5 Arizona cities rank among 50 best real estate markets Article originally posted on AZ Big Media on September 1, 2026 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. 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