In 2024, Americans searching for homes on Zillow were smitten with the Northeast for the second year running, according to a year-end wrap-up from the real estate website.
That region dominated this year’s rankings, which were based on housing metrics that indicate consumer demand, including:
- Page-view traffic
- Home value growth
- Days on market
Following are the most popular towns in various categories.
Most popular overall
Manchester, New Hampshire, was the most popular market overall among cities with at least 100,000 residents.
The city is close to Boston but more affordable. It has a walkable downtown and a vibrant economy. Its location also provides easy access to both mountains and the sea.
Cities that scored well in the “most popular overall” category include:
- Northeast: Manchester, New Hampshire
- West: Sunnyvale, California
- Midwest: Rockford, Illinois
- Southwest: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
- Southeast: Cary, North Carolina
- Mountain Region: Fort Collins, Colorado
Most popular large cities
Winner: Toledo, Ohio, which earned the nickname of the “Glass City” thanks to its role in the glass industry, was most popular in this category. It sits at the western tip of Lake Erie, along Ohio’s border with Michigan. Homes here are exceptionally affordable.
Rounding out the top spots in this category are: San Jose, California; Wichita, Kansas
Most popular small towns
Winner: Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, has a prime location that offers access to cities such as Hershey, Lancaster and Harrisburg. You will find Elizabethtown College and the Masonic Village Farm Market in this city.
Rounding out the top spots in this category are: Vermilion, Ohio; Roscoe, Illinois; Twinsburg, Ohio
Most popular coastal cities
Winner: Milford, Connecticut, is a seaside community that is home to The Milford Green, a walkable stretch in the heart of downtown. Those who love the water will enjoy strolling Walnut Beach.
Rounding out the top spots in this category are: West Haven, Connecticut; South Portland, Maine; Santa Cruz, California; Barnstable, Massachusetts.
Most popular vacation towns
Winner: Portland, Maine, has more than 700 acres of open space and public parks. It also has a celebrated food scene and is especially well-known for its lobster rolls.
Rounding out the top spots in this category are: East Haven, Connecticut; Newport, Rhode Island; Monterey, California; Santa Barbara, California.
Most popular retirement cities
Winner: Pahrump, Nevada, has seen rapid growth since the 1970s, jumping from 2,000 residents in 1980 to 38,000 today. Las Vegas and Death Valley National Park are short drives away.
Rounding out the top spots in this category is: Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Most popular college towns
Winner: Normal, Illinois, hosts the campus of Illinois State University. Normal’s leaders describe it as a “micro-urban city center” that is mere minutes from Bloomington, Illinois, and just a couple of hours from Chicago.
Rounding out the top spots in this category are: Kent, Ohio (Kent State University); San Luis Obispo, California (California Polytechnic State University); Charlottesville, Virginia (University of Virginia); La Crosse, Wisconsin (University of Wisconsin–La Crosse).
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