5 Cities in Every Southern State Where Home Values Are Blowing Up

Median home prices across the South have been slipping recently, but many cities are still seeing values surge.

According to Realtor.com, median list prices fell 1.3% year-over-year in November, while price per square foot dropped 1.9%. Yet Zillow’s latest data highlights numerous Southern markets that have posted robust — and in some cases explosive — growth since 2024 and even dating back to 2020.

To spotlight these trends, GOBankingRates analyzed Zillow’s figures and compiled top-five city lists for each Southern state, showcasing where home investments have delivered the strongest returns. GBR’s lists include year-over-year value boosts as high as 14.7%, and gains over the past five years as high as 118%.

To compile its top-five lists, GBR reviewed Zillow’s 7,500 largest U.S. housing that also had a one-year and five-year percent change in home value above the national average. The one-year and five-year percent changes in home values were scored. To qualify, cities had to have an October 2020 home value of greater than $100,000. A list was produced for each Southern state, with the exception of Louisiana, which didn’t have any markets qualify.

Here’s a state-by-state breakdown.

Of the 15 Alabama housing markets that qualified for GBR’s list, nine saw home values increase at least 40% since October of 2020. Seven cities posted year-over-year increases of at least 3%, led by Mountain Brook’s 5.2% bump.

1. Mountain Brook

• October 2025 home value: $1,029,829
• 1-year % change in home value: 5.2%
• 5-year % change in home value: 43.2%

2. Southside

• October 2025 home value: $272,081
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.3%
• 5-year % change in home value: 46.4%

3. Muscle Shoals

• October 2025 home value: $254,477
• 1-year % change in home value: 2.1%
• 5-year % change in home value: 47.3%

4. Tuscumbia

• October 2025 home value: $192,877
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.8%
• 5-year % change in home value: 41.9%

5. Deatsville

• 5-year % change in home value: 40.1%
• October 2025 home value: $290,739
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.8%

Bentonville’s nearly 75% increase in home value over the past five years was top among Arkansas markets. Bentonville was one of seven cities to see bumps of 60% or higher. For year-over-year numbers, Bentonville trailed only Cave Springs, which saw an increase of 6.4%.

1. Bentonville

• October 2025 home value: $486,863
• 1-year % change in home value: 6.3%
• 5-year % change in home value: 74.4%

2. Cave Springs

• October 2025 home value: $566,119
• 1-year % change in home value: 6.4%
• 5-year % change in home value: 65.2%

3. Gravette

• October 2025 home value: $343,187
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.2%
• 5-year % change in home value: 70.7%

4. Lowell

• October 2025 home value: $350,243
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.3%
• 5-year % change in home value: 62.5%

5. Rogers

• 5-year % change in home value: 61.9%
• October 2025 home value: $377,294
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.3%

Palm Beach’s staggering 118% home value increase since 2020 far outpaced any of the other Florida locales in GBR’s analysis. Two Sunshine State cities posted growth of 3% (or more) since last October.

1. Palm Beach

• October 2025 home value: $9,815,790
• 1-year % change in home value: 1.5%
• 5-year % change in home value: 118.2%

2. Wauchula

• October 2025 home value: $235,107
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.1%
• 5-year % change in home value: 64.8%

3. Old Town

• October 2025 home value: $207,787
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.2%
• 5-year % change in home value: 48.0%

4. South Bay

• October 2025 home value: $225,994
• 1-year % change in home value: 1.2%
• 5-year % change in home value: 61.5%

5. Bell

• 5-year % change in home value: 55.3%
• October 2025 home value: $290,622
• 1-year % change in home value: 1.1%

Fifteen Georgia cities posted home value growth of 60% or higher during the past five years. Twelve spots saw a boost of 3% or higher since last year, with Hull’s 5.4% leading the way.

1. Hull

• October 2025 home value: $330,176
• 1-year % change in home value: 5.4%
• 5-year % change in home value: 55.9%

2. Brooklet

• October 2025 home value: $320,122
• 1-year % change in home value: 2.9%
• 5-year % change in home value: 71.3%

3. Metter

• October 2025 home value: $203,193
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.0%
• 5-year % change in home value: 68.3%

4. Mount Airy

• October 2025 home value: $307,445
• 1-year % change in home value: 2.1%
• 5-year % change in home value: 69.6%

5. Cleveland

• 5-year % change in home value: 62.0%
• October 2025 home value: $312,063
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.3%

Among Kentucky housing markets, Morganfield has seen the largest value increase since last October — a robust 14.7%. Oak Grove far outpaced all other markets for growth since 2020 with a 73% increase in value.

1. Oak Grove

• October 2025 home value: $209,501
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.5%
• 5-year % change in home value: 73.2%

2. Owingsville

• October 2025 home value: $181,001
• 1-year % change in home value: 8.0%
• 5-year % change in home value: 65.5%

3. Munfordville

• October 2025 home value: $192,082
• 1-year % change in home value: 8.4%
• 5-year % change in home value: 64.3%

4. Morganfield

• October 2025 home value: $158,597
• 1-year % change in home value: 14.7%
• 5-year % change in home value: 55.0%

5. Cynthiana

• 5-year % change in home value: 53.8%
• October 2025 home value: $224,128
• 1-year % change in home value: 13.5%

Of the six Mississippi housing markets that qualified, Oxford posted the biggest year-over-year value increase (5.6%). Oxford also topped the field for increased value since 2020, with a bump of about 56%.

1. Oxford

• October 2025 home value: $410,585
• 1-year % change in home value: 5.6%
• 5-year % change in home value: 55.6%

2. Byram

• October 2025 home value: $216,301
• 1-year % change in home value: 5.2%
• 5-year % change in home value: 42.3%

3. Purvis

• October 2025 home value: $235,844
• 1-year % change in home value: 5.0%
• 5-year % change in home value: 39.3%

4. Luka

• October 2025 home value: $198,632
• 1-year % change in home value: 4.5%
• 5-year % change in home value: 41.6%

5. Gulf Hills

• 5-year % change in home value: 39.0%
• October 2025 home value: $244,014
• 1-year % change in home value: 4.0%

Seven North Carolina cities saw home value increases of greater than 4% over the past year. That includes Pinnacle, which led the way with a 5.5% boost. Over the past five years, 13 Tar Heel State locales saw value increases of at least 60%.

1. Wallace

• October 2025 home value: $211,932
• 1-year % change in home value: 4.4%
• 5-year % change in home value: 60.1%

2. Havelock

• October 2025 home value: $230,437
• 1-year % change in home value: 4.2%
• 5-year % change in home value: 58.4%

3. Sylva

• October 2025 home value: $331,486
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.7%
• 5-year % change in home value: 59.9%

4. Richlands

• October 2025 home value: $266,928
• 1-year % change in home value: 4.0%
• 5-year % change in home value: 57.6%

5. Pinnacle

• 5-year % change in home value: 48.3%
• October 2025 home value: $263,392
• 1-year % change in home value: 5.5%

Hilton Head Island posted a 77% increase in home value since 2020, top in the state. Since last October, Columbia and Spartanburg — two cities that didn’t make GBR’s top five — were the only two South Carolina locales to exceed 5% growth.

1. Chesnee

• October 2025 home value: $284,123
• 1-year % change in home value: 5.0%
• 5-year % change in home value: 55.2%

2. Forest Acres

• October 2025 home value: $334,059
• 1-year % change in home value: 5.3%
• 5-year % change in home value: 48.3%

3. Campobello

• October 2025 home value: $370,725
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.8%
• 5-year % change in home value: 57.3%

4. Central

• October 2025 home value: $283,294
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.5%
• 5-year % change in home value: 56.9%

5. Hilton Head Island

• 5-year % change in home value: 77.3%
• October 2025 home value: $1,002,578
• 1-year % change in home value: 0.8%

Residents of Jacksboro who bought their home five years ago have seen their values jump 75% on average, top among Tennessee markets. Lexington didn’t make GBR’s top five despite posting the highest year-over-year growth (with 5%).

1. Maynardville

• October 2025 home value: $280,516
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.8%
• 5-year % change in home value: 69.9%

2. Corryton

• October 2025 home value: $323,775
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.1%
• 5-year % change in home value: 71.3%

3. Woodbury

• October 2025 home value: $301,225
• 1-year % change in home value: 4.7%
• 5-year % change in home value: 54.9%

4. Oak Ridge

• October 2025 home value: $319,319
• 1-year % change in home value: 2.7%
• 5-year % change in home value: 70.1%

5. Jacksboro

• 5-year % change in home value: 75.1%
• October 2025 home value: $282,428
• 1-year % change in home value: 1.9%

Average home values in Highland Park have jumped a whopping 93% since October of 2020. Highland Park also posted the second-highest year-over-year growth (4%).

1. Highland Park

• October 2025 home value: $3,037,209
• 1-year % change in home value: 4.1%
• 5-year % change in home value: 92.7%

2. University Park

• October 2025 home value: $2,426,265
• 1-year % change in home value: 4.7%
• 5-year % change in home value: 80.6%

3. Madisonville

• October 2025 home value: $249,186
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.9%
• 5-year % change in home value: 50.0%

4. Southlake

• October 2025 home value: $1,260,120
• 1-year % change in home value: 1.9%
• 5-year % change in home value: 66.2%

5. San Elizario

• 5-year % change in home value: 49.1%
• October 2025 home value: $168,939
• 1-year % change in home value: 2.9%

Highland Springs paced Virginia cities with 62% home value growth over the past five years. Since last October, Crewe has led the way with a lofty 13.6% jump.

1. Crewe

• October 2025 home value: $182,954
• 1-year % change in home value: 13.6%
• 5-year % change in home value: 54.5%

2. Blackstone

• October 2025 home value: $183,361
• 1-year % change in home value: 9.0%
• 5-year % change in home value: 55.0%

3. Gate City

• October 2025 home value: $173,311
• 1-year % change in home value: 4.5%
• 5-year % change in home value: 58.8%

4. Amelia Court House

• October 2025 home value: $321,241
• 1-year % change in home value: 7.0%
• 5-year % change in home value: 54.3%

5. Highland Springs

• 5-year % change in home value: 61.7%
• October 2025 home value: $254,990
• 1-year % change in home value: 2.2%

Home values in Barboursville spiked by 8% since October of 2024. Since October of 2020, Berkeley Springs has seen the highest value increase in the state (58%).

1. Summersville

• October 2025 home value: $181,810
• 1-year % change in home value: 4.3%
• 5-year % change in home value: 54.0%

2. Hedgesville

• October 2025 home value: $327,295
• 1-year % change in home value: 3.2%
• 5-year % change in home value: 55.6%

3. Berkeley Springs

• October 2025 home value: $304,451
• 1-year % change in home value: 2.1%
• 5-year % change in home value: 58.3%

4. Harpers Ferry

• October 2025 home value: $393,025
• 1-year % change in home value: 4.1%
• 5-year % change in home value: 52.2%

5. Barboursville

• October 2025 home value: $203,830
• 1-year % change in home value: 8.1%
• 5-year % change in home value: 41.0%

Methodology: GOBankingRates looked at the 7,500 largest housing markets in America, according to Zillow, which also had a one-year and five-year percent change in home value above the national average. GOBankingRates then looked at these factors across every state. The one-year and five-year percent changes in home values were scored. The places had to have an October 2020 home value above $100,000. Zillow’s October 2025 data was collected Nov. 17, 2025.