Is it any surprise? San Francisco, San Mateo and Palo Alto are among the most expensive cities in the nation when it comes to housing values, according to an Associated Press story.

Californians rave about year-round sunshine, temperate climate and easy access to surfing, snowboarding and everything in between. But when it comes to getting the most out of their homebuying dollar, they’ve got nothing on homeowners in the Midwest, a new study suggests.

Eight out of the top 10 most expensive housing markets in the U.S. are in California, while eight Midwestern cities are among the 10 most affordable markets, according to the Coldwell Banker Home Price Comparison Index released Tuesday.

The study compared the average value of 2,200-square-foot houses with four bedrooms, two and a half baths, a family room and a two-car garage across 315 U.S. markets.