With steady mortgage rates, WalletHub named three California cities among the year’s top 10 real estate markets, with one ranked No. 1 in the nation.
Irvine in Orange County, with an estimated population of 307,000, was given the top honors among all large cities in the 2025 study, and was identified as having the third-best real estate market of all cities regardless of population size.
According to the study, Irvine has the third-highest share of houses that were built between 2010 and 2023, at nearly 32%, which is good news for people who want all the benefits of a recently constructed home.
Additionally, Irvine is the 11th-cheapest city for phone service and the 20th-cheapest for maintenance and energy. It also has the 15th-lowest mortgage delinquency rate and the 16th-highest median credit score, an affirmation of the residents’ financial responsibility and ability to meet payment deadlines, according to the study.
This is not the first time Irvine has earned national recognition. Irvine was named the best California city to reside in, according to Niche, and a previous WalletHub study placed it as the third-happiest city in the United States.
How the study determined its findings
WalletHub compared 300 cities across two key dimensions, “Real Estate Market” and “Affordability & Economic Environment, to determine their findings. It evaluated the two dimensions using 17 relevant metrics such as home value forecast, foreclosure rate, housing affordability, and building permit activity.
The cities were then each given an overall score based on the city’s weighted average across all metrics.
Each city was categorized by population size: large (population over 300,000), mid-size (population 150,000-300,000), and small (under 150,000).
Cities in Sacramento and Fresno counties rank in Top 10
Roseville (population est: 147,000) in Placer County, within the Sacramento metropolitan area, has the 10th best real estate market for all mid-size cities in the United States, and the 20th best overall score for the two key dimensions combined, regardless of population size.
The average home value in Roseville is $653,330, according to Zillow.
Within a short drive from the capital city, Roseville has received recognition for its quality of life, safety, highly educated populace, and various housing options.
The city of Clovis (population est: 120,000), a suburb of Fresno, has the 5th best real estate market among all small-sized cities reviewed in the study.
The median home value in Clovis is $519,203, according to Zillow.
Located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Clovis has been noted for its small-town feel and was ranked as one of the nation’s top places to live.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: This major California city just claimed the title of nation’s hottest real estate market
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
