Despite affordability challenges in the broader housing market, the luxury market continues to perform well. And some local markets are seeing particularly strong activity. The Wall Street Journal/Realtor.com Luxury Housing Market Ranking identified the top 20 highest-performing and most attractive markets for luxury buyers based on factors including demand, economic health, and livability.

The top 10 include:

• Pittsfield, Mass.;
• Boulder, Colo.;
• San Jose, Calif.;
• Santa Fe, N.M.;
• Charlottesville, Va.;
• San Diego;
• Salt Lake City;
• Provo, Utah;
• Atlanta; and
• Santa Barbara; Calif.

What do these 10 metros have in common?

Stability is the connection point between a majority of the markets that are ranked in the top 10. There are 8 of the 10 markets that carried over from the spring, and the top five are composed of the same five metros. The report suggests that this is indicative of long-term steady performance rather than short-term swings.

For instance, in Pittsfield, Mass., which ranked first, luxury prices are growing, with homes in the 90th percentile seeing prices rise 5.9% year-over-year as of June. This growth as well as steady supply conditions place it at the top of the ranking.