An unremarkable suburb in the Midwest has been named the hottest zip code in the country.
Gahanna, a leafy suburb of Columbus, Ohio, has been named Realtor.com’s most sought-after real estate hotspot for the second year in a row.
Gahanna, a small town of just 35,000 people in central Ohio, is attracting homebuyers who are making offers at a rapid pace.
The area offers affordable homes with a median list price of $345,000 and easy access to Columbus’s metropolitan amenities, where several billion-dollar companies such as Intel and Google are expanding.
The area also offers good schools for young families, numerous shops and restaurants in a bustling downtown area, and a friendly neighborhood community.
Gahanna, a leafy suburb of Columbus, Ohio, has a median list price of $345,000
The area offers many green spaces and access to nature
The Vettes, Rods & Classics Car Show in Gahanna is a fixture in the community’s social calendar
“The 43230 zip code in Gahanna, Ohio, in the ever-popular Columbus metropolitan area, is this year’s hottest address, taking the crown for the second year in a row,” said Hannah Jones, senior economic analyst at Realtor.com.
Gahanna offers a variety of home styles, including ranch, colonial, contemporary and split-level designs, offering something for every homebuyer’s taste.
“Gahanna is so attractive because of its high real estate values,” said local real estate agent Lory Kim.
“The market here has remained robust over the years, which is a testament to the area’s continued appeal,” she explained.
“Gahanna is still quite affordable, making it a smart choice for families and anyone looking to invest in a community with so much to offer.”
Gahanna also draws parallels with Palo Alto, California, as two technology giants have settled nearby, leading experts to wonder if a “new Silicon Valley” could develop here.
Google’s data center is just 10 miles away in New Albany, Ohio, and Intel is currently investing $28 billion in new microchip factories on nearly 1,000 acres in New Albany, about five miles away, according to Realtor.com.
2. Ballwin, Missouri
Ballwin, Missouri is just half an hour from the hustle and bustle of St. Louis
The area offers a range of properties, from sprawling country estates to more modest homes
Ballwin, an up-and-coming neighborhood just a half-hour from bustling St. Louis, ranked second on the list of hottest zip codes in the United States.
It is best known for its quality of life and low crime rate and is considered an attractive place to start a family.
The median list price of a home is $409,000, which is above the national average, but buyers can also find well-maintained homes for around $250,000, according to Realtor.com.
3. Salem, Massachusetts
The picturesque Salem is known as the site of the infamous witch trials in the 17th century.
Salem has a vibrant waterfront and downtown area and a strong sense of community
Salem, known for the infamous witch trials in the 17th century, is one of the oldest cities in the United States – and now also the third hottest zip code in the United States.
The city has combined its unique heritage with modern coastal living, offering events that celebrate both its storied past and its currently thriving arts scene.
Salem, with a median list price of $596,000, has a vibrant waterfront and downtown and a strong sense of community.
Other high-demand zip codes include Basking Ridge and Mount Laurel in New Jersey, which offer easy access to the New Jersey coast and are within commuting distance of Philadelphia and New York City.
Rochester, New York, the Chicago suburb of Highland and Macungie, Pennsylvania also made the top 10.
Realtor.com has ranked the most popular zip codes in the US for 2024
This year’s hottest zip codes include three standout metropolitan areas in the Midwest, while the Northeast leads the way with seven of them, including more upscale areas.
Massachusetts has the lion’s share of the most popular zip codes, with three. New Jersey claimed two zip codes, while New York and Pennsylvania each have one.
According to Realtor.com, the three Midwestern zip codes have been represented again since last year.
“This year’s 10 hottest zip codes underscore the trends we’ve seen in the real estate market over the past year,” Jones said.
“Buyers have focused on affordable areas in the Midwest and well-located metropolitan areas in the Northeast that offer a certain combination of value and desirability.”
She added that the southern and western regions were not represented in the list because buyer interest had shifted away from unaffordable areas or places where prices soared during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“There has been a significant increase in the number of properties for sale, particularly in the south, which has led to a thinning of buyer demand per property and thus a cooling and slowing of the market in the region,” she added.
