Realtor.com®'s 2026 Hottest ZIP Codes in America: Peabody, Mass. Claims the Top Spot as Buyers Chase Space, Character Near Major Metros

Rhea-AI Summary

Realtor.com (NYSE:NWS) released its 2026 Hottest ZIP Codes in America ranking, with Peabody, Mass. (01960) taking the No. 1 spot. Listings in the top 10 ZIPs received 3.0–5.3x more views than the U.S. average and sold 30–42 days faster. The list is dominated for a fourth consecutive year by Northeast and Midwest markets, with no entries from the South or West.

Homes in the 10 hottest ZIPs typically sold at or above asking, averaging a roughly 103.8% sale-to-list ratio versus a 2.3% discount nationally. Buyers in these areas show stronger finances, with an average 17.1% down payment and 766 median credit score, compared with 13.1% and 747 nationally. Rankings are based on Realtor.com’s market hotness algorithm using January–June 2026 listing view and days-on-market data, limited to one ZIP per metro.

Market Context

2.23% was NWS's 24-hour reaction to its Aug. 5 earnings report, providing a recent company-level ben...

Analysis

2.23% was NWS's 24-hour reaction to its Aug. 5 earnings report, providing a recent company-level benchmark. For this housing report, the key risk is that operating and financial effects were not quantified, leaving the platform record as context rather than confirmation.

Key Figures

Top-ZIP views: 5.3x Faster sales: 42 days National inventory gap: 11.3% +5 more

8 metrics

Top-ZIP views 5.3x Maximum views versus the national average

Faster sales 42 days Maximum faster than the national average

National inventory gap 11.3% Below pre-pandemic norms in June 2026

Hottest-ZIP inventory gap 60.5% Below pre-pandemic norms in June 2026

Average sale-to-list ratio 103.8% Across the 10 hottest ZIPs

Median home size 2,000 square feet Versus 1,600 square feet across the metro medians

Average down payment 17.1% Versus roughly 13.1% nationally

Average median credit score 766 Versus about 747 nationally

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Aug 05 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Aug 05	Fiscal 2026 earnings	Positive	+2.2%	Revenue, EBITDA, net income, operating cash flow and free cash flow all increased.
Aug 05	Housing policy report	Positive	+1.3%	Realtor.com analyzed housing incentives and identified constrained-supply Midwest and Northeast markets.
Aug 03	July housing report	Positive	+1.7%	Pending listings rose while housing inventory remained below pre-pandemic levels.
Jul 30	Los Angeles rent report	Negative	-2.6%	Los Angeles County rents declined to a four-year low amid continued graduate affordability pressure.
Jul 28	New York rent report	Positive	+2.9%	New York City median asking rent reached a new high.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent reactions were mostly positive, with four of five selected events followed by gains and one followed by a decline.

Key Terms

fico score, days on market

2 terms

fico score financial

"alongside a median FICO score of 783"

A FICO score is a three-digit number that summarizes an individual’s credit history into an easy-to-read “financial report card” used by lenders to judge how likely someone is to repay borrowed money. It matters to investors because widespread changes in average FICO scores affect consumer borrowing, loan default rates, and the health of banks and lenders — which in turn influence interest income, credit losses, and overall economic activity.

days on market technical

"The median home spent just 20 days on the market"

Days on market is the number of calendar days a financial offering, security listing, or asset remains available for purchase from the time it is first offered until it is fully sold or removed. Investors watch this measure because a short span suggests strong demand or easy buying and selling, while a long span can signal weak interest, possible price pressure, or slower marketability—think of it as how fast an item clears a store shelf.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Listings in the top 10 ZIPs got up to 5.3x more views and sold as much as 42 days faster than the national average

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Peabody, Mass. (01960) joins the Hottest ZIPs for the third time since previously ranked No. 5 in 2018 and No.3 in 2021. For the fourth consecutive year, the Northeast and Midwest swept the rankings, with this year's list underscoring a clear shift in what today's buyers are willing to pay for: more square footage and established character, even if it means a longer commute or a smaller discount versus the surrounding metro.

"This year's hottest ZIP codes tell us that buyers aren't simply chasing the lowest price tag anymore — they're chasing space, character and a manageable commute to a major job center, and they're willing to pay a premium to get it," said Hannah Jones, senior economist at Realtor.com^®. "What's especially notable is how financially prepared these buyers are. Even in ZIP codes where typical local incomes aren't enough to cover today's home prices, buyers are showing up with larger down payments and stronger credit profiles than the national norm, which tells us this demand is real and well-capitalized."
 

The 2026 Hottest ZIP Codes in America, in rank order, are:

1. 01960 Peabody, Mass. in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH*
2. 07042 Montclair, N.J. in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
3. 08080 Sewell, N.J. in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD*
4. 14450 Fairport, N.Y. in Rochester, NY
5. 01085 Westfield, Mass. in Springfield, MA
6. 48154 Livonia, Mich. in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
7. 17543 Lititz, Pa. in Lancaster, PA
8. 06473 North Haven, Conn. in New Haven, CT
9. 53151 New Berlin, Wi. in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
10. 60187 Wheaton, Ill. in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

(Starred ZIPs are located in metros that were on last years' ranking)

Three of this year's ZIPs and seven of the associated metro areas have appeared on the Hottest ZIP Codes list before, though none of this year's ZIPs repeated directly from last year's ranking — the overlap traces back to 2017, 2021 and 2024. Three ZIPs are appearing for the first time in every sense: Lititz, Pa. (17543), North Haven, Conn. (06473) and New Berlin, Wis. (53151), a sign that demand is continuing to spread into smaller markets within the same Northeast and Midwest corridors that have dominated the rankings in recent years.

Regional Divergence Persists

For the fourth year running, the South and West failed to produce a single entry on the list, while the Northeast and Midwest dominated with ZIPs spanning Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. Comparatively tight new-construction pipelines in these metros have kept a lid on supply, while more robust homebuilding and softer price growth across the South and West over the past two years have eased competition in those regions. Nationally, for-sale inventory remained 11.3% below pre-pandemic norms in June 2026 — but in the hottest ZIPs, that shortfall widened to 60.5%, more than five times the national gap, fueling the intense competition reflected in this year's rankings.

Listings in the top 10 ZIPs also significantly outpaced the broader market on engagement and pace, drawing 3.0 to 5.3 times more views per property than the U.S. norm and selling 30 to 42 days faster.

Homes in the Hottest ZIPs Are Selling Over Asking — the Rest of the Country Isn't

Nationally, the typical home sold for about 2.3% below list price in the first half of 2026. In the 10 hottest ZIPs, nine of 10 saw homes sell at or above asking, with an average sale-to-list ratio of roughly 103.8%. Montclair, N.J. and Fairport, N.Y. stood out sharply, with homes selling 16.7% and 14.4% over asking, respectively — a sign of competitive conditions and possibly multiple-offer scenarios while much of the country returns to balanced or even buyer-favoring conditions.

Buyers Pay Up for Space and a Commute Friendly Sweet Spot

Today's buyers aren't just chasing affordability — they want it all. Nine of the 10 hottest ZIPs are priced above their surrounding metro, and eight of the 10 feature homes that run notably larger than the typical listing in their metro. Across all 10 ZIPs, the median home for sale measured 2,000 square feet, compared with a metro median of 1,600 and a national median of 1,800. In Montclair, N.J. (07042), homes for sale averaged 2,625 square feet in the first half of 2026 — 85.6% larger than the surrounding New York metro norm.

These ZIPs also cluster in a similar commuting band, sitting roughly 10 to 20 miles from their metro's central business district — close enough to support a regular in-office schedule, far enough to offer the space and quiet of suburban living. The housing stock skews older, too, with a median year built across the 10 ZIPs averaging 1970, about a decade older than the all-ZIP average — a reminder that buyers are increasingly willing to pay a premium for well-located, established neighborhoods.

Local Incomes Mostly Keep Pace — But Not Everywhere

Seven of the 10 hottest ZIPs show local median household income running ahead of what's needed to afford the typical home there, assuming a 20% down payment and a 6.55% mortgage rate. Livonia, Mich. (48154) leads the group, with income running 64.2% above the threshold, followed by Sewell, N.J. (08080) at 39.6% and Fairport, N.Y. (14450) at 31.4%. Three ZIPs break from that pattern, most notably Montclair, N.J. (07042), where income runs 31.1% behind what's needed — a signal less about whether today's buyers can afford these homes and more about how much home values have outpaced the earnings of long-tenured residents.

Today's Buyers Are Bringing More to the Table

Buyer financial profiles across the hottest ZIPs run well ahead of the national norm. The average down payment across the list is 17.1%, compared with roughly 13.1% nationally, and the average median credit score is 766, versus about 747 nationally. Montclair, N.J. buyers posted the strongest profile in the sample, averaging a 22.1% down payment (more than $318,000) alongside a median FICO score of 783. Even the ZIPs at the lower end of the range, Westfield, Mass., and Peabody, Mass., still landed near the national FICO average while putting down $30,000 and $89,000, respectively — well above the national dollar norm of $25,300.

Big-City ZIPs Draw Local Buyers, Smaller Markets Pull From Regional Hubs

ZIP codes within the largest metros are largely sustained by their own residents. Wheaton, Ill. (60187) drew 77.0% of its listing viewership from within the Chicago metro, Montclair, N.J. (07042) pulled 74.6% from New York, and Peabody, Mass. (01960) drew 70.0% from Boston. Smaller-metro ZIPs told a different story: Sewell, N.J. (08080) pulled 48.4% of its views from Philadelphia but another 26.8% from New York, while New Berlin, Wis. (53151) split its demand between Milwaukee (49.6%) and Chicago (24.5%) — evidence that these markets are functioning partly as release valves for buyers priced out of a larger, pricier neighboring metro.

Spotlight on Peabody, Mass., The Hottest Zip in America

Peabody, Mass. (01960) joins the Hottest ZIPs for the third time it has joined the top ten hottest zips including No. 5 in 2018 and No.3 in 2021. Located about 20 miles north of downtown Boston, Peabody offers buyers highway access to the city, a North Shore setting and a blend of small-town character with proximity to a major job center. Homes there spent a median of just 20 days on the market in the first half of 2026 and sold modestly over asking, even as the typical U.S. home sold under list price. Demand is largely homegrown — 70.0% of Peabody's listing views came from within the Boston metro itself — and buyer financials there look close to the national norm, with a 14.0% average down payment and 747 median credit score, suggesting the math works for most buyers without requiring an outsized financial cushion.

Top 50 Hottest ZIP Codes

Rank	ZIP Code	ZIP Name	Metro Area	Views per Property Vs US	Median Days on Market	Median Listing Price
1	01960	Peabody	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	4.09	20	$600,000
2	07042	Montclair	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	3.3	18	$1,050,000
3	08080	Sewell	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	3.8	25	$426,000
4	14450	Fairport	Rochester, NY	5.25	23	$429,000
5	01085	Westfield	Springfield, MA	5.21	27	$381,000
6	48154	Livonia	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	3.39	25	$338,000
7	17543	Lititz	Lancaster, PA	3.84	28	$598,000
8	06473	North Haven	New Haven, CT	5.34	30	$562,000
9	53151	New Berlin	Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	4.48	29	$445,000
10	60187	Wheaton	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	3.03	25	$575,000
11	06905	Stamford	Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	3.2	27	$691,000
12	61611	East Peoria	Peoria, IL	4.01	31	$212,000
13	53140	Kenosha	Kenosha, WI	3.13	28	$267,000
14	17402	York	York-Hanover, PA	2.78	25	$394,000
15	03051	Hudson	Manchester-Nashua, NH	3.13	27	$608,000
16	63011	Ballwin	St. Louis, MO-IL	3.49	31	$455,000
17	19607	Reading	Reading, PA	2.76	24	$301,000
18	44281	Wadsworth	Cleveland, OH	4.16	32	$355,000
19	07840	Hackettstown	Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	2.55	25	$511,000
20	06040	Manchester	Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	3.84	32	$392,000
21	54911	Appleton	Appleton, WI	3.17	30	$280,000
22	23229	Henrico	Richmond, VA	2.6	28	$515,000
23	48182	Temperance	Monroe, MI	4.31	33	$311,000
24	03301	Concord	Concord, NH	3.59	32	$437,000
25	61108	Rockford	Rockford, IL	3.01	30	$212,000
26	17011	Camp Hill	Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	3.41	31	$366,000
27	66212	Overland Park	Kansas City, MO-KS	2.66	26	$385,000
28	02886	Warwick	Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	2.55	29	$457,000
29	44641	Louisville	Canton-Massillon, OH	3.66	34	$269,000
30	35213	Birmingham	Birmingham, AL	2.6	28	$526,000
31	06795	Watertown	Waterbury-Shelton, CT	4.21	35	$505,000
32	43614	Toledo	Toledo, OH	2.77	32	$222,000
33	43209	Columbus	Columbus, OH	2.8	32	$448,000
34	21771	Mount Airy	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	2.16	24	$734,000
35	55811	Duluth	Duluth, MN-WI	4.32	36	$552,000
36	65109	Jefferson City	Jefferson City, MO	2.75	33	$344,000
37	55110	Saint Paul	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	2.7	33	$381,000
38	44266	Ravenna	Akron, OH	3.79	36	$254,000
39	62704	Springfield	Springfield, IL	3.05	35	$192,000
40	13760	Endicott	Binghamton, NY	3.6	35	$231,000
41	53405	Racine	Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI	2.45	31	$241,000
42	68144	Omaha	Omaha, NE-IA	2.2	27	$333,000
43	54303	Green Bay	Green Bay, WI	2.48	32	$261,000
44	01007	Belchertown	Amherst Town-Northampton, MA	2.6	33	$626,000
45	54401	Wausau	Wausau, WI	4.91	38	$297,000
46	48813	Charlotte	Lansing-East Lansing, MI	3.04	36	$284,000
47	51106	Sioux City	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	2.51	35	$248,000
48	25526	Hurricane	Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	4.2	38	$350,000
49	61761	Normal	Bloomington, IL	2.55	34	$343,000
50	01569	Uxbridge	Worcester, MA	2.92	32	$622,000

To see the full list of State-Level Hottest ZIP codes, https://www.realtor.com/research/hottest-ZIP-codes-2026

Methodology:

Realtor.com®'s Hottest ZIP Code rankings are based on an algorithm that takes into account two aspects of the housing market: 1) market demand, as measured by unique viewers per property on Realtor.com®, and 2) the pace of the market as measured by the number of days a listing remains active on Realtor.com®. The hottest areas are those that have high demand from buyers, in other words, lots of unique viewers per each property, and fast-selling homes, an indicator of limited supply. Market Hotness rankings based on Realtor.com® listing data from January to June 2026. The list of top ZIP codes is limited to one ZIP code per metropolitan area. Descriptive statistics in this write-up refer to June 2026 data unless otherwise noted.

About Realtor.com^®
For over 30 years, Realtor.com^® has connected buyers, sellers, and renters with trusted insights, professional guidance and powerful tools to help them find their perfect home. Recognized as the No. 1 real estate site REALTOR® agents recommend, Realtor.com® delivers consumer connections and a robust suite of marketing tools to support business growth. Realtor.com^® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc.

Media Contact: Mallory Micetich, press@realtor.com 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/realtorcoms-2026-hottest-zip-codes-in-america-peabody-mass-claims-the-top-spot-as-buyers-chase-space-character-near-major-metros-302846697.html

SOURCE Realtor.com

FAQ

What is the hottest ZIP code in America for 2026 according to Realtor.com and how does it relate to NWS?

The hottest ZIP code for 2026 is 01960 Peabody, Massachusetts. According to Realtor.com, Peabody topped the list based on buyer views and fast sales. Realtor.com is part of the News Corp (NYSE:NWS) portfolio, making this ranking relevant to NWS investors.

How much faster do homes sell in Realtor.com’s 2026 top 10 hottest ZIP codes compared with the U.S. average?

Homes in the top 10 hottest ZIP codes sold 30 to 42 days faster than the national average. According to Realtor.com, these areas also received 3.0–5.3 times more listing views, highlighting intense demand and constrained supply versus the broader U.S. housing market.

Are homes in the 2026 hottest ZIP codes selling over asking price, and how does this compare to the U.S. overall?

Yes, homes in nine of the 10 hottest ZIP codes sold at or above list price, averaging about 103.8% of asking. According to Realtor.com, the typical U.S. home sold for roughly 2.3% below list in early 2026, showing much cooler national conditions.

What buyer financial profiles characterize the 2026 hottest ZIP codes identified by Realtor.com (NWS)?

Buyers in the hottest ZIPs bring higher down payments and stronger credit. According to Realtor.com, the average down payment is 17.1% with a median credit score of 766, versus roughly 13.1% and 747 nationally, indicating well-capitalized demand in these areas.

Which U.S. regions dominate Realtor.com’s 2026 hottest ZIP codes list and what does this mean for NWS-linked housing trends?

The 2026 list is dominated by Northeast and Midwest ZIP codes, with no entries from the South or West. According to Realtor.com, tighter new-construction supply and strong demand in these regions drive competition, informing geographic housing trends relevant to News Corp (NWS) exposure.

How does Realtor.com calculate the 2026 Hottest ZIP Codes rankings that may interest NWS shareholders?

Rankings are based on an algorithm using market demand (unique viewers per property) and market pace (days on market) from January–June 2026. According to Realtor.com, the list includes only one ZIP per metro, offering a focused view of high-intensity local housing markets.