This IL City Is Zillow's Most Popular In The Midwest For 2024

ILLINOIS — Two of Zillow's 10 most popular markets for 2024 are in Illinois, according to the real estate website, with Rockford ranked No. 2 on the list and Peoria coming in at No. 7. Rockford was also named Zillow's most popular city in the Midwest for 2024.

Manchester, New Hampshire, took the top spot on the nationwide list, followed by Rockford, with Stamford, Connecticut, in third place. Peoria was ranked between Allentown, Pennsylvania, which was in sixth place, and New Haven, Connecticut, which was in eighth.

"The majority of this year’s most popular cities were exurbs — smaller towns situated beyond the suburbs yet within commuting distance of a major metropolitan area," according to Zillow. "The increase in hybrid work models is likely contributing, leading more people to discover hidden gem cities that they may have previously overlooked when daily commutes were standard. These communities strike a balance of affordable living and lifestyle amenities."

To determine the hottest markets for shoppers, Zillow looked at metrics such as pageview traffic, value growth and how fast homes sell.

Normal, home to Illinois State University, was named Zillow's most popular college town.