PR Newswire·Aug 10, 2026, 6:00 AM ET

Realtor.com®'s 2026 Hottest ZIP Codes in America: Peabody, Mass. Claims the Top Spot as Buyers Chase Space, Character Near Major Metros

Peabody, Mass. (01960) ranked as the number 1 hottest ZIP code in 2026, marking its third appearance on the list since 2018.
The top 10 hottest ZIP codes are located exclusively in the Northeast and Midwest regions, with no entries from the South or West for the fourth consecutive year.
Listings in the top 10 ZIPs received between 3.0x and 5.3x more views than the national average and sold 30 to 42 days faster than the national norm.
Homes in the top 10 ZIPs sold at an average ratio of 103.8% of asking price, with nine out of ten locations seeing sales at or above list price.
The median home size in the top 10 ZIPs was 2,000 square feet, significantly larger than the 1,600 square foot metro median and 1,800 square foot national median.
Buyers in these top markets demonstrated stronger financial profiles than the national average, with a 17.1% average down payment and a 766 median credit score.
Inventory in the top 10 ZIPs was 60.5% below pre-pandemic levels, compared to a 11.3% national shortfall, fueling intense competition.
Most top ZIPs are located 10 to 20 miles from major city centers, offering a balance of space and manageable commutes with older housing stock averaging a 1970 build year.
Demand in larger metro ZIPs like Peabody and Montclair was primarily local, while smaller metro ZIPs drew significant interest from neighboring major cities.
The methodology for the 2026 rankings combined unique property views and days on market data collected from January to June 2026.