N.Y. Housing Still Most Costly, L.A. Area Ranks 6th

The New York metropolitan area remains the nation’s most expensive housing market while Des Moines is the cheapest, according to a survey of median prices for existing single-family homes, the National Assn. of Realtors said today.

The New York area, which includes northern New Jersey and Long Island, was the price leader in the fourth quarter of 1987 with a $180,800 median price, meaning that half of the area’s houses cost more and half less.

Boston was in second place with a median of $178,600.

The San Francisco Bay Area ranked third with a median of $176,000, followed by Orange County, Calif., at $174,500; Hartford, Conn., at $163,800; the Los Angeles area at $145,200, and San Diego at $131,800.