Americans are passing on overpriced metro areas in favor of the humble Springfield.
For the second consecutive month, Springfield, Massachusetts, has topped Realtor.com’s list of the nation’s hottest housing markets. But its Illinois namesake is turning heads with a 26.6% annual price surge, climbing to the 13th spot, according to Realtor.com data.
While major metros like Boston and Chicago grow increasingly unaffordable, smaller cities with deep American roots—”Land of Lincoln” and the “Birthplace of Basketball”—are seeing renewed buyer interest.
“The two cities represent distinct market narratives: One is a Boston-adjacent suburb benefiting from spillover demand and a well-documented affordability premium, while the other is a Midwestern market where accelerating price growth points to a sharp increase in buyer interest,” Realtor.com senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones said.
Situated 90 miles southwest of Boston, Massachusetts, Springfield claims the top spot with a median listing price of $365,000—about half Boston’s $832,500 median. Homes typically sell in just 23 days. The city is known as the hometown of Dr. Seuss and where Dr. James Naismith invented basketball.
Springfield, Illinois, is climbing the rankings with its 26.6% annual price gain and median listing price around $250,000—the lowest in the Top 20. One 1,500-square-foot home attracted 96 showings and 28 offers in four days, selling for $60,000 above asking.
The city is home to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and where Lincoln practiced law for 25 years before heading to the White House.
Northeast cities dominate the hottest market rankings, claiming 16 of the top 20 spots. Historic hubs have become focal points of a housing shift as families prioritize affordability over city location.