Key Details:
- Realtor.com’s 2025 Hottest ZIP Codes report highlights suburban areas near major metros where listings received up to 5.2x more views and sold 30 to 42 days faster than the national average.
- These high-demand ZIPs offer a mix of relative affordability, larger homes, and access to job markets, with buyers putting down $42,000 to $143,000 on homes priced as high as $746,000.
- Beverly, MA, topped the list with just 16 days on market and strong local interest.
If you want a front-row seat to what today’s buyers actually want, don’t look at the coasts. Look at the suburbs near them.
According to Realtor.com’s 2025 Hottest ZIP Codes in America report, suburban markets in the Northeast and Midwest are leading the country in buyer interest, speed of sale, and listing views. Beverly, Massachusetts (01915) tops the list, but it’s far from the only standout.
Every ZIP in the top ten combines access to major job markets with either relative affordability or highly livable communities, or both.
Chief Economist Danielle Hale put it this way:
“In a year when affordability challenges and limited inventory continue to weigh on buyers, the ZIP Codes rising to the top of our list stand out for offering both strong value and livability.”
Byron Lazine broke down the numbers in today’s Hot Sheet. Read on for the key trends driving demand in these hot pockets of real estate.
Buyer Activity Is Surging in These 10 ZIP Codes
Realtor.com ranked ZIPs by buyer demand, using listing views and time on market. Here’s the detailed list of the top 10, including median prices and key performance metrics:
- Beverly, MA (01915) – Located in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro, Beverly listings earned 4.6 times more views than the national average. Homes spent just 16 days on market with a median list price of $746,000. Local buyers outnumbered out-of-area interest here.
- Marlton, NJ (08053) – In the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro, Marlton saw 3.9 times more views, with homes averaging 17 days on market. The median list price was $495,000.
- Leominster, MA (01453) – A standout in the Worcester metro, Leominster had 4.0 times more listing views and homes sold in just 18 days, matching the national median list price of $441,000.
- Ballwin, MO (63021) – In the St. Louis metro, Ballwin saw 3.8 times more views. Homes averaged 22 days on market and a median list price of $350,000, making it one of the most affordable on the list. Like Beverly, local demand led over out-of-area views.
- Wayne, NJ (07470) – A northern New Jersey suburb in the New York metro area, Wayne listings drew 3.3 times more views, with homes selling in 22 days at a median price of $664,000. Local interest also outweighed outside demand.
- Strongsville, OH (44149) – The hottest ZIP in the Cleveland metro, Strongsville listings saw 5.2 times more views, the highest on the list. Homes averaged 25 days on market and a median price of $423,000.
- Trumbull, CT (06611) – In the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury metro, Trumbull listings generated 5.1 times more views. Homes took 25 days to sell and had a median list price of $666,000.
- Cumberland, RI (02864) – In the Providence-Warwick metro, this ZIP saw 3.6 times more views, with homes sitting 26 days on market and a median price of $534,000.
- South Windsor, CT (06074) – Located in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford area, South Windsor listings had 5.0 times more views, spent 27 days on market, and were listed at a median price of $406,000.
- Bexley, OH (43209) – Part of the Columbus metro, Bexley listings received 3.4 times more views, took 25 days to sell, and had a median price of $439,000.
Homes in these ZIP codes sold 30 to 42 days faster than the national average, with buyer views up to 5.2 times higher than typical U.S. listings.
Affordability Isn’t Everything, But It Still Matters
Seven of the ten ZIPs had listing prices above the national median of $441,000 as of June 2025. But six were still more affordable than their surrounding metro areas.
That balance between metro access and relative value is what’s attracting so much buyer activity. Suburbs like Beverly, MA, and Wayne, NJ, offer better pricing than Boston or New York, while still providing transit access and proximity to jobs in tech, biotech, and finance.
In the Midwest, ZIPs like Ballwin, MO, and Strongsville, OH, buck the affordability trend by pricing above their surrounding metro medians.
That’s a sign of strong local demand and likely a higher concentration of move-up buyers.
Who’s Driving the Surge? Buyers with Income, Equity, and Urgency
Realtor.com’s data shows that the typical buyer in these ZIP codes is more financially prepared than the average U.S. buyer.
Across the top 10:
- Median household income: $114,000 (vs. $79,000 U.S. average)
- Average credit score: 759 (vs. 748)
- Typical down payments: $42,000–$143,000 (vs. $30,000)
- Median age of household head: 56 (vs. 54)
These buyers are equity-rich, credit-ready, and less rate-sensitive. In tight inventory markets, they can move fast and compete hard.
Local vs. Out-of-Area Demand
In most of the hottest ZIPs, buyers are coming from outside the metro. New York City was the top source of views for three ZIPs, Boston for four, and Washington, D.C. for two.
Only three ZIPs saw local buyers leading the charge:
- Beverly, MA (01915)
- Ballwin, MO (63021)
- Wayne, NJ (07470)
This pattern suggests a migration from higher-cost urban areas to nearby suburbs that still provide easy commutes and lifestyle perks.
More Space, More Ownership, Less Time on Market
A few more trends define these hot ZIPs:
- Six out of ten ZIPs had homes larger than the average for their metro
- Average homeownership rate: 75.2 percent (vs. national average of 65.1 percent)
- Seven out of ten ZIPs had homeownership rates above the national average
That said, some markets like Beverly and Leominster, MA had more renters and investor activity, which pulled their homeownership rates below average. Columbus, OH, home to Bexley, also saw elevated investor demand in 2024, a trend that appears to be continuing.
Key Takeaways for Real Estate Agents
- Know your metro’s suburban standouts. Clients may be priced out of the city, but hungry for communities that offer value and access.
- Educate your buyers on what “affordable” means. It’s not always about the lowest price point, but relative value compared to nearby markets.
- Target serious, prepared buyers. These markets favor clients with strong finances and fast decision-making ability.
Realtor.com’s 2025 hottest ZIP codes show what’s really working in today’s market. Suburban homes with strong local infrastructure, relative value, and room to grow are outperforming flashier urban markets.
If you’re an agent, these are the neighborhoods to watch and the buyer profiles to be ready for.
