: $128,416
Average Home Value Near Venue: $339,756
Percentage Premium: 164.6%
- San Antonio, TX
In this Texan city, iconic music venues boost surrounding home values by over 2.5 times the citywide average.
Average City Home Value: $257,311
Average Home Value Near Venue: $667,196
Percentage Premium: 159.3%
- Memphis, TN
With deep musical roots, Memphis charges a high price for homes near its top venues like B.B. King’s Blues Club.
Average City Home Value: $147,675
Average Home Value Near Venue: $362,006
Percentage Premium: 145.1%
- New York, NY
Living near Madison Square Garden in New York City more than doubles the city’s average home price.
Average City Home Value: $746,694
Average Home Value Near Venue: $1,628,350
Percentage Premium: 118.1%
But the music lover’s splurging doesn’t stop there! Other cities where living near iconic venues comes with a hefty price tag include:
Philadelphia, PA: 2.1 times more expensive than the average home
New Orleans, LA: 2.1 times more expensive than the average home
Cleveland, OH: 2.0 times more expensive than the average home
Los Angeles, CA: 1.8 times more expensive than the average home
Oklahoma City, OK: 1.6 times more expensive than the average home
Musical Bargains: Where Venue-Loving Homebuyers Find a Discount
In other cities, living near the local music scene can be surprisingly affordable, even offering a discount compared to the city’s average home prices. Here are the top five cities where living close to a concert venue can actually save you money:
- Kansas City, MO
Homes near Kansas City’s popular venues like Starlight Theatre are over 50% less than the average city home value.
Average City Home Value: $236,423
Average Home Value Near Venue: $108,034
Percentage Discount: -54.3%
- Jacksonville, FL
In Jacksonville, living near major concert venues costs 47% less than the city’s average home price.
Average City Home Value: $298,907
Average Home Value Near Venue: $158,491
Percentage Discount: -47.0%
- San Jose, CA
San Jose residents looking to be close to live music at SAP Center will enjoy a nearly 45% discount.
Average City Home Value: $1,370,672
Average Home Value Near Venue: $751,934
Percentage Discount: -45.1%
- Atlanta, GA
Homes near Atlanta’s iconic Tabernacle music hall in downtown are nearly 40% cheaper than the city’s average home price.
Average City Home Value: $397,328
Average Home Value Near Venue: $240,058
Percentage Discount: -39.6%
- Honolulu, HI
In Honolulu, you can live near top music spots for 34% less than the citywide average.
Average City Home Value: $787,346
Average Home Value Near Venue: $517,327
Percentage Discount: -34.3%
Other cities where homes near music venues offer a great discount include:
Minneapolis, MN: 33.7% less expensive than the average home
Las Vegas, NV: 32.6% less expensive than the average home
Albuquerque, NM: 28.3% less expensive than the average home
Pittsburgh, PA: 28.2% less expensive than the average home
San Diego, CA: 21.1% less expensive than the average home
For music enthusiasts looking for a bargain, these cities offer the chance to live near great venues without breaking the bank!
Closing Thoughts
For music lovers, living close to a city’s iconic venues offers great perks—but often at a cost. This study reveals where proximity to America’s legendary concert spots can command a high premium and where you’ll find surprising discounts, making it easier to weigh the cost of life near the stage.
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Methodology
To determine the cost of buying a home near major concert venues, we identified the most iconic concert venue in the 50 largest U.S. cities, based on research from Stacker, Travel Pulse, Ticketmaster, Yelp, and other local guides. We then found the average home values in the zip codes of those concert venues and compared them to the citywide average home value. All home value data was sourced from Zillow’s 2024 home value estimates.
For each city, we calculated the percentage difference between the citywide average home value and the average home value in the zip code of the selected venue. This allowed us to identify whether living near a high-profile music venue typically comes at a premium or discount, and to rank cities accordingly.
