Stamford Still Seventh Most Expensive Area in the U.S.

Stamford maintained its position as the seventh most expensive urban area in the country in which to live in 2012, according the Council for Community and Economic Research's annual Cost of Living Index.

The ranking is based on the cost of basic necessities — housing, food, clothing, utilities, transportation, health care, etc. — excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, averaged from the three previous quarters. Data for the study is collected by various chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and university-applied economic centers, in 307 participating urban areas (down from 314 last year).

New York City, specifically Manhattan, once again came in #1 on the list — the cost of living there is about twice the national average — with Brooklyn and Queens following close behind. Meanwhile Harlingen, Texas, once again had the lowest cost of living — about 19 percent below the national average, according to a press release promoting the quarterly report.

 Most Expensive

 Least Expensive

Ranking

Urban Areas

Index

Ranking

Urban Areas

Index

1

New York (Manhattan) NY

225.4

1

Harlingen TX

81.8

2

New York (Brooklyn) NY

178.6

2

McAllen TX

85.4

3

Honolulu HI

167.0

3

Norman OK

85.6

4

San Francisco CA

163.4

4

Ardmore OK

85.9

5

San Jose CA

153.4

5

Memphis TN

86.0

6

New York (Queens) NY

148.3

6

Fayetteville AR

86.0

7

Stamford CT

146.1

7

Wichita Falls TX

86.4

8

Washington DC

144.7

8

Muskogee OK

86.9

9

Orange County CA

140.6

9

Pueblo CO

87.1

10

Boston MA

139.9

10

Ashland OH

87.6