5 Arizona cities rank among 50 best real estate markets

Arizona’s housing market continues to make a strong showing on the national stage, with five Valley cities ranking among the 50 best real estate markets in the country, according to a new WalletHub analysis.

Gilbert leads the Arizona contingent at No. 13 nationally, followed by Surprise at No. 27, Peoria at No. 42, Tempe at No. 46 and Chandler at No. 50.

---

DEEPER DIVE: The 10 richest billionaires in Arizona in 2026

MORE NEWS: Cullum Homes hosts VIP party for Most Influential Women in Arizona

---

WalletHub compared 300 U.S. cities across 17 indicators measuring housing-market attractiveness and economic strength. The analysis considered factors ranging from median home-price appreciation and housing affordability to job growth.

For Arizona, Gilbert delivered the standout performance. The East Valley community earned an overall score of 63.41, ranking No. 33 for its real estate market and an impressive No. 7 for affordability and economic environment.

Surprise also benefited from strong economic fundamentals. The rapidly growing West Valley city ranked No. 27 overall and No. 10 nationally for affordability and economic environment.

Peoria came in at No. 42 overall, with a No. 21 ranking for affordability and economic environment. Tempe followed at No. 46, while Chandler rounded out Arizona’s top-50 performers at No. 50.

The results give Metro Phoenix an unusually strong presence near the top of the national rankings, particularly as buyers and investors navigate elevated home prices, mortgage rates and affordability challenges.

“Current home prices are extremely important, but there’s much more that you need to look at when determining the health of a city’s real estate market,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. He pointed to cost of living, potential home-value appreciation, availability of recently built homes and the strength of local job markets as other important considerations.

Arizona also placed several additional cities in WalletHub’s 300-city ranking, including Scottsdale at No. 108, Yuma at No. 109, Phoenix at No. 115 and Mesa at No. 136.

But with five communities cracking the national top 50, Metro Phoenix remains well represented among the country’s most attractive real estate markets.

Best real estate markets in the U.S.

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Real-Estate Market Rank	Affordability & Economic Environment Rank
1	Frisco, TX	70.72	2	1
2	McKinney, TX	69.83	5	3
3	Murfreesboro, TN	68.97	3	13
4	Durham, NC	68.34	1	39
5	Denton, TX	68.08	6	22
6	Cary, NC	67.6	7	17
7	Madison, WI	66.97	4	86
8	Allen, TX	65.3	14	11
9	Charlotte, NC	64.62	9	60
10	Irvine, CA	64.28	8	85
11	Charleston, SC	63.49	21	25
12	Roseville, CA	63.46	25	18
13	Gilbert, AZ	63.41	33	7
14	Salt Lake City, UT	63.4	15	58
15	Knoxville, TN	63.33	17	50
16	Richardson, TX	63.23	13	84
17	Stamford, CT	63.15	10	152
18	Jersey City, NJ	62.93	18	56
19	Raleigh, NC	62.75	20	55
20	Henderson, NV	62.45	39	12
21	Carrollton, TX	62.32	22	66
22	Fort Worth, TX	62.25	36	24
23	Boise, ID	62	23	77
24	Grand Rapids, MI	61.96	19	132
25	Nashville, TN	61.94	24	79
26	North Charleston, SC	61.68	32	47
27	Surprise, AZ	61.35	61	10
28	Lincoln, NE	61.2	41	41
29	Santa Clara, CA	61.03	11	250
30	Wilmington, NC	60.93	27	131
31	Seattle, WA	60.88	26	153
32	Austin, TX	60.84	42	59
33	Clovis, CA	60.83	72	6
34	Ontario, CA	60.81	37	78
35	Longmont, CO	60.66	12	261
36	Green Bay, WI	60.46	50	52
37	Fort Collins, CO	60.32	16	260
38	Miami, FL	60.28	30	167
39	Elk Grove, CA	60.27	55	48
40	Irving, TX	60.23	51	68
41	Bellevue, WA	60.15	29	178
42	Peoria, AZ	60.14	69	21
43	Salem, OR	60.06	46	87
44	Manchester, NH	60.05	31	180
45	Richmond, VA	59.97	35	180
46	Tempe, AZ	59.97	43	128
47	Athens-Clarke, GA	59.8	38	165
48	Columbus, OH	59.77	44	139
49	Naperville, IL	59.76	79	19
50	Chandler, AZ	59.6	73	29
51	Overland Park, KS	59.56	67	42
52	Reno, NV	59.54	57	75
53	Port St. Lucie, FL	59.38	121	2
54	Everett, WA	59.38	28	222
55	Hillsboro, OR	59.33	53	138
56	Colorado Springs, CO	59.24	60	96
57	Gainesville, FL	59.18	45	179
58	Murrieta, CA	59.1	64	73
59	Ann Arbor, MI	59.07	58	117
60	Atlanta, GA	58.8	66	107
61	Plano, TX	58.78	76	51
62	Quincy, MA	58.74	47	194
63	Fort Wayne, IN	58.71	87	40
64	Buffalo, NY	58.59	59	147
65	Hialeah, FL	58.53	49	200
66	Sunnyvale, CA	58.25	34	268
67	Huntsville, AL	58.19	124	9
68	Eugene, OR	58.15	56	193
69	Chesapeake, VA	58.13	98	31
70	San Diego, CA	58.06	52	219
71	Dallas, TX	57.97	68	154
72	Santa Maria, CA	57.97	40	257
73	Orlando, FL	57.88	111	28
74	Spokane Valley, WA	57.83	78	137
75	Chula Vista, CA	57.75	62	196
76	Vista, CA	57.72	48	245
77	Sterling Heights, MI	57.68	84	110
78	Rochester, NY	57.39	70	184
79	Renton, WA	57.38	63	211
80	Omaha, NE	57.3	93	90
81	Virginia Beach, VA	57.27	104	57
82	North Las Vegas, NV	57.23	134	15
83	Norman, OK	57.22	123	23
84	Spokane, WA	57.1	80	175
85	Carlsbad, CA	57.09	65	225
86	Tacoma, WA	57.02	89	135
87	Vancouver, WA	57.01	77	186
88	Tampa, FL	56.98	99	104
89	San Jose, CA	56.8	54	269
90	Houston, TX	56.75	102	111
91	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	56.5	108	93
92	Thornton, CO	56.44	103	143
93	Allentown, PA	56.38	92	169
94	Worcester, MA	56.36	100	141
95	Albany, NY	56.32	112	124
96	Miami Gardens, FL	56.27	100	157
97	Providence, RI	56.27	81	213
98	Kenosha, WI	56.23	105	144
99	Arvada, CO	56.18	94	177
100	Escondido, CA	56.14	74	242
101	Kent, WA	56.1	83	215
102	Lowell, MA	56.07	71	254
103	Garland, TX	56.06	127	72
104	Roswell, GA	56.01	122	88
105	Visalia, CA	55.9	147	20
106	Elizabeth, NJ	55.78	75	256
107	Broken Arrow, OK	55.73	188	5
108	Scottsdale, AZ	55.64	115	148
109	Yuma, AZ	55.62	133	70
110	Oklahoma City, OK	55.6	165	16
111	Arlington, TX	55.59	129	113
112	Garden Grove, CA	55.42	86	244
113	Rockford, IL	55.36	116	162
114	Oceanside, CA	55.36	85	251
115	Phoenix, AZ	55.35	136	95
116	St. Petersburg, FL	55.29	140	102
117	Boston, MA	55.2	82	264
118	El Paso, TX	55.17	160	30
119	Winston-Salem, NC	55.1	132	142
120	Denver, CO	55.05	108	207
121	Beaverton, OR	55.02	114	202
122	Alexandria, VA	54.96	118	185
123	Fontana, CA	54.95	146	54
124	Mission Viejo, CA	54.83	117	197
125	Anaheim, CA	54.73	97	253
126	Grand Prairie, TX	54.73	161	43
127	Fullerton, CA	54.66	110	231
128	Fremont, CA	54.54	96	258
129	Yakima, WA	54.48	119	210
130	Las Vegas, NV	54.47	166	46
131	Palm Bay, FL	54.46	209	4
132	Sandy Springs, GA	54.37	125	205
133	Westminster, CA	54.31	88	280
134	Orange, CA	54.28	126	206
135	Wichita, KS	54.2	159	83
136	Mesa, AZ	54.12	155	92
137	Lynn, MA	54.12	95	273
138	Temecula, CA	54.01	169	62
139	West Covina, CA	53.95	128	218
140	Lexington, KY	53.93	151	122
141	Davie, FL	53.9	180	63
142	Springfield, MO	53.88	158	119
143	Costa Mesa, CA	53.8	107	267
144	Dearborn, MI	53.68	177	67
145	Bakersfield, CA	53.55	178	74
146	Santa Ana, CA	53.48	135	230
147	Kansas City, MO	53.47	172	109
148	New Haven, CT	53.45	137	224
149	Huntington Beach, CA	53.33	131	249
150	Sacramento, CA	53.28	154	163
151	Lansing, MI	53.24	176	100
152	Santa Barbara, CA	53.22	91	294
153	Westminster, CO	53.09	152	182
154	El Monte, CA	53.06	90	295
155	Greensboro, NC	53.04	175	134
156	Salinas, CA	53.03	113	286
157	Aurora, IL	52.99	168	160
158	Waukegan, IL	52.94	145	221
159	Cambridge, MA	52.92	138	246
160	Riverside, CA	52.77	185	115
161	Amarillo, TX	52.73	216	26
162	Oxnard, CA	52.66	144	239
163	Fresno, CA	52.66	193	89
164	Akron, OH	52.6	170	189
165	Savannah, GA	52.45	183	149
166	San Mateo, CA	52.43	106	292
167	Centennial, CO	52.36	194	145
168	Pembroke Pines, FL	52.29	211	76
169	Ventura, CA	52.28	150	227
170	New Bedford, MA	52.13	143	266
171	Modesto, CA	52.13	184	173
172	Santa Monica, CA	52.12	120	288
173	Tallahassee, FL	52.08	202	120
174	Minneapolis, MN	52.02	189	166
175	Lakeland, FL	51.99	218	33
176	Glendale, AZ	51.99	201	126
177	Fall River, MA	51.93	139	278
178	Albuquerque, NM	51.9	214	65
179	Thousand Oaks, CA	51.73	173	212
180	Norfolk, VA	51.72	191	183
181	Warren, MI	51.71	195	174
182	Torrance, CA	51.68	148	265
183	Simi Valley, CA	51.68	186	190
184	Greeley, CO	51.64	182	199
185	Livonia, MI	51.63	227	32
186	Portland, OR	51.54	171	236
187	Milwaukee, WI	51.53	167	243
188	Elgin, IL	51.48	203	156
189	Erie, PA	51.48	200	150
190	Pomona, CA	51.47	157	259
191	Yonkers, NY	51.37	197	176
192	Federal Way, WA	51.34	179	233
193	Vacaville, CA	51.33	219	69
194	Rialto, CA	51.27	215	103
195	Mesquite, TX	51.2	220	97
196	Anchorage, AK	51.14	226	61
197	Corona, CA	51.06	217	116
198	Tulsa, OK	51	229	49
199	Burbank, CA	50.86	141	293
200	Glendale, CA	50.79	130	298
200	Miramar, FL	50.79	228	94
202	Pasadena, CA	50.64	162	281
203	Boca Raton, FL	50.52	224	129
204	Newark, NJ	50.45	163	285
205	Paterson, NJ	50.4	174	275
206	Bridgeport, CT	50.33	192	255
207	High Point, NC	50.27	232	80
208	Jacksonville, FL	50.26	238	53
209	El Cajon, CA	50.18	149	291
210	Plantation, FL	50.18	246	38
211	Carson, CA	50.16	210	209
212	Santa Rosa, CA	50.16	196	247
212	Norwalk, CA	50.16	204	234
214	Fort Smith, AR	50.07	241	45
215	Pittsburgh, PA	50.04	231	125
216	Moreno Valley, CA	49.96	235	91
217	Cincinnati, OH	49.95	223	188
218	Waterbury, CT	49.95	205	237
219	Augusta, GA	49.94	225	161
220	Daly City, CA	49.93	156	289
221	Hayward, CA	49.93	181	279
222	Fayetteville, NC	49.92	236	81
222	Cedar Rapids, IA	49.92	237	71
224	Fairfield, CA	49.9	234	101
225	Lakewood, CO	49.9	212	232
226	Gresham, OR	49.78	207	241
227	Long Beach, CA	49.76	187	277
228	Berkeley, CA	49.74	153	296
229	San Bernardino, CA	49.74	230	140
230	Boulder, CO	49.69	142	300
231	New York, NY	49.68	199	263
232	Concord, CA	49.57	190	282
233	Laredo, TX	49.38	260	14
234	Hartford, CT	49.16	206	270
235	Brockton, MA	49.02	221	235
236	Newport News, VA	49.02	244	118
237	Los Angeles, CA	49	164	297
238	South Gate, CA	49	198	283
239	Downey, CA	48.86	208	272
240	Tucson, AZ	48.79	242	158
241	West Palm Beach, FL	48.75	257	34
242	Hampton, VA	48.54	249	106
243	Honolulu, HI	48.46	213	276
244	Sunrise, FL	48.41	261	82
245	Des Moines, IA	48.39	247	133
246	St. Paul, MN	48.03	248	172
247	Memphis, TN	47.93	240	229
248	San Antonio, TX	47.85	268	37
249	Birmingham, AL	47.81	242	216
250	Springfield, IL	47.52	263	127
251	Aurora, CO	47.49	251	155
252	Chicago, IL	47.48	254	151
253	Fort Lauderdale, FL	47.44	265	123
254	Roanoke, VA	47.34	258	146
255	Clearwater, FL	47.2	255	171
256	Santa Clarita, CA	47.17	266	136
257	Dayton, OH	47.13	256	192
258	Indianapolis, IN	46.88	269	105
259	Vallejo, CA	46.86	252	191
260	Compton, CA	46.85	233	284
261	Little Rock, AR	46.82	276	35
262	Coral Springs, FL	46.79	274	99
263	Joliet, IL	46.54	272	98
264	Chico, CA	46.4	267	164
265	Louisville, KY	46.34	273	114
266	Toledo, OH	46.21	262	208
267	Inglewood, CA	46.1	222	299
268	Richmond, CA	46.09	245	274
269	Flint, MI	45.85	253	240
270	Springfield, MA	45.78	264	223
271	Pompano Beach, FL	45.74	275	121
272	Corpus Christi, TX	45.59	282	27
273	San Francisco, CA	45.52	239	290
274	Detroit, MI	45.51	250	271
275	Stockton, CA	45.47	270	201
276	Columbus, GA	45.43	278	108
277	Victorville, CA	45.35	281	44
278	Cape Coral, FL	45.11	288	8
279	Portsmouth, VA	45	277	159
280	Cleveland, OH	44.39	279	187
281	Washington, DC	44.31	271	248
282	Oakland, CA	44.25	259	287
283	Tuscaloosa, AL	43.72	287	36
284	Davenport, IA	43.64	286	64
285	Hollywood, FL	43.13	283	170
286	Antioch, CA	42.89	280	262
287	Pueblo, CO	42.76	284	203
288	Peoria, IL	42.42	285	168
289	Montgomery, AL	41.46	291	130
290	Mobile, AL	41.26	292	112
291	Lancaster, CA	40.94	289	214
292	Palmdale, CA	40.59	290	217
293	Philadelphia, PA	39.55	294	198
294	Miami Beach, FL	39.33	293	228
295	St. Louis, MO	38.48	295	238
296	Jackson, MS	36.65	296	220
297	Baton Rouge, LA	35.62	297	195
298	Shreveport, LA	32.95	298	204
299	Baltimore, MD	32.04	299	252
300	New Orleans, LA	30.04	300	226