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HOA Community Comparison Tool
Pick any two U.S. cities and compare them side-by-side on HOA fees, state law environment, reserve requirements, and self-management viability. Share a link to your comparison instantly.
Fee data represents average monthly HOA fees by city and property type sourced from CAI research, public HOA disclosure data, and LotWize market benchmarks. State law summaries are derived from publicly available statutes as of 2025–2026. Self-management viability scores are illustrative benchmarks — not legal or financial advice. Always verify current state statutes and consult an HOA attorney before making governance decisions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What data is used for the comparison?
- Comparisons use LotWize's HOA fee benchmarks (average monthly fees for condos, single-family homes, and townhomes by city), state HOA law summaries (fine caps, notice requirements, hearing rights), reserve funding requirements, and special assessment rules. All data is sourced from state statutes, CAI research, and publicly available market data.
- Can I compare any two cities?
- You can compare any two cities from the 70+ cities in the LotWize fee database, covering the most HOA-dense metros in the U.S. If your city isn't listed, the state-level averages are used as a fallback. The comparison covers fees, law environment, and self-management viability scoring.
- How is the self-management viability score calculated?
- The viability score factors in: average community size in the market, presence of a strong local HOA vendor ecosystem, complexity of the state's HOA law (more complex = more need for professional help), and the cost differential between management fees and self-management costs in that market. Higher scores mean a city is more favorable for self-management.
- Can I share my comparison with someone else?
- Yes — the comparison URL includes the two city slugs as query parameters (e.g., /tools/compare-communities?a=austin-tx&b=denver-co). Share the URL directly and anyone who opens it will see the same comparison. No sign-up required.
- Why are HOA fees so different between cities?
- HOA fee differences reflect local labor costs, property values, amenity expectations, climate (pool and landscaping maintenance costs vary significantly), insurance rates, and reserve fund adequacy. Sun Belt metros like Phoenix and Las Vegas tend to have higher HOA density but lower fees due to lower labor costs and simpler outdoor maintenance. Coastal metros and high-rise condo markets tend to have significantly higher fees.