20 Best Hidden Gem East Coast Housing Markets of 2025

There’s no shortage of hidden gem housing markets on the East Coast. Even better: Many of these markets are in cities with reasonable cost of living, according to key findings from a GOBankingRates study.

GOBankingRates found these housing markets by analyzing data from Zillow, AreaVibes, Sperling’s BestPlaces, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Federal Reserve. We weighted each city based on ranking in various categories, like livability index and median household income, to determine the scores which show the best hidden gem housing markets in America.

Find out where the hidden gem housing markets are on the East Coast.

• Median household income: $59,808
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,514
• Livability: 91
• Average home value in city: $264,559
• Average home value in state: $417,032

• Median household income: $66,774
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,580
• Livability: 86
• Average home value in city: $275,977
• Average home value in state: $489,352

• Median household income: $78,183
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,024
• Livability: 86
• Average home value in city: $353,583
• Average home value in state: $530,759

• Median household income: $70,089
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,524
• Livability: 82
• Average home value in city: $266,173
• Average home value in state: $489,352

• Median household income: $49,155
• Average monthly mortgage: $993
• Livability: 78
• Average home value in city: $173,405
• Average home value in state: $489,352

• Median household income: $221,793
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,167
• Livability: 73
• Average home value in city: $203,891
• Average home value in state: $417,032

• Median household income: $47,819
• Average monthly mortgage: $875
• Livability: 78
• Average home value in city: $152,788
• Average home value in state: $450,720

• Median household income: $46,012
• Average monthly mortgage: $915
• Livability: 85
• Average home value in city: $159,895
• Average home value in state: $287,856

• Median household income: $66,927
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,848
• Livability: 76
• Average home value in city: $322,883
• Average home value in state: $682,247

• Median household income: $51,513
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,149
• Livability: 78
• Average home value in city: $200,717
• Average home value in state: $489,352

• Median household income: $44,331
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,041
• Livability: 77
• Average home value in city: $181,851
• Average home value in state: $489,352

• Median household income: $51,339
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,718
• Livability: 75
• Average home value in city: $300,102
• Average home value in state: $682,247

• Median household income: $80,388
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,132
• Livability: 81
• Average home value in city: $372,448
• Average home value in state: $589,265

• Median household income: $72,699
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,491
• Livability: 83
• Average home value in city: $260,455
• Average home value in state: $402,892

• Median household income: $50,193
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,355
• Livability: 79
• Average home value in city: $236,658
• Average home value in state: $489,352

• Median household income: $68,386
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,781
• Livability: 74
• Average home value in city: $311,068
• Average home value in state: $682,247

• Median household income: $68,242
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,258
• Livability: 77
• Average home value in city: $219,763
• Average home value in state: $489,352

• Median household income: $49,531
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,142
• Livability: 85
• Average home value in city: $199,576
• Average home value in state: $287,856

• Median household income: $64,898
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,644
• Livability: 84
• Average home value in city: $287,167
• Average home value in state: $402,892

• Median household income: $59,623
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,072
• Livability: 77
• Average home value in city: $187,275
• Average home value in state: $450,720

Read more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.

Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.

Methodology: For this story, GOBankingRates analyzed cities to find the best hidden gem housing markets of 2025. GOBankingRates used data from Zillow Home Value Index to find cities with an average single-family home value $50,000 below the statewide average. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes, and all cities with a livability below 70 were removed as they represent a lower quality of life. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and the national average expenditure costs were sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey; the average expenditure costs were calculated for each city. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, via Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated for each city. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living was calculated for each city. The median household income was scored and weighted at 1.00, the average mortgage cost was scored and weighted at 1.00, the difference from a statewide home value was scored and sourced from 2.00, and the livability index was scored and sourced at 2.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the best hidden gem housing markets of 2025. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 2, 2025.