Hottest cities in California by momentum

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The California cities with the strongest composite momentum scores.

California cities ranked by our composite momentum score — recent price changes, distance from peak, and population growth.

Use this list as a within-state shortlist; for full data, open any city profile.

1Montecito, CASanta Maria-Santa Barbara · pop 8,63887Hot$5,630,816median home+9.2%home YoY
2Imperial, CAEl Centro · pop 22,10284Hot$440,992median home+7.4%home YoY
3Heber, CAEl Centro · pop 6,89680Hot$395,365median home+6.9%home YoY
4Newport Beach, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 82,97078Hot$3,709,420median home+9.0%home YoY
5North Tustin, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 25,71877Rising$1,777,295median home+2.2%home YoY
6Brawley, CAEl Centro · pop 28,18876Rising$361,066median home+5.3%home YoY
7Coto de Caza, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 14,71076Rising$2,018,936median home+0.5%home YoY
8El Centro, CAEl Centro · pop 44,23075Rising$388,578median home+8.2%home YoY
9Calexico, CAEl Centro · pop 38,74475Rising$392,514median home+7.0%home YoY
10Fowler, CAFresno · pop 7,47075Rising$472,803median home+3.0%home YoY
11Ladera Heights, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 6,65475Rising$1,749,038median home+3.4%home YoY
12Mecca, CARiverside-San Bernardino-Ontario · pop 8,21975Rising$336,680median home+1.6%home YoY
13Carpinteria, CASanta Maria-Santa Barbara · pop 12,87674Rising$1,522,458median home+6.8%home YoY
14Orange Cove, CAFresno · pop 9,70874Rising$299,761median home+4.9%home YoY
15Firebaugh, CAFresno · pop 8,42474Rising$338,468median home+3.5%home YoY
16Nipomo, CASan Luis Obispo-Paso Robles · pop 18,17674Rising$942,651median home+3.3%home YoY
17Laguna Niguel, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 64,18573Rising$1,500,721median home+3.0%home YoY
18Kingsburg, CAVisalia · pop 13,12873Rising$478,550median home+3.7%home YoY
19Woodlake, CAVisalia · pop 7,77473Rising$334,238median home+2.4%home YoY
20Bonita, CASan Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad · pop 12,91773Rising$1,136,110median home+1.6%home YoY
21Earlimart, CAVisalia · pop 7,67973Rising$269,619median home+1.4%home YoY
22Fountain Valley, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 56,03672Rising$1,387,373median home+3.0%home YoY
23Coachella, CARiverside-San Bernardino-Ontario · pop 45,16572Rising$432,187median home+0.3%home YoY
24San Juan Capistrano, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 35,46972Rising$1,350,021median home+1.6%home YoY
25Dana Point, CALos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · pop 32,58572Rising$1,738,852median home+3.8%home YoY

Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census place population.