Home prices are climbing in some unlikely corners of America \u2014 and most, are surprisingly, from modest Midwestern cities.<\/p>\n
While home values declined in most major US cities over the past year, some unexpected places have bucked the trend.<\/p>\n
Toledo, Ohio, recorded the largest annual increase in typical home values among 100 major US cities, rising 5.6%, according to a SmartAsset study<\/a> published in April.<\/p>\n Toledo, Ohio, led 100 major US cities with a 5.6% annual increase in home values. Steve Tanner Stock \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Lincoln, Nebraska, followed with a 4.1% increase, while New York City and San Francisco each saw gains of approximately 4%.<\/p>\n Toledo\u2019s relative affordability may help explain its strong showing. The Ohio city\u2019s typical home value stood at just $126,270 in February, according to SmartAsset, making it a comparatively affordable option for buyers. Local brokerage Wiens & Roth Real Estate<\/a> pointed to tight inventory, with roughly 1.5 months of housing supply, and interest from buyers priced out of larger metropolitan areas as factors supporting demand.<\/p>\n Lincoln, Nebraska typical home value now averages to $285,359 in February, according to SmartAsset. The city\u2019s housing market has remained competitive. Realtor.com<\/a> classified Lincoln as a seller\u2019s market in September, with median sale prices up 6.5% year over year, even as active listings increased 11.4%.<\/p>\n Lincoln, Nebraska, saw home values climb 4.1% over the past year. SeanPavonePhoto \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n The increases stand out against a broader backdrop of falling prices, with 70% of the cities analyzed experiencing declining home values between February 2025 and February 2026.<\/p>\n San Francisco\u2019s gains were particularly striking given that nearby Oakland recorded the steepest decline in the study, with typical home values falling 9.1%.<\/p>\n Florida also saw some of the largest drops, with St. Petersburg declining 7.5% and Naples falling 6.4%, while Austin, Texas, recorded a decrease of approximately 6%.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, at the uppermost reaches of the housing market, some of America\u2019s wealthiest communities are reaching unprecedented heights.<\/p>\n Beverly Hills\u2019 famed 90210 ZIP code saw its median home sale price jump 24% to $5.39 million. bydronevideos \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Atherton<\/a>, California, the Silicon Valley enclave favored by tech billionaires, became the first ZIP code in the country to surpass a staggering $10 million median home sale price, according to a PropertyShark report<\/a> released Tuesday.<\/p>\n The exclusive community reclaimed its title as America\u2019s most expensive ZIP code, with a median sale price of $10.725 million \u2014 a 29% jump from last year.<\/p>\n More than two-thirds of the ZIP codes in PropertyShark\u2019s ranking recorded rising median sale prices.<\/p>\n \u201cGenerally speaking, on the top end of the market is more resilient,\u201d Eliza Theiss, the report\u2019s author, told The Post.<\/p>\n Naples, Florida, saw typical home values decline 6.4% over the past year. UCG\/Universal Images Group via Getty Images<\/p>\n She explained that wealthy buyers tend to be better positioned to withstand economic downturns and affordability pressures, helping some luxury markets sustain price growth even when broader housing conditions weaken.<\/p>\n In the Hamptons, Sagaponack reclaimed the nation\u2019s No. 2 spot with a $7.35 million median sale price, up 24% from last year. The milestone comes as Hamptons homebuyers increasingly look beyond beachfront properties<\/a>, reflecting shifting preferences in the luxury market.<\/p>\n Nearby Bridgehampton landed at No. 4 after its median sale price skyrocketed 114% to a record $6.15 million, while Water Mill ranked seventh at $5.75 million.<\/p>\n Bridgehampton\u2019s median home sale price jumped 114% to a record $6.15 million. Getty Images<\/p>\n It marked the first time Suffolk County placed three ZIP codes among the nation\u2019s 10 most expensive.<\/p>\n