Exurban cities dominated Zillow's most-popular
cities list in 2024, as affordability challenges linger
SEATTLE, Dec. 17,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This year, Zillow® shoppers
could not get enough of Manchester, New
Hampshire — Zillow's most popular city of 2024. Cities in
the Northeast dominated Zillow's list of most popular markets for
the second year running. The Midwest also made a strong showing,
while only one West Coast market cracked the top 10 list after
leading the way in 2021.
The majority of this year's most popular cities were exurbs —
charming smaller towns situated beyond the suburbs yet within
commuting distance of a major metropolitan area. These communities
strike a balance between suburban amenities and being located just
a hop, skip and a jump from the vibrant offerings and thriving job
markets of large urban centers.
Zillow's top 10 most popular markets of 2024:
- Manchester, New Hampshire
- Rockford, Illinois
- Stamford, Connecticut
- Columbia, Maryland
- Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Peoria, Illinois
- New Haven, Connecticut
- Waterbury, Connecticut
- Sunnyvale, California
"In another year of higher mortgage rates, areas of
affordability and opportunity were center stage in 2024," said
Zillow Chief Economist Skylar Olsen.
"With the rise of hybrid work models, more people are discovering
hidden-gem cities they might have previously overlooked when daily
commutes were the norm. Buyers are seeking out locations that offer
the right mix of affordable living and lifestyle amenities. Adding
to the price pressure, new listings can remain sparse in the
hottest spots as existing owners continue to hold on and hold
back."
To determine the most popular markets in 2024, Zillow analyzed
housing metrics in cities across the U.S. that reflect consumer
demand, including page-view traffic, home value growth and how
quickly homes sell.
Most popular on Zillow overall: Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, the largest city in the state, has
seen growing interest among home shoppers. That has contributed to
typical home values jumping 7.3% over the past year, up to
$415,000. Still, Manchester remains more affordable than nearby
Boston.
Manchester has garnered
particular attention from potential buyers outside of its metro
area, suggesting a strong interest in relocating there.
Most popular large city: Toledo,
Ohio
While affordability captivated many home
shoppers on Zillow, Toledo stood
out as the top choice among large cities in 2024. The typical home
in Toledo is worth $121,000, making it an attractive option for
buyers seeking affordability. From its proximity to Lake Erie to its thriving art scene,
Toledo offers rich
experiences.
Following Toledo, San Jose, California, and Wichita, Kansas, also garnered significant
interest, securing their rankings as No. 2 and No. 3
respectively among the most popular large cities.
Most popular small town: Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Just south
of Pennsylvania's state capital,
and less than a two-hour drive west of Philadelphia, lies Elizabethtown — Zillow's most popular small
town of 2024. With a population of 12,000, Elizabethtown features picturesque streets,
local shops and parks, all of which are attracting the interest of
Zillow shoppers. Home buyers looking to settle in Elizabethtown must act fast, as homes for sale
there typically go under contract within just five days.
While Elizabethtown claimed the
top ranking in this category, Midwest small-town hot spots were not
far behind. Vermilion, Ohio;
Roscoe, Illinois; and Twinsburg, Ohio, followed closely, showcasing
the region's growing appeal.
Most popular coastal city: Milford,
Connecticut
Milford
emerged as the most popular coastal city among Zillow shoppers this
year. With 17 miles of coastline along Long Island Sound, the
area has plenty of seaside attractions, including beaches, parks,
boating and more.
Following Milford, West Haven, Connecticut, secured the second
spot, while South Portland, Maine,
claimed third. Rounding out the top five were Santa Cruz, California, and Barnstable, Massachusetts.
Most popular vacation town: Portland, Maine
Nestled on a
peninsula that extends into Casco Bay, Portland secured its position as the top
vacation city among Zillow shoppers. As the most
populous city in Maine, its appeal
is clear. Renowned for its art scene, architecture and seafood,
Portland draws visitors in search
of a coastal getaway.
The East Coast dominated the most popular vacation towns among
Zillow shoppers this year. East Haven,
Connecticut, and Newport, Rhode
Island, edged out California cities Monterey and Santa
Barbara for the second and third spots in Zillow's
ranking.
Most popular retirement city: Pahrump, Nevada
Fifty miles
outside of Las Vegas,
Pahrump is this year's most
popular retirement city. With a warm climate and more than
one-third of its population ages 65 and older, Pahrump is an ideal community for
retirees.
Pahrump bumped last year's top
retirement city — Pinehurst, North
Carolina — to the second spot on this year's list.
Most popular college town: Normal,
Illinois
Normal is home to the Illinois State University Redbirds, and is
now Zillow's most popular college town. Coming in at
number two for the second year is Kent,
Ohio, where Kent State
University is located.
Trailing close behind were San Luis
Obispo, California (where California Polytechnic State
University is located); Charlottesville,
Virginia (home to the University of
Virginia); and La Crosse,
Wisconsin (the site of the University of Wisconsin–La
Crosse).
Most popular cities by geographic region
From
coast to coast, here's a look at this year's top cities for
capturing the attention of home shoppers in each region:
- Northeast: Manchester, New
Hampshire
- West: Sunnyvale,
California
- Midwest: Rockford,
Illinois
- Southwest: Rio Rancho, New
Mexico
- Southeast: Cary, North
Carolina
- Mountain Region: Fort Collins,
Colorado
Methodology and definitions
To determine the
most popular city overall and most popular city by geographic
region, Zillow analyzed cities with a population of at
least 100,000 people, according to 2022 American Community Survey
data.
Large cities were defined as having a population of at least
250,000 people, according to 2022 American Community Survey
data.
Small towns were defined as having a population of no more than
20,000 people, according to 2022 American Community Survey
data.
Coastal cities were defined as areas where more than half of
listing descriptions on Zillow mentioned the beach, and excluded
all cities that did not feature the word "beach" in at least 50
listings on Zillow. Zillow's analysis only considered cities having
a population of at least 25,000 people, according to 2022 American
Community Survey data.
Vacation towns were defined as areas where more than 33% of the
housing units were designated for non-primary use, according to
2022 American Community Survey data. Zillow's analysis only
considered cities having a population of at least 25,000 people,
according to 2022 American Community Survey data. Cities qualifying
as college towns based on this analysis were excluded given the
potential overlap in housing units designated for non-primary
use.
Retirement towns were defined as areas where at least 33% of the
population is older than 65 and has no children or other relatives
(other than a spouse) living in the home.
College towns were defined as cities with at least 20% of the
population enrolled in higher education, according to 2022 American
Community Survey data. Zillow's analysis only considered cities
having a population of at least 25,000 people, according to 2022
American Community Survey data.
The most popular cities by geographic region are defined by the
Northeast (CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, DE, MD), West (WA,
OR, CA, ID, NV, AK, HI), Midwest (IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE,
ND, OH, SD, WI), Southwest (TX, OK, NM, AZ), Southeast (AL, AR, FL,
GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV) and Mountain Region (MT, WY,
UT, CO).
About Zillow Group:
Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:
Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for
more and more people. As the most visited real estate website in
the United States, Zillow and its
affiliates help people find and get the home they want by
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agents, and easier buying, selling, financing and renting
experiences.
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All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow
affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS
#10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2024 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a
Zillow affiliate.
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SOURCE Zillow, Inc.
