Of course it's a bit different now with the city working with the largest investors to push all of the students out of private homes and into high rises.

Melissa Data is probably the largest. 

While California has several cities that are expensive, it is a large state so there are many smaller towns that bring the average for the state as a whole down.

I therefore think that since you are ambivalent towards both, that the question you might want to answer is "which of those two paths will build the largest amount of wealth in as short a time as possible?"

@Danny Wu Stamford is on the expensive side of the CT Market (Real Estate Prices and Taxes) because of its proximity to NY, but it has developed as one of the largest city in CT as far as businesses and new real estate developments (Apartment buildings), just thought it was good info for you to know.  

For Bare Feet is a big employor, State Fish hatchery, IU health network, lots of inexpensive land, New highway, largest Dr.

The two downfalls I see is that the cash flow is not quite as good as some of the other markets and I think the downside during a market correction could be one of the largest that's on the list.

Under (and around) 100k is my niche here in the suburbs of Detroit. 3rd largest city in Michigan.

Vicious circle that likely will benefit only the largest of developers.

I'm currently employed as a project manager with one of the nations largest general contractors, have been for 5 years, and it's treated me well both educationally and financially.