Rockford’s Housing Market Just Took A Big Drop In National Rankings

One of the hottest housing markets in America is in Illinois.

Realtor.com released its 2026 list of the Hottest ZIP Codes, and Wheaton is the only Illinois city in the top 10, ranking 10th.

READ MORE: Top Cities in Illinois for First-Time Homebuyers Revealed

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Wheaton Named One of the Hottest Housing Markets in America

The popular home-buying website used two major factors to determine the hotness of ZIP codes: how much buyer interest homes are getting online and how quickly homes are being sold.

Right now, the hottest market in America is on the East Coast in Peabody, Massachusetts.

Illinois isn't the only Midwest state, though, to get represented in the top 10, with Livonia, Michigan ranked 6th and New Berlin, Wisconsin coming in 9th overall.

Why Buyers Are Moving to Areas Near Major Cities

The biggest takeaway from the new rankings from Realtor.com is that the hottest markets are being dominated by suburbs near major cities like Chicago, Boston, and New York.

That said, buyers are still looking for communities that provide suburban living while staying close to major economic areas, and that is usually major cities, so it makes sense.

READ MORE: WOW! Anderson Japanese Gardens Designed This Rockford Home's Front Yard

Rockford skyline at sunset

Rockford Housing Market Cools Slightly to 25th in 2026

Rockford was named the hottest housing market in 2025 but appears to have fallen off a bit in 2026, ranking 25th overall. Not a realtor, but you'd have to say it's probably a seller's market in Rockford even after the slight cool-off.

Check out all 50 of the hottest realty zip codes in America here.