M
anchester, New Hampshire's housing market is on fire, with Realtor.com naming it the hottest in America for January 2025. According to senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones, a perfect storm of high demand and low inventory has created a frenetic pace that shows no signs of slowing down.
The city's proximity to Boston (just 55 miles away), excellent schools, and thriving economy have long made it a magnet for buyers. And with no sales or income taxes, the Granite State is an attractive destination for those looking to escape the taxman. In fact, Manchester has been a top performer for months, earning the No. 1 spot in October 2024 and being named Zillow's top housing market of 2024.
The numbers tell the story: homes in Manchester are selling at an incredible pace, with an average time on the market of just 46 days – a full 27 days faster than the national median. And prices? They're rising, too, with the median list price hitting $579,000 in January (up 4% from December).
New England cities dominate the top 10 hottest markets list, with five cities making the cut. Hartford, Connecticut takes second place, while Norwich and Worcester tie for fourth. Concord, New Hampshire comes in sixth, and Providence, Rhode Island rounds out the top 10 at ninth.
As Jones notes, the Midwest and Northeast have been driving the country's hottest markets since mid-2022, when mortgage rates started to rise. And with Boston making a surprise appearance at No. 15 on this month's list, it's clear that New England is where the action is.
