In the past year, there has been a buying boom on Zillow, and this year's most popular city turned out to be West Chester, Pennsylvania. Compared to last year's dominance of the West Coast and Midwest, smaller cities in the Northeast are emerging in the U.S. home buying market in 2023.
Top 10 Most Popular Markets for U.S. Real Estate Zillow in 2023:
1.West Chester, Pennsylvania.
2.Nashua, New Hampshire.
3.Manchester, New Hampshire.
4.Weathersfield, Connecticut.
5.West Hartford, Connecticut.
6.Stowe, Ohio.
7.Middletown, Connecticut.
8.Fort Twins, Ohio.
9.New Ington, Connecticut.
10.Concord, New Hampshire.
Chula Vista, California, became the most popular major city, while South Portland, Maine, and Vermilion, Ohio, topped the list of seaside towns and resort towns, respectively. Pinehurst, North Carolina, emerged as the most popular retirement town, while West Chester, Pennsylvania and Kent, Ohio, stood out as college towns.
West Chester is a quaint town near Philadelphia that is home to about 20,000 people, and home values have increased by about 8% in the past year. A typical home is worth around $584,000, and while it's not the cheapest in Pennsylvania, it's still relatively affordable compared to nearby big cities like New York and Washington, D.C., appealing to buyers eager to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Despite West Chester topping the list, overall, the New England town is a favorite among Zillow surfers this year. Among the most popular cities in Zillow in 2023, several are located in New Hampshire or Connecticut.
Most popular big city: Chula Vista, California
On Zillow, Chula Vista became the most popular large city, especially those with a population of 250,000 or more. Chula Vista is located south of San Diego and has a typical home value of about $80$80,000. In San Diego itself, the typical home value is 96$20,000, ranked third.
Second place is Fort Wayne, Indiana, followed by Cincinnati and Durham in third and fourth, respectively.
Most popular seaside town: South Portland, Maine
South Portland became the most popular seaside town among Zillow surfers. If you're looking to buy a home in South Portland, you have to be quick, as homes for 2023 typically find buyers within just a week of being listed.
Westhaven and Milford, Connecticut, ranked second and third, respectively, while Oceanside, California's Pacific Coast city, ranked fourth.
Most popular resort town: Vermilion, Ohio
Located on the shores of Lake Erie, Vermilion is number one on Zillow's list of the most popular resort towns this year. This popular summer destination attracts people who love boating and looking for an old-fashioned charming city.
This year's ranking is likely to be influenced by rising mortgage rates. Compared to last year's most popular resort town, Lavalette, New Jersey, where a typical home is worth more than $1 million, Vermilion's worth less than $22$50,000.
Most popular retirement towns: Pinehurst, North Carolina
This year's most popular retirement town is in the Carolinas, surpassing Florida. Pinehurst is the most popular retirement town among Zillow surfers in 2023, slightly ahead of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Due to the warm climate and numerous golf courses, these two cities are ideal for retirees.
Most popular college towns: West Chester and Kent
Among Zillow's most popular markets in 2023, West Chester became the most popular college town. In second place is Kent, which is home to Kent State University.
The top five also includes Newark, Delaware, San Luis Obispo, California, and Ipsilande, Michigan.
Zillow analyzed housing metrics in more than 2,000 U.S. cities, including consumer demand, home value growth, and days on the market to rank the most popular markets among Zillow surfers. According to different U.S. Community Survey data, cities are defined as large cities, seaside towns, resort towns, retirement towns, and college towns.