Top 25 Locations to Invest in Real Estate for Potential Appreciation

Many money experts think buying a house or investing in real estate is a good idea because it’s like investing in your future. As you pay off your mortgage, you’ll own more of your home, which can be worth more over time. However, not everywhere is the same; some areas have better real estate values than others. 

To figure out which places in the U.S. are the best for making your house worth more, GOBankingRates looked at data from Zillow for 2019, 2023, and 2024.

GOBankingRates Statistics 

GOBankingRates gathered data to see how home values changed in different cities over one and five years. In 2019, the typical home in the U.S. was worth around $228,565. By 2023, it had gone up to $333,206, and in January 2024, it reached $343,951. That’s a significant increase of 50% over five years and a smaller increase of 3% in just one year.

Source:NewMarkHomes.com/Pinterest

So, if you’re thinking about investing in real estate or buying a home, here are 25 cities where the value is expected to go up.

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Home Value

• January 2019: $108,092
• January 2023: $188,703
• January 2024: $218,761

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 102%
• In 1 Year: 16%

Source: Zillow/Pinterest

Waterbury, Connecticut

Home Value

• January 2019: $124,467
• January 2023: $217,365
• January 2024: $249,073

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 100%
• In 1 Year: 15%

Lewiston, Maine

Home Value

• January 2019: $143,963
• January 2023: $242,023
• January 2024: $274,687

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 91%
• In 1 Year: 14%

Source: MindfulHome/Pinterest

Mercedes, Texas

Home Value

• January 2019: $64,507
• January 2023: $109,088
• January 2024: $123,572

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 92%
• In 1 Year: 13%

Torrington, Connecticut

Home Value

• January 2019: $141,705
• January 2023: $224,068
• January 2024: $255,834

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 81%
• In 1 Year: 14%

Source: JameShipleyRose

Irvington, New Jersey

Home Value

• January 2019: $178,726
• January 2023: $326,852
• January 2024: $359,441

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 101%
• In 1 Year: 10%

Elizabeth, New Jersey

Home Value

• January 2019: $284,994
• January 2023: $434,543
• January 2024: $498,548

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 75%
• In 1 Year: 15%

Source: LennarCharlotte/Pinterest

Knoxville, Tennessee

Home Value

• January 2019: $182,043
• January 2023: $304,065
• January 2024: $341,351

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 88%
• In 1 Year: 12%

Camden, New Jersey

Home Value

• January 2019: $62,559
• January 2023: $103,036
• January 2024: $115,800

Percentage Change 

• In 5 Years: 85%
• In 1 Year: 12%

Source: Ventana/Pinterest

Trenton, New Jersey

Home Value

• January 2019: $166,747
• January 2023: $273,347
• January 2024: $307,421

Percentage Change 

• In 5 Years: 84%
• In 1 Year: 12%

Oakridge, Tennessee

Home Value

• January 2019: $148,905
• January 2023: $257,614
• January 2024: $285,447

Percentage Change 

• In 5 Years: 92%
• In 1 Year: 11%

Source: Frank/Pinterest

East Orange, New Jersey

Home Value

• January 2019: $223,560
• January 2023: $384,067
• January 2024: $425,011

Percentage Change 

• In 5 Years: 90%
• In 1 Year: 11%

Golden Glades, Florida

Home Value

• January 2019: $264,418
• January 2023: $441,474
• January 2024: $490,839

Percentage Change 

• In 5 Years: 86%
• In 1 Year: 11%

Source: AyaseGaulden/Pinterest

Willingboro Township, New Jersey

Home Value

• January 2019: $158,060
• January 2023: $276,797
• January 2024: $303,989

Percentage Change 

• In 5 Years: 92%
• In 1 Year: 10%

West Little River, Florida

Home Value

• January 2019: $218,465
• January 2023: $359,801
• January 2024: $401,228

Percentage Change 

• In 5 Years: 84%
• In 1 Year: 12%

Source: CreativeMarket/Pinterest

Lakewood, New Jersey

Home Value

• January 2019: $402,932
• January 2023: $624,975
• January 2024: $706,816

Percentage Change 

• In 5 Years: 75%
• In 1 Year: 13%

Donna, Texas

Home Value

• January 2019: $71,440
• January 2023: $118,083
• January 2024: $131,471

Percentage Change 

• In 5 Years: 84%
• In 1 Year: 11%

Source: Flickr/Pinterest

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Home Value

• January 2019: $73,804
• January 2023: $125,195
• January 2024: $137,986

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 87%
• In 1 Year: 10%

Forest Park, Georgia

Home Value

• January 2019: $82,985
• January 2023: $169,505
• January 2024: $177,414

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 114%
• In 1 Year: 5%

Source: RobShepps/Pinterest

Clinton, Tennessee

Home Value

• January 2019: $158,185
• January 2023: $258,807
• January 2024: $287,509

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 82%
• In 1 Year: 11%

Miami Gardens, Florida

Home Value

• January 2019: $248,275
• January 2023: $405,043
• January 2024: $449,676

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 81%
• In 1 Year: 11%

Source: AlisonPogorelc/Pinterest

North Miami, Florida

Home Value

• January 2019: $257,269
• January 2023: $428,425
• January 2024: $473,109

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 84%
• In 1 Year: 10%

Linden, New Jersey

Home Value

• January 2019: $290,185
• January 2023: $442,133
• January 2024: $497,627

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 71%
• In 1 Year: 13%

Source: TimBradley/Pinterest

Lehigh Acres, Florida

Home Value

• January 2019: $164,688
• January 2023: $287,611
• January 2024: $312,991

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 90%
• In 1 Year: 9%

Elizabethton, Tennessee

Home Value

• January 2019: $117,162
• January 2023: $181,674
• January 2024: $203,565

Percentage Change

• In 5 Years: 74%
• In 1 Year: 12%

Source: Grist/Pinterest

In the real estate world, the cities where these houses are located are also important. For cities, the 2500 biggest housing markets, according to Zillow, were looked at. These homes have a one and five-year percent change in real estate or home value above the national average. Then, the areas were ranked based on how much their home values changed, with lower scores being better. The data used is from January 2024, and it’s all current up to February 19, 2024.