Best US cities for real-estate investors right now

Home·Best of·Best US cities for real-estate investors

Cities with strong 5-year price growth AND high current momentum — the markets where the trend has been working and is still working.

Real estate investing is location-first, then everything else. These markets show sustained, multi-year price growth combined with current momentum — meaning the trend isn't broken yet.

This is not a buy recommendation. Investor returns depend on entry price, financing, local rent dynamics, and exit strategy. Use this list to know which markets are real, not which to buy.

1Coral Gables, FLMiami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach · pop 50,37972Rising$1,530,987median home+11.5%5yr CAGR
2University Park, TXDallas-Fort Worth-Arlington · pop 25,26878Hot$2,461,469median home+11.4%5yr CAGR
3Waterbury, CTNew Haven-Milford · pop 115,90875Rising$280,921median home+11.3%5yr CAGR
4Irvine, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 318,68369Rising$1,566,872median home+11.1%5yr CAGR
5Newport Beach, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 82,97078Hot$3,709,420median home+10.6%5yr CAGR
6Torrington, CTTorrington · pop 35,67377Rising$297,594median home+10.5%5yr CAGR
7Rockford, ILRockford · pop 147,48681Hot$180,220median home+10.4%5yr CAGR
8Laguna Niguel, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 64,18573Rising$1,500,721median home+10.3%5yr CAGR
9Atlantic City, NJAtlantic City-Hammonton · pop 38,95976Rising$215,691median home+10.1%5yr CAGR
10Mount Pleasant, SCCharleston-North Charleston · pop 95,60473Rising$881,041median home+9.8%5yr CAGR
11Spring Valley, NYNew York-Newark-Jersey City · pop 33,63776Rising$866,703median home+9.7%5yr CAGR
12Manitowoc, WIManitowoc · pop 34,61677Rising$237,794median home+9.7%5yr CAGR
13Hilton Head Island, SCHilton Head Island-Bluffton · pop 38,15874Rising$787,040median home+9.7%5yr CAGR
14Oak Ridge, TNKnoxville · pop 34,03977Rising$325,760median home+9.7%5yr CAGR
15Norwich, CTNorwich-New London · pop 39,99377Rising$295,276median home+9.7%5yr CAGR
16Bentonville, ARFayetteville-Springdale-Rogers · pop 61,79182Hot$487,573median home+9.6%5yr CAGR
17Oxford, MSOxford · pop 26,80177Rising$414,121median home+9.5%5yr CAGR
18Petersburg, VARichmond · pop 34,05874Rising$249,204median home+9.4%5yr CAGR
19San Clemente, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 62,62769Rising$1,744,315median home+9.4%5yr CAGR
20Farragut, TNKnoxville · pop 25,24271Rising$690,942median home+9.4%5yr CAGR
21Statesboro, GAStatesboro · pop 35,22673Rising$276,936median home+9.3%5yr CAGR
22New London, CTNorwich-New London · pop 28,08173Rising$317,899median home+9.3%5yr CAGR
23Warren, OHYoungstown-Warren-Boardman · pop 38,68379Hot$125,835median home+9.2%5yr CAGR
24Appleton, WIAppleton · pop 75,34476Rising$302,027median home+9.2%5yr CAGR
25Hinesville, GAHinesville · pop 36,58373Rising$239,563median home+9.1%5yr CAGR
26Dana Point, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 32,58572Rising$1,738,852median home+9.1%5yr CAGR
27Wilkes-Barre, PAScranton–Wilkes-Barre · pop 44,66173Rising$177,964median home+9.1%5yr CAGR
28Knoxville, TNKnoxville · pop 198,72271Rising$371,202median home+9.1%5yr CAGR
29Southlake, TXDallas-Fort Worth-Arlington · pop 31,50072Rising$1,313,920median home+9.0%5yr CAGR
30Lewiston, MELewiston-Auburn · pop 38,77276Rising$296,546median home+8.9%5yr CAGR
31Green Bay, WIGreen Bay · pop 106,31174Rising$282,595median home+8.9%5yr CAGR
32Fountain Valley, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 56,03672Rising$1,387,373median home+8.9%5yr CAGR
33Meriden, CTNew Haven-Milford · pop 60,84973Rising$320,336median home+8.8%5yr CAGR
34Beloit, WIJanesville-Beloit · pop 36,63377Rising$202,571median home+8.8%5yr CAGR
35New Britain, CTHartford-East Hartford-Middletown · pop 75,87176Rising$301,852median home+8.8%5yr CAGR
36Brentwood, TNNashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin · pop 45,52569Rising$1,398,755median home+8.8%5yr CAGR
37North Chicago, ILChicago-Naperville-Elgin · pop 30,63977Rising$214,837median home+8.8%5yr CAGR
38Bristol, CTHartford-East Hartford-Middletown · pop 62,19578Hot$341,547median home+8.7%5yr CAGR
39Great Falls, MTGreat Falls · pop 60,01374Rising$337,690median home+8.7%5yr CAGR
40Milton, GAAtlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta · pop 41,49069Rising$951,308median home+8.6%5yr CAGR
41Millville, NJVineland-Bridgeton · pop 27,83870Rising$257,127median home+8.6%5yr CAGR
42Naugatuck, CTNew Haven-Milford · pop 32,11676Rising$349,719median home+8.6%5yr CAGR
43San Juan Capistrano, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 35,46972Rising$1,350,021median home+8.6%5yr CAGR
44Hopkinsville, KYClarksville · pop 30,80070Rising$194,263median home+8.6%5yr CAGR
45West Haven, CTNew Haven-Milford · pop 55,37976Rising$361,523median home+8.6%5yr CAGR
46Maryville, TNKnoxville · pop 32,37371Rising$393,952median home+8.5%5yr CAGR
47Fond du Lac, WIFond du Lac · pop 44,46975Rising$260,006median home+8.5%5yr CAGR
48Tustin, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 78,86365Rising$1,192,201median home+8.5%5yr CAGR
49Syracuse, NYSyracuse · pop 146,09774Rising$215,134median home+8.4%5yr CAGR
50Charleston, SCCharleston-North Charleston · pop 157,66571Rising$593,739median home+8.4%5yr CAGR

Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.