Washington, D.C., has emerged as the most sought-after major city in the United States for property ownership, while Kansas City in Missouri stands out with the cheapest real estate.
This is according to a new study from Badeloft USA that analyzed 40 major cities with the most-active real estate markets. The capital leads in buyer interest, reflecting a national trend of high demand in urban centers balancing lifestyle quality, economic potential, and long-term value.
The study ranked cities based on a range of criteria—including average home price, size, availability, and online interest measured through Google search volume. The final scores were determined by the ratio of monthly real estate-related searches to available homes, offering a measure of where buyers are most eager, despite local inventory levels.
With an average of 461.3 real estate searches per available home, Washington, D.C., dominated the ranking. Despite having only 3,300 homes currently on the market, monthly search activity reaches 1.5 million. The average home price in the city stands at $589,100, according to more details on the study’s findings that were shared with Newsweek.
San Diego, California, ranks second with 216.7 searches per home. The average property in San Diego costs around $1 million and spans 1,467 square feet—larger than the average home in Washington. While inventory remains constrained, San Diego still sees consistent buyer interest.
“Cities like Washington, D.C., and San Diego have tight inventory, but buyers are still searching heavily, which tells me demand is holding strong despite affordability challenges,” Brett Cobb, founder of Premier OKC Home Buyers, told Newsweek. “This list shows that people still want to buy in places with strong job markets, lifestyle perks, and long-term value.”
California dominates the ranking, with half of the top 10 most-desired major cities for real estate being in the state, including Fresno.
Ranking third, Fresno exemplifies a different kind of market competitiveness. With only 1,143 homes for sale—the fewest among the top cities—Fresno logs 197.7 searches per house. Its appeal is rooted in affordability and space; the average home costs $382,300 and is larger than homes in many other major California markets, the study said.
“Consumers are becoming knowledgeable,” said Doug Van Soest, a real estate professional who is the owner of SoCal Home Buyers. “They are balancing price with living standard, development prospects, and market capacity of the region. This is why a combination of big cities and up-and-coming urban areas is gaining popularity.”
Los Angeles took fourth place with 126 searches per home, driven by over 1.1 million monthly searches. The city boasts one of the priciest real estate markets on the list, with an average home price of $948,300 and over 9,000 properties listed, according to the study.
Sacramento, also in California, ranked fifth. The city sees 114.3 searches per home and offers a more-affordable market compared to Los Angeles, with an average home cost of $478,500. Sacramento’s housing stock is smaller, with only 1,631 properties listed, adding to the competitiveness, the study found.
In sixth place, Kansas City, Missouri, stands out for its affordability. The city offers the cheapest average home price among the top 10 at $232,800 and the second-largest average home size at 2,008 square feet. With 186,000 monthly searches and a high searches-per-house ratio of 109.7, Kansas City combines value with steady demand.
“This is not simply a study of the most popular cities,” Van Soest said. “It is the direction where buyers think the future lies. And it is well-researched decisions with solid fundamentals that make all the difference between sound investments and perilous ones in the current real estate market.”
Albuquerque in New Mexico comes next at seventh, with 107.4 searches per home and the most-spacious houses on the list—averaging 2,078 square feet. The city currently has 1,426 homes for sale.
Louisville in Kentucky ranks eighth, with 96.2 searches per available home and houses averaging $240,500—making it the second-most-affordable city in the top 10. Louisville has 1,720 properties on the market, offering value-conscious buyers plenty of options.
Boston in Massachusetts secured ninth place, with 89.7 searches per house. Homes there are smaller, at 1,251 square feet on average, but remain pricey at $745,800. Despite its cost, demand stays strong, the study noted.
San Jose in California rounds out the top 10 with 79.3 searches per home. It has just 1,228 homes on the market—the second-fewest among the top cities—and the highest average home price in the study at $1.4 million.
Jacob Naig, a Des Moines-based real estate agent and investor, said the variety in the rankings reveals a shift in how buyers assess value. “You used to expect New York or Miami to reign, solely on the strength of brand,” Naig told Newsweek. “Now, buyers are increasingly focusing on that ‘what are we getting for our money in terms of actually being able to live there?’ aspect.”
The latest ranking shows “where people want to live, not just where they believe they can still get ahead,” Naig added. “That dichotomy underscores a market where affordability, lifestyle and supply constraints are intersecting in unusual new ways.”
10 Most Desirable Major U.S. Cities for Home Ownership
1. Washington, D.C.
2. San Diego, California
3. Fresno, California
4. Los Angeles, California
5. Sacramento, California
6. Kansas City, Missouri
7. Albuquerque, New Mexico
8. Louisville, Kentucky
9. Boston, Massachusetts
10. San Jose, California
Source: Based on a ranking of 40 major U.S. cities by Badeloft USA, according to a range of criteria, including average home price, size, availability, and online interest measured through Google search volume.
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