Cities with median home values between $800k and $2M that are still showing positive momentum — the tier above 'expensive' but below 'ultra-prime'.
The most expensive markets in the country aren't always the best-performing. This list filters for cities priced in the premium tier (median $800k-$2M) that are still seeing positive momentum — not just relying on legacy value.
Watch for: tech-job spillover suburbs, second-home destinations turned primary residences, and cities with restrictive supply that holds prices firm.
1New Rochelle, NYNew York-Newark-Jersey City · pop 85,51277Rising$920,484median home+8.7%5-yr 2Long Branch, NJNew York-Newark-Jersey City · pop 33,21477Rising$809,703median home+3.1%5-yr 3Ridgewood, NJNew York-Newark-Jersey City · pop 26,70177Rising$1,226,046median home+7.9%5-yr 4Spring Valley, NYNew York-Newark-Jersey City · pop 33,63776Rising$866,703median home+3.1%5-yr 5Westfield, NJNew York-Newark-Jersey City · pop 32,05076Rising$1,291,636median home+8.5%5-yr 6Mount Pleasant, SCCharleston-North Charleston · pop 95,60473Rising$881,041median home+0.4%5-yr 7Franklin, TNNashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin · pop 89,14273Rising$916,079median home+1.6%5-yr 8Laguna Niguel, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 64,18573Rising$1,500,721median home+3.0%5-yr 9Glen Cove, NYNew York-Newark-Jersey City · pop 28,08873Rising$810,158median home+8.3%5-yr 10Wilmette, ILChicago-Naperville-Elgin · pop 27,44373Rising$976,392median home+11.2%5-yr 11Paramus, NJNew York-Newark-Jersey City · pop 26,78673Rising$1,051,071median home+7.7%5-yr 12Fountain Valley, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 56,03672Rising$1,387,373median home+3.0%5-yr 13Coral Gables, FLMiami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach · pop 50,37972Rising$1,530,987median home+1.4%5-yr 15Dana Point, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 32,58572Rising$1,738,852median home+3.8%5-yr 16Southlake, TXDallas-Fort Worth-Arlington · pop 31,50072Rising$1,313,920median home+2.5%5-yr 17San Luis Obispo, CASan Luis Obispo-Paso Robles · pop 49,72971Rising$1,101,682median home+2.2%5-yr 18Costa Mesa, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 109,13170Rising$1,416,645median home+3.6%5-yr 19Irvine, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 318,68369Rising$1,566,872median home-1.2%5-yr 20Garden Grove, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 172,36169Rising$1,012,728median home+1.9%5-yr 21San Clemente, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 62,62769Rising$1,744,315median home+0.6%5-yr 22Encinitas, CASan Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad · pop 61,13769Rising$1,931,548median home+1.3%5-yr 23Brentwood, TNNashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin · pop 45,52569Rising$1,398,755median home+1.2%5-yr 24Milton, GAAtlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta · pop 41,49069Rising$951,308median home+2.3%5-yr 25Huntington Beach, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 193,15168Rising$1,364,265median home+3.2%5-yr 26Placentia, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 53,39568Rising$1,115,760median home-0.1%5-yr 27Colleyville, TXDallas-Fort Worth-Arlington · pop 26,01268Rising$917,464median home+1.6%5-yr 28Newton, MABoston-Cambridge-Newton · pop 90,70067Rising$1,552,051median home+2.2%5-yr 29Parkland, FLMiami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach · pop 39,70067Rising$1,067,944median home-2.7%5-yr 30Princeton, NJTrenton-Princeton · pop 31,44567Rising$965,725median home+2.8%5-yr Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census place population.