Top 10 Most Popular Neighborhoods in America
Neighborhoods from California to Connecticut, and from Montana to Texas, have been drawing a lot of attention from would-be homebuyers. They also have something in common.
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The U.S. residential real estate market is showing signs of thawing after the deep freeze of the early winter months—and some neighborhoods are drawing more attention than others.
Economists at Realtor.com® have identified the 10 most popular neighborhoods in the country by determining how many views each listing in those markets received in January, compared with the typical U.S. home.
And some of those results might come as a surprise, with the most sought-after neighborhoods spreading the length of the nation, from sunny California to snowy Connecticut. All of these neighborhoods also offer homebuyers options that range widely in price.
“The more affordable neighborhoods near the top of the list likely draw buyer attention for their low home prices and considerable bang for your buck,” says Realtor.com senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones.
Other communities have similar appeal, offering buyers affordable or large homes, or some combination of the two.
“Many of the most popular neighborhoods are in the South, a region that boasts relatively high inventory levels and easing home price growth,” Jones points out.
(Realtor.com)
1. Woodmont – Milford, CT
The Woodmont section of Milford, CT, emerged as America’s most popular neighborhood, with the 30 active listings in that location drawing 3.5 times the number of views the median U.S. home received last month.
A typical home in Woodmont came with a price tag of $625,000, at $387 per square foot.
Located between New Haven and Bridgeport, Milford offers up plenty of coastal charm and a family-friendly atmosphere.
The city of 50,000 residents has excellent schools, beach access, and convenient commuting options to other parts of Connecticut and New York City.
“Woodmont pulled in significant buyer attention in January,” says Jones. “The area offers oceanfront properties at an affordable price, making it perfect for New York City commuters or households looking to relocate.”
(Realtor.com)
2. Beverly Crest – Los Angeles, CA
Beverly Crest is situated in the Santa Monica Mountains, sitting between the Hollywood Hills to the east and the ultrawealthy, star-studded Bel-Air enclave to the west.
Beverly Crest’s other claim to fame is that it falls within Beverly Hills’ prestigious 90210 ZIP code, which is home to some of the world’s biggest A-listers, including Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lawrence, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
The high-end neighborhood’s 113 active listings attracted 3.2 the number of views as the U.S. median home, making it the second most popular community.
But with a median home list price of a staggering $5.97 million, Beverly Crest was by far the priciest neighborhood on the top 10 list.
(Realtor.com)
3. Mt. Lebanon – Pittsburgh, PA
Listings in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Lebanon section received just over three times the number of views as the typical U.S. home, helping the community, known to locals as “Lebo,” clinch the third spot on the list of the nation’s most in-demand neighborhoods.
The median list price in Mt. Lebanon in January was $383,725, well below the national median of just over $400,000.
Founded in 1912 as a farming community, Mt. Lebanon developed into a streetcar suburb, allowing residents to travel back and forth to downtown Pittsburgh.
More than a century later, the neighborhood is best known for its high-quality schools, walkable streets, and charming homes.
It is also only a short distance from Pittsburgh’s top attractions, including the Andy Warhol Museum and the celebrated Carnegie Museums, Acrisure Stadium (home of the Pittsburgh Steelers), and PNC Park baseball stadium (home of the Pittsburgh Pirates).
(Realtor.com)
4. Wild Dunes – Isle of Palms, SC
Wild Dunes is a gated resort community sitting on the eastern tip of the Isle of Palms, offering breathtaking views of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.
A typical house in the neighborhood, which is home to the luxury Hyatt-owned Wild Dunes Resort, was $1.66 million in January, making it the third most expensive market in the top 10 list.
The surrounding area is celebrated for its beaches, where sea turtles are known to nest.
The adjacent Sullivan’s Island is home to Fort Moultrie, which was the site of famous battles during the American Revolution and the Civil War.
(Realtor.com)
5. Aberdeen – Boynton Beach, FL
Located less than 60 miles north of Miami, Boynton Beach is considered to be part of the bustling city’s metropolitan area.
In the neighborhood of Aberdeen, the median home list price last month was just $341,250, which was significantly less than the national median, explaining its spike in popularity among prospective homebuyers.
The sun-soaked, palm tree-dotted area has much to recommend itself to families, including some of Florida’s most popular beaches, parks and wetlands, and museums.
(Realtor.com)
6. Lake Ridge – Cedar Hill, TX
It is not difficult to see why Cedar Hill’s Lake Ridge section has been getting so much attention from house hunters, even though a typical home in the community had a relatively high price tag of $847,000 in January.
Located just 16 miles southwest of downtown Dallas, the town is situated along the eastern shore of Joe Pool Lake and Cedar Hill State Park, offering families plenty of recreation opportunities.
The area also has a strong school system and easy access to the business hubs of nearby Dallas and Fort Worth.
“Though the median home price in the Lake Ridge neighborhood of Cedar Hill, TX, was more than double the national median in January, the listing price per square foot was about $25 less than the national median, suggesting buyers in the area are drawn to the relatively large home size,” says Jones.
(Realtor.com)
7. Preston Hollow – Dallas, TX
Situated in North Dallas, Preston Hollow has distinguished itself as the home to some of the city’s wealthiest residents, including former President George W. Bush, billionaire Mark Cuban, and energy tycoon T. Boone Pickens.
Considering the roster of the neighborhood’s famous current and former residents, it should come as no surprise that a typical home in Preston Hollow came with a sizeable price tag of $2.47 million, the second highest among the 10 most popular neighborhoods in the nation.
Outside the exclusive enclave, the surrounding city of Dallas is a thriving commercial center, drawing a steady stream of young professionals migrating from other parts of the U.S. to pursue careers in tech, finance, and manufacturing.
(Realtor.com)
8. North Central Billings – Billings, MT
The North Central section of Billings has been attracting a lot of views from would-be buyers, in no small part because it offers a lot of bang for their buck. The median list price per square foot here is just $165—the lowest among the top 10 markets.
Meanwhile, the median home price in January in North Central Billings was $445,250—the fourth lowest among the top neighborhoods ranked by popularity.
The city of Billings has much to offer newcomers, including a robust commerce hub, a vibrant cultural scene, and a glut of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
(Realtor.com)
9. East Sandwich – Sandwich, MA
Founded in 1639, Sandwich is celebrated as the oldest town on Cape Cod. The town’s Latin motto is post tot naufracia portus, or “after so many shipwrecks, a haven.”
A typical home in the quaint coastal community was $924,750 last month, at $433 per square foot, making it the fourth most expensive area among the nation’s 10 most sought-after neighborhoods, as ranked by Realtor.com based on listing views.
(Realtor.com)
10. Central Norwich – Norwich, CT
The Central Norwich section of Norwich locked down the 10th spot on the list of the nation’s most popular neighborhoods, most likely due to its affordability.
The median home list price in that community was $257,472, or 45% lower than the U.S. median, making it the most budget-friendly neighborhood out of the top 10.
Dubbed the “Rose of New England,” Norwich has a rich history, a vibrant downtown, a bustling arts scene, and a top-notch public high school.
Another major selling point is Norwich’s close proximity to several major casinos in the area, including Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods.
(Realtor.com)
5 additional popular neighborhoods
Beacon Hill – Boston, MA: Median list price: $2,775,000
Port Royal – Naples, FL: Median list price: $19,912,500
Elkins Park – Melrose Park, PA: Median list price: $424,925
Broken Sound – Boca Raton, FL: Median list price: $698,000
Blacklick – Columbus, OH: Median list price: $271,175
