Only One Bay Area City Ranked in the Top 10 Most Popular Markets for Home Shoppers
It’s also home to one of the country’s most renowned research institutions.
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Potential buyers, sellers, and their agents are currently navigating a market with low inventory and sky rocketing prices, but that hasn’t stopped anyone from browsing Zillow. In a December 2025 announcement, the company revealed that only one Western city was ranked among the top 10 most popular cities searched on their website: Berkeley, California.
Located on the east side of San Francisco Bay, Berkeley is perhaps best known as the home of the University of California, Berkeley. The renowned public university is situated on a 178-acre campus with historic architecture, redwood trees and creeks, and local shops and farm-to-table dining nearby. As of July 1, 2024, the U.S. Census estimates about 121,000 people live in Berkeley, and the median household income from 2019-2023 was $108,558 per year.
And the city generating the most interest? Rockford, Illinois, one of six Midwestern markets that made the list. The majority of the top-ranking spots offered “prices under $350,000, growing job access, and communities that provide more breathing room and less financial strain,” according to Zillow. These destinations weren’t just attracting interest, but generating sales, too. Zillow noted that many homes in the top markets switched their statuses to “sale pending” in days versus weeks. Here’s the complete list:
- Rockford, Illinois
- Berkeley, California
- Albany, New York
- Dearborn, Michigan
- Toledo, Ohio
- Carmel, Indiana
- South Bend, Indiana
- Abilene, Texas
- Springfield, Illinois
- Allentown, Pennsylvania
“Over the past few years, stretched affordability has defined the housing market, and this year’s list shows just how strongly it’s shaping where Americans choose to shop,” said Zillow Senior Economist Orphe Divounguy shared in the press release. “These cities offer the mix buyers are looking for: attainable home prices, expanding job hubs, and lively neighborhoods with parks, shops and community spaces.”
The 2024 Zillow findings showed people heavily favoring the East Coast, with cities in Connecticut claiming the third, fifth, eighth, and ninth positions. Sunnyvale, California was the only Western city in the mix, taking the 10th slot.
