• A new list ranks the “most popular ZIP codes” in the U.S.
• Katy, Texas, came in at No. 1
• Katy is a part of the Greater Houston metropolitan area.

Buying a home is a really … really … one more time … really big deal. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home sale price in the U.S. hit $419,200, marking a 17 percent increase from the fourth quarter of 2020, according to The Motley Fool. But beyond being a major financial investment, it’s also a personal investment, too. So when you do go to buy a house, you better do all your research on finding the perfect place to live. If you need help to source the coolest, hippest, and hottest zones, then this list is for you. 

In January, Opendoor Brokerage shared its list of the “most popular ZIP codes and hidden gems” of the previous year. It analyzed data from the local Multiple Listing Services (MLS) where Opendoor Brokerage operates. Then it ranked them by the total number of homes that went into contract within 90 days of listing in 2024. It also ranked its best “hidden gems” by analyzing the number of new listings in its markets and its buybox, (aka within certain price bands), and ranked based on the percentage increase in the number of new listings from January 2024 to November 2024 on a zip code level. 

After doing all that work, it named Katy, Texas, the hottest of the hot. Katy, which came in No. 2 the year prior, is right outside of Houston and part of the Greater Houston metropolitan area.

“Similar to 2023, Houston, Texas dominates the top two spots of our list—but Katy moved into the top spot over Cypress this year,” the findings revealed. “This comes as no surprise as Houston’s housing costs are among some of the lowest in the nation.”

According to Opendoor, both Texas and Florida are “heavily represented” on the list. However, this year also saw the return of smaller southern towns like Summerville, South Carolina, and Clarksville, Tennessee, showcasing a growing trend of people fleeing American cities in exchange for a simpler life.

“Over the past three years, we’ve seen people choose to move away from city centers in favor of tighter-knit communities but still live close enough to commute and be close to the action,” Opendoor explained. “This year’s most popular areas are known for being fast-growing cities with plenty of new development, with healthy job growth in Florida and Texas in particular.” 

The rest of the top 10 list of the hottest zip codes included San Antonio, Texas, at No. 3, followed by New Braunfels, Texas; Summerville, South Carolina; Forney, Texas; Yukon, Oklahoma; Clarksville, Tennessee; Parrish, Florida; and Kyle, Texas. But if you’re looking for a hidden gem, that title went to Harrah, Oklahoma, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Oklahoma City with fewer than 7,000 people.

See the full list of hot zips and hidden gems at opendoor.com.