Kansas City leads U.S. cities with 107.2% home-value growth since 2016; see the full 2026 rankings and what 6.65% 30-year rates mean for buyers.
Kansas City posted the largest gain among major metros, with its Zillow Home Value Index rising 107.2% from roughly $123,000 in 2016 to $255,647 in 2026. That outpaced the national 81% average by a wide margin. Smaller markets recorded even steeper climbs: East Orange, NJ (+197.7%), Pine Hills, FL (+187.6%), and Miami Gardens, FL (+182.6%). In contrast, high-cost coastal markets such as Oakland (+14.0%) and San Francisco (+14.1%) barely moved, according to Zillow data.
Zillow projects a 2.1% national rise in home values for 2026, following a 1.3% gain in 2025. The forecast anticipates annual growth peaking near 1.9% by August 2026 before moderating. Inventory remains tight—34% below pre-pandemic levels—and 24% of listings carried price cuts in the most recent reading.
Live FRED data for August 20, 2026 show the 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.65%, the 15-year at 5.95%, and the 10-year Treasury at 4.65%, producing a 2-percentage-point spread. Higher rates continue to limit affordability, yet price growth persists in markets where job and population inflows remain strong.
| City / Metro | 2016 ZHVI | 2026 ZHVI | 10-Year Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO | $123,000 | $255,647 | +107.2% |
| East Orange, NJ | — | — | +197.7% |
| Pine Hills, FL | — | — | +187.6% |
| Miami Gardens, FL | — | — | +182.6% |
| Oakland, CA | — | — | +14.0% |
| San Francisco, CA | — | — | +14.1% |
Redfin data indicate that 40.5% of New York-metro homes sold above asking in 2025, underscoring persistent demand in selected inland and Sun Belt markets. Dallas and Austin continue to attract buyers priced out of coastal metros, though both cities now face higher mortgage rates that have tempered year-over-year appreciation.
Markets with the strongest fundamentals—job growth, net in-migration, and still-reasonable price levels—are driving the fastest rising home values cities 2026. Buyers evaluating entry points can run live scenarios at HomeRates.ai to see how today’s 6.65% 30-year rate affects monthly payments in each metro.
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