MW 20 places where home prices have increased the most since last year

By Joy Dumandan

Home values in these humble ZIP Codes have shot up around 50%. Many high-priced areas have also seen a big uptick.

The ZIP codes where home prices have seen the biggest surge during the past 12 months reveal a surprising new collection of potential housing hot spots where property owners could find themselves sitting on an increasingly valuable asset.

Amid rising economic volatility and tumbling stock markets, Realtor.com data has revealed 10 areas where house prices have shot up since the first quarter of 2024-with Sheffield, Alabama, emerging as one of the ZIP codes with the biggest median increase.

A majority of the 10 ZIP codes where house prices have surged are located in "relatively affordable" areas, according to senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones, who notes that increased competition for affordable housing has helped prices to tick up at a higher-than-average rate.

"Many of the ZIP codes where home prices have increased the most over the last year are relatively affordable," Jones explains. "High housing costs have increased demand for affordable homes, which increases competition and home prices."

In Sheffield, the median house price increased by 50% from Q1 of 2024 to Q1 of 2025, while Apache Junction, Ariz., saw a similar upward trend.

To create the list, Realtor.com filtered ZIP codes for data quality based on price growth and listing count in the first three months of 2024 and 2025. House prices in the first quarter of 2025 were then compared against the first quarter of 2024 to see which ZIPs have seen the biggest increases over the past 12 months.

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1. Sheffield, Ala. (35660)

2025 median list price: $194,900

Year-over-year increase: 50%

Located along the Tennessee River, Sheffield prides itself on "small-town friendliness." It has preserved its historic districts with stucco and terra-cotta bungalows and Victorian-era buildings.

2. Apache Junction, Ariz. (85119)

2025 median list price: $675,000

Year-over-year increase: 50%

Apache Junction is located in the northeast region of Phoenix. The town is surrounded by wilderness and mountains, giving it a "rugged reputation." It has old mining posts, and people still flock to the town for the legend of the lost gold.

3. Winsted, Conn. $(06098)$

2025 median list price: $480,000

Year-over-year increase: 50%

Winsted sits at the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains and is part of the town of Winchester. The city is about 97 miles from New York City and 111 miles from Boston.

4. Toledo, Ohio (43607)

2025 median list price: $89,900

Year-over-year increase: 50%

Toledo is located at the western tip of Lake Erie. It's referred to as the "Glass City" because of its manufacturing in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Its low cost of living and more affordable housing market are attributed to a lower population density compared with bigger cities. It has a population of 270,871 as of the last U.S. Census in 2020.

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5. Mammoth Spring, Ark. (72554)

2025 median list price: $299,900

Year-over-year increase: 50%

Mammoth Spring is located between the Ozark Mountains and the Arkansas Delta. It has one of the world's largest springs with 9 million gallons of water flowing hourly.

6. Vinton, Iowa (52349)

2025 median list price: $269,000

Year-over-year increase: 49.5%

Vinton is a river community halfway between Waterloo and Cedar Rapids with a population of just under 5,000. Fun fact: Vinton has over 20 chain-saw carvings.

7. Clintonville, Wis. (54929)

2025 median list price: $269,000

Year-over-year increase: 49.5%

Clintonville boasts it is a "small city with a big heart." It was established more than 160 years ago and has a population of just over 4,500.

8. Maplewood, N.J. (07040)

2025 median list price: $897,000

Year-over-year increase: 49.5%

Maplewood is located about 21 miles from New York City and is known for its downtown with quaint shops and restaurants.

9. Malone, N.Y. (12953)

2025 median list price: $178,500

Year-over-year increase: 49.4%

Malone is located in the foothills of the Adirondacks. It offers plenty of outdoor activities, including camping, golfing, and hiking.

10. Booneville, Miss. (38829)

2025 median list price: $227,500

Year-over-year increase: 49.20%

Booneville is nicknamed the "City of Hospitality"-referring to its Southern hospitality. It also states it's one of 21 certified retirement cities in Mississippi.

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The high-price ZIP Codes

Interestingly, the results were dramatically different for homes that are priced over $1 million. In these cases, it was coastal cities that saw the biggest jump in prices.

According to Jones, there are a number of reasons why higher-end homes have seen a significant price increase in the past year.

"Many high-priced ZIP codes have seen an uptick in luxury listings over the last year, which could be for various reasons," explains Jones. "One possibility is that lower-priced homes tend to sell faster, leaving luxury homes on the market for longer, which leads to a higher share of luxury listings."

1. West Palm Beach, Fla. (33405)

Median home list price: $3.1 million

Year-over-year increase: 82.4%

West Palm Beach has seen high-rises continue to be built and people flock there for the warm weather, but the city next to neighboring Palm Beach is seeing a rise in wealth.

2. Kingsland, Texas (78639)

Median home list price: $1.325 million

Year-over-year increase: 55.9%

Kingsland is located along the Colorado River and under an hour-and-a-half from Austin. It boasts a population of under 7,300 and a majority of the high-end homes situated along the river.

3. Brooklyn, N.Y. (11249)

Median home list price: $2.5 million

Year-over-year increase: 51.5%

Brooklyn is a borough of New York City. It's known for its diverse neighborhoods, each with its own charm and personality. A majority of the high-end listings are condos in newer buildings.

4. Crested Butte, Colo. (81224)

Median home list price: $2.855 million

Year-over-year increase: 46.4%

Crested Butte is a town in the Rocky Mountains, known not only for its skiing but also year-round activities, including mountain biking and hiking. It's also known as the "Wildflower Capital of Colorado."

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5. Winchester, Mass. $(01890)$

Median home list price: $2.499 million

Year-over-year increase: 42.8%

Winchester is just 8 miles north of Boston and one of the wealthiest municipalities in the state-with a median income of $218,176, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The small town has lots of New England charm with a downtown filled with boutiques and restaurants.

6. Bridgehampton, N.Y. (11932)

Median home list price: $8.995 million

Year-over-year increase: 38.5%

Bridgehampton is a hamlet in the town of Southampton on Long Island, known for its luxury real estate and high-end restaurants. It's a favorite of celebrities, who favor homes that provide privacy.

7. Concord, Mass. $(01742)$

Median home list price: $2.375 million

Year-over-year increase: 37.7%

Concord is a town only 20 miles from Boston. It's rich in U.S. history as the site of the first battles of the Revolutionary War. It was home to famous writers such as Louisa May Alcott and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

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8. Cle Elum, Wash. (98922)

Median home list price: $1.349 million

Year-over-year increase: 37.7%

Cle Elum means "swift water" and is about 84 miles from Seattle. It's a popular area for camping and outdoor activities.

9. Jackson, Wyo. $(83001)$

Median home list price: $3,749,500

Year-over-year increase: 35.4%

Jackson is known for its world-class skiing and celebrities who have flocked to this resort town.

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10. Park City, Utah (84060)

Median home list price: $3.850 million

Year-over-year increase: 35.1%

Park City is east of Salt Lake City and is a year-round mountain community, known for its top-notch skiing. What makes it an expensive place is the limited supply of land but high demand for luxury properties.

This story originally ran on Realtor.com.

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April 14, 2025 05:01 ET (09:01 GMT)

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