15 Unexpected Cities People Are Searching on Zillow
See which seaside and vacation towns made the list.
The numbers are in: Zillow® economists analyzed page-view traffic, home value growth and days on market for nearly 2,300 U.S. cities, to rank the most popular markets among Zillow surfers in 2024. What topped the list? Smaller, more affordable cities within commuting distance to larger urban centers, also called “exurbs.”
The popularity of exurb cities — especially in the Northeast and Midwest — seems to speak to a desire for affordability, suburban amenities and proximity to the vibrant culture and job markets found in their larger counterparts.
"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,’’ says Zillow Chief Economist Skylar Olsen. “This shift opens up more possibilities for buyers to seek out locations that offer the right mix of affordable living and lifestyle amenities."
Read on to see the top 10 most popular markets, six that rose to most-searched in their category and their runners up, plus takeaways for buyers and sellers.
Most Popular small town: Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Nearest Major City: Baltimore, Maryland (69 miles)
Current home values and trends
This small borough in Lancaster County is less than three square miles, but has its own Amtrak station, with trains running to New York City, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. With a population of 12,000, Elizabethtown features picturesque streets, local shops and parks, and several large employers. Home buyers looking to settle in Elizabethtown must act fast, as homes for sale there typically go under contract within just five days.
Runners up:
Most popular seaside town*: Milford, Connecticut
Nearest Major City: Hartford, Connecticut (27 miles)
Current home values and trends
This picturesque coastal town has a hot real estate market, where homes go pending in about 12 days, with half selling over asking price and about 38% selling under listing price. Located on Long Island Sound, the town has 17 miles of coastline and is home to one of the largest shopping malls in the state.
Runners up:
Most popular vacation town*: Portland, Maine
Nearest Major City: Boston (112 miles)
Current home values and trends
Nestled on a peninsula that extends into Casco Bay, Portland is a scenic city known for its art scene, architecture and seafood. Homes listed for sale here get snapped up in about 19 days.
Runners up:
Most popular retirement town*: Pahrump, Nevada
Nearest Major City: Las Vegas, Nevada (60 miles)
Current home values and trends
Located 50 miles from Las Vegas, this desert town has a sizable share of retirees, with more than a third of its population aged 65 and older. It boasts several golf courses and wineries. Home shoppers have more time to consider options here as homes go from listing to pending in about 45 days.
Runners up:
Most popular college town*: Normal, Illinois
Nearest Major City: Chicago, Illinois (128 miles)
Current home values and trends
Normal is home to Illinois State University, the state’s oldest public university, and Heartland Community College. The town is also home to Rivian's largest U.S. manufacturing plant for its electric vehicles. Home sales are lightning fast in Normal, averaging about six days from listing to pending.
Runners up:
Most popular large city*: Toledo, Ohio
Nearest Major City: Detroit, Michigan (56 miles)
Current home values and trends
If you want to buy a home in this waterfront city, you’ll have to act quickly. Homes here fly off the market in about nine days. Located on the border of Ohio and Michigan on the western edge of Lake Erie, Toledo home prices are eye-popping for reasons that are unusual these days: the median sales price is $117,667, making it one of the more affordable cities in the country.
Runners up:
Most popular overall: Manchester, New Hampshire
Nearest Major City: Boston, Massachusetts (69 miles)
Current home values and trends
Manchester, the largest city in the state, is a more affordable option than nearby Boston. Perched on the Merrimack River in southern New Hampshire, homes here get snapped in about seven days after listing.
The top 10 most popular markets of 2024 on Zillow
1. Manchester, New Hampshire
Typical home value: $410,686 (+7.7%)
2. Rockford , Illinois
Typical home value: $159,868 (+14.2%)
3. Stamford, Connecticut
Typical home value: $655,041 (+7.1%)
4. Columbia, Maryland
Typical home value: $492,777 (+3.8%)
5. Bridgeport, Connecticut
Typical home value: $327,373 (+8.3%)
6. Allentown, Pennsylvania
Typical home value: $285,404 (+6.1%)
7. Peoria, Illinois
Typical home value: $125,872 (+7.6%)
8. New Haven, Connecticut
Typical home value: $300,023 (+5.9%)
9. Waterbury, Connecticut
Typical home value: (+11.3%)
10. Sunnyvale, California
Typical home value: $2,037,106 (+9%)
Most popular cities by geographic region
From coast to coast, here are this year's top cities that have captured 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
Takeaways for buyers and sellers
If you’re looking to buy in the Northeast, especially in a smaller town, chances are you’ll have competition. Homes tend to sell quickly in these cities, so it’s a good idea to line up your financing so you can make an offer quickly.
You can use Zillow’s BuyAbilitySM tool to get a personalized estimate of what you can afford, based on your personal financial situation and current interest rates.
If you’re selling in one of these markets, you’re likely to see a lot of buyer interest once you list your home for sale. An experienced agent can help you price your home correctly and market it to attract maximum interest from buyers.
*Editor's note: 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 are defined as having a population of at least 250,000 people, while small towns are defined as having a population of no more than 20,000 people, according to 2021 American Community Survey data.
Seaside towns are defined as areas with at least 25,000 people where more than half of listing descriptions on Zillow mentioned the beach, and excluded all cities that don’t feature the word “beach” in at least 50 listings on Zillow.
Vacation towns are defined as areas with at least 25,000 people where more than 33% of the housing units are designated for non-primary use, according to 2021 American Community Survey data.
Retirement towns are defined as areas where at least 33% of the population is over the age of 65 and has no children or other relatives (other than a spouse) living in the home.
College towns are defined as cities with at least 20% of the population enrolled in higher education, according to 2021 American Community Survey data. Only cities with at least 25,000 people were considered in the analysis.
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