Worst Housing Markets for Growth in the Midwest

Most of the best housing markets in 2025 are projected to be in the South and West. The Midwest will have its share, but it also has seen some areas where growth has been inhibited over the past couple of years — and still might be.

GOBankingRates looked at 200 major metro areas across the United States to see which housing markets have had the most depressed growth over the past couple of years. The data studied change in home value from December 2022 to December 2024, as well as housing inventory and price cuts.

Here is a look at the Midwest cities that have seen the worst growth over that period.

• December 2024 home value: $147,008
• Two-year home value change (percentage): 10.9%
• Mean price cut: $8,223
• Share of listings with price cut: 27.1%
• Mean days to close: 33

• December 2024 home value: $279,398
• Two-year home value change (percentage): 5.3%
• Mean price cut: $9,432
• Share of listings with price cut: 29.7%
• Mean days to close: 32

• December 2024 home value: $285,776
• Two-year home value change (percentage): 6.7%
• Mean price cut: $9,227
• Share of listings with price cut: 26.4%
• Mean days to close: 36

• December 2024 home value: $210,063
• Two-year home value change (percentage): 12.4%
• Mean price cut: $9,291
• Share of listings with price cut: 24.8%
• Mean days to close: 31

• December 2024 home value: $254,607
• Two-year home value change (percentage): 9.0%
• Mean price cut: $11,781
• Share of listings with price cut: 28.0%
• Mean days to close: 33

• December 2024 home value: $377,560
• Two-year home value change (percentage): 3.0%
• Mean price cut: $13,996
• Share of listings with price cut: 22.4%
• Mean days to close: 27

• December 2024 home value: $253,836
• Two-year home value change (percentage): 6.2%
• Mean price cut: $11,451
• Share of listings with price cut: 24.0%
• Mean days to close: 33

• December 2024 home value: $285,357
• Two-year home value change (percentage): 8.5%
• Mean price cut: $10,859
• Share of listings with price cut: 28.1%
• Mean days to close: 32

• December 2024 home value: $309,771
• Two-year home value change (percentage): 4.9%
• Mean price cut: $8,225
• Share of listings with price cut: 17.7%
• Mean days to close: 32

• December 2024 home value: $329,987
• Two-year home value change (percentage): 9.1%
• Mean price cut: $10,299
• Share of listings with price cut: 28.8%
• Mean days to close: 31

• December 2024 home value: $354,940
• Two-year home value change (percentage): 14.6%
• Mean price cut: $13,182
• Share of listings with price cut: 18.2%
• Mean days to close: 23

Methodology: GOBankingRates looked at the 200 largest Metro Statistical Areas (MSA). For each MSA, GOBankingRates found (1) 1-year percent change in home value; (2) 1-year change in home value in USD; (3) 2-year percent change in home value; (4) 2-year change in home value in USD; (5) For-Sale Inventory; (6) mean days from listing to pending; (7) mean list to sale ratio; (8) mean days from pending to close; (9) share of listings with a price cut; and (10) mean price cut. All data was sourced from Zillow’s December 2024 data. All factors were then scored and combined, with the highest score being the worst housing markets. In final calculations factors (1), (2), (9), and (10) were weighted 2x and factor (5) was weighted 0.5x. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Jan. 29, 2025.