25 Places To Buy a Home If You Want It To Gain Value

Many financial experts agree that purchasing a house is a solid investment. As you pay down your mortgage debt, you’ll gain equity in your home. Also, in general, the value of a home goes up over time. 

Of course, some places are better than others to buy a home if you want to gain value faster. To find out the best places to buy a house in the U.S. to gain value, GOBankingRates referenced home value data from Zillow for 2019, 2023 and 2024 and the five-year and one-year percentage changes for various cities in the U.S.

The national average home value in the U.S. for 2019 was $228,565. In 2023 it was $333,206, and in January 2024 it was $343,951. That equals a 50% percentage change in home value over five years and a 3% percentage change over one year. 

Here are 25 cities where you should consider buying a home to experience a jump in value. 

• January 2019 Home Value: $108,092
• January 2023 Home Value: $188,703
• January 2024 Home Value: $218,761
• 5 Year % Change: 102%
• 1 Year % Change: 16%

• January 2019 Home Value: $124,467
• January 2023 Home Value: $217,365
• January 2024 Home Value: $249,073
• 5 Year % Change: 100%
• 1 Year % Change: 15%

• January 2019 Home Value: $143,963
• January 2023 Home Value: $242,023
• January 2024 Home Value: $274,687
• 5 Year % Change: 91%
• 1 Year % Change: 14%

• January 2019 Home Value: $64,507
• January 2023 Home Value: $109,088
• January 2024 Home Value: $123,572
• 5 Year % Change: 92%
• 1 Year % Change: 13%

• January 2019 Home Value: $141,705
• January 2023 Home Value: $224,068
• January 2024 Home Value: $255,834
• 5 Year % Change: 81%
• 1 Year % Change: 14%

• January 2019 Home Value: $178,726
• January 2023 Home Value: $326,852
• January 2024 Home Value: $359,441
• 5 Year % Change: 101%
• 1 Year % Change: 10%

• January 2019 Home Value: $284,994
• January 2023 Home Value: $434,543
• January 2024 Home Value: $498,548
• 5 Year % Change: 75%
• 1 Year % Change: 15%

• January 2019 Home Value: $182,043
• January 2023 Home Value: $304,065
• January 2024 Home Value: $341,351
• 5 Year % Change: 88%
• 1 Year % Change: 12%

• January 2019 Home Value: $62,559
• January 2023 Home Value: $103,036
• January 2024 Home Value: $115,800
• 5 Year % Change: 85%
• 1 Year % Change: 12%

• January 2019 Home Value: $166,747
• January 2023 Home Value: $273,347
• January 2024 Home Value: $307,421
• 5 Year % Change: 84%
• 1 Year % Change: 12%

• January 2019 Home Value: $148,905
• January 2023 Home Value: $257,614
• January 2024 Home Value: $285,447
• 5 Year % Change: 92%
• 1 Year % Change: 11%

• January 2019 Home Value: $223,560
• January 2023 Home Value: $384,067
• January 2024 Home Value: $425,011
• 5 Year % Change: 90%
• 1 Year % Change: 11%

• January 2019 Home Value: $264,418
• January 2023 Home Value: $441,474
• January 2024 Home Value: $490,839
• 5 Year % Change: 86%
• 1 Year % Change: 11%

• January 2019 Home Value: $158,060
• January 2023 Home Value: $276,797
• January 2024 Home Value: $303,989
• 5 Year % Change: 92%
• 1 Year % Change: 10%

• January 2019 Home Value: $218,465
• January 2023 Home Value: $359,801
• January 2024 Home Value: $401,228
• 5 Year % Change: 84%
• 1 Year % Change: 12%

• January 2019 Home Value: $402,932
• January 2023 Home Value: $624,975
• January 2024 Home Value: $706,816
• 5 Year % Change: 75%
• 1 Year % Change: 13%

• January 2019 Home Value: $71,440
• January 2023 Home Value: $118,083
• January 2024 Home Value: $131,471
• 5 Year % Change: 84%
• 1 Year % Change: 11%

• January 2019 Home Value: $73,804
• January 2023 Home Value: $125,195
• January 2024 Home Value: $137,986
• 5 Year % Change: 87%
• 1 Year % Change: 10%

• January 2019 Home Value: $82,985
• January 2023 Home Value: $169,505
• January 2024 Home Value: $177,414
• 5 Year % Change: 114%
• 1 Year % Change: 5%

• January 2019 Home Value: $158,185
• January 2023 Home Value: $258,807
• January 2024 Home Value: $287,509
• 5 Year % Change: 82%
• 1 Year % Change: 11%

• January 2019 Home Value: $248,275
• January 2023 Home Value: $405,043
• January 2024 Home Value: $449,676
• 5 Year % Change: 81%
• 1 Year % Change: 11%

• January 2019 Home Value: $257,269
• January 2023 Home Value: $428,425
• January 2024 Home Value: $473,109
• 5 Year % Change: 84%
• 1 Year % Change: 10%

• January 2019 Home Value: $290,185
• January 2023 Home Value: $442,133
• January 2024 Home Value: $497,627
• 5 Year % Change: 71%
• 1 Year % Change: 13%

• January 2019 Home Value: $164,688
• January 2023 Home Value: $287,611
• January 2024 Home Value: $312,991
• 5 Year % Change: 90%
• 1 Year % Change: 9%

• January 2019 Home Value: $117,162
• January 2023 Home Value: $181,674
• January 2024 Home Value: $203,565
• 5 Year % Change: 74%
• 1 Year % Change: 12%

Photo Disclaimer: Please note photos are for representational purposes only and may not be of the exact location mentioned.

Methodology: For cities, we looked at the 2,500 largest housing markets according to Zillow that also had a 1-year and 5-year percent change in home value above the national average. Then the 1-year and 5-year percent changes in home values were scored and combined with the lowest score being best. Zillow’s January 2024 data and all data were collected and are up to date as of June 26, 2024.