Four Massachusetts communities made Realtor.com’s 2023 list of 50 hottest ZIP codes, and for the first time in five years, Boston, New York, Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis suburbs were represented.
Andover, Attleboro, Westfield and Shrewsbury all made the list.
Realtor.com said this year’s top 10 ZIP codes are located in the Midwest and Northeast, and buyers are heading there to find homes priced at or below the national median or are larger than the average U.S. home. The company also found homes listed in the communities on the list were viewed 3.5 times more than the rest of the country and sold a month faster than average this year.
Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale said as companies start calling employees back to the office, there’s been a surge in home shoppers seeking a desirable combination of cost and convenience within commuting distance of a major metropolitan area.
“In addition to affordable markets, this year’s list also features some higher priced areas close to large urban cores, which will likely appeal to buyers who are concerned with finding the right mix of size and amenities within reach of a nearby city center,” Hale said.
Andover was the No. 4 hottest market following the top three communities of Gahanna, Ohio, Southington, Connecticut, and Ridgewood, New Jersey, respectively.
More space, closer commutes and houses with more space for larger families are what’s driving homeowners to these communities.
Andover broke the top five for being a community that’s not only more spacious but also has a closer commute. Andover residents can commute into Boston in under an hour, and the town boasts larger homes at prices 25% lower per square foot than Boston listings, according to the report, plus the typical household size in Andover is also larger, which has home shoppers looking for more space here.
The median sale price of a home in Andover is $1,117,000, and homes there stay on the market an average of 19 days.
Those looking to live in Andover or any communities in the top 10 need to be prepared, because homes in these locations are highly competitive.
“Shoppers in this year’s hottest ZIP codes should cope by being prepared — pre-approved and zeroed in on their budget and down payment — and really focused on must haves versus nice-to-haves so they can be ready to act quickly when they see the right home hit the market,” said Hannah Jones, Realtor.com economic research analyst.
Three other Massachusetts communities made the top 25.
Attleboro ranked 20th where houses stay on the market an average of 25 days and the median listing price is $449,000.
Westfield followed at No. 21 with a median listing price of $392,000 and homes on the market an average 28 days.
And Shrewsbury took the No. 22 spot. Homes there have a median listing price of $727,000 and stay on the market an average 25 days.