Median home prices across the South have been slipping recently, but many cities are still seeing values surge.
According to Realtor.com, median list prices fell 1.3% year-over-year in November, while price per square foot dropped 1.9%. Yet Zillow’s latest data highlights numerous Southern markets that have posted robust — and in some cases explosive — growth since 2024 and even dating back to 2020.
To spotlight these trends, GOBankingRates analyzed Zillow’s figures and compiled top-five city lists for each Southern state, showcasing where home investments have delivered the strongest returns. GBR’s lists include year-over-year value boosts as high as 14.7%, and gains over the past five years as high as 118%.
To compile its top-five lists, GBR reviewed Zillow’s 7,500 largest U.S. housing that also had a one-year and five-year percent change in home value above the national average. The one-year and five-year percent changes in home values were scored. To qualify, cities had to have an October 2020 home value of greater than $100,000. A list was produced for each Southern state, with the exception of Louisiana, which didn’t have any markets qualify.
Here’s a state-by-state breakdown.
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Of the 15 Alabama housing markets that qualified for GBR’s list, nine saw home values increase at least 40% since October of 2020. Seven cities posted year-over-year increases of at least 3%, led by Mountain Brook’s 5.2% bump.
1. Mountain Brook
October 2025 home value: $1,029,829
1-year % change in home value: 5.2%
5-year % change in home value: 43.2%
2. Southside
October 2025 home value: $272,081
1-year % change in home value: 3.3%
5-year % change in home value: 46.4%
3. Muscle Shoals
October 2025 home value: $254,477
1-year % change in home value: 2.1%
5-year % change in home value: 47.3%
4. Tuscumbia
October 2025 home value: $192,877
1-year % change in home value: 3.8%
5-year % change in home value: 41.9%
5. Deatsville
5-year % change in home value: 40.1%
October 2025 home value: $290,739
1-year % change in home value: 3.8%
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Bentonville’s nearly 75% increase in home value over the past five years was top among Arkansas markets. Bentonville was one of seven cities to see bumps of 60% or higher. For year-over-year numbers, Bentonville trailed only Cave Springs, which saw an increase of 6.4%.
1. Bentonville
October 2025 home value: $486,863
1-year % change in home value: 6.3%
5-year % change in home value: 74.4%
2. Cave Springs
October 2025 home value: $566,119
1-year % change in home value: 6.4%
5-year % change in home value: 65.2%
3. Gravette
October 2025 home value: $343,187
1-year % change in home value: 3.2%
5-year % change in home value: 70.7%
4. Lowell
October 2025 home value: $350,243
1-year % change in home value: 3.3%
5-year % change in home value: 62.5%
5. Rogers
5-year % change in home value: 61.9%
October 2025 home value: $377,294
1-year % change in home value: 3.3%
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Palm Beach’s staggering 118% home value increase since 2020 far outpaced any of the other Florida locales in GBR’s analysis. Two Sunshine State cities posted growth of 3% (or more) since last October.
Fifteen Georgia cities posted home value growth of 60% or higher during the past five years. Twelve spots saw a boost of 3% or higher since last year, with Hull’s 5.4% leading the way.
Among Kentucky housing markets, Morganfield has seen the largest value increase since last October — a robust 14.7%. Oak Grove far outpaced all other markets for growth since 2020 with a 73% increase in value.
1. Oak Grove
October 2025 home value: $209,501
1-year % change in home value: 3.5%
5-year % change in home value: 73.2%
2. Owingsville
October 2025 home value: $181,001
1-year % change in home value: 8.0%
5-year % change in home value: 65.5%
3. Munfordville
October 2025 home value: $192,082
1-year % change in home value: 8.4%
5-year % change in home value: 64.3%
4. Morganfield
October 2025 home value: $158,597
1-year % change in home value: 14.7%
5-year % change in home value: 55.0%
5. Cynthiana
5-year % change in home value: 53.8%
October 2025 home value: $224,128
1-year % change in home value: 13.5%
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Of the six Mississippi housing markets that qualified, Oxford posted the biggest year-over-year value increase (5.6%). Oxford also topped the field for increased value since 2020, with a bump of about 56%.
Seven North Carolina cities saw home value increases of greater than 4% over the past year. That includes Pinnacle, which led the way with a 5.5% boost. Over the past five years, 13 Tar Heel State locales saw value increases of at least 60%.
1. Wallace
October 2025 home value: $211,932
1-year % change in home value: 4.4%
5-year % change in home value: 60.1%
2. Havelock
October 2025 home value: $230,437
1-year % change in home value: 4.2%
5-year % change in home value: 58.4%
3. Sylva
October 2025 home value: $331,486
1-year % change in home value: 3.7%
5-year % change in home value: 59.9%
4. Richlands
October 2025 home value: $266,928
1-year % change in home value: 4.0%
5-year % change in home value: 57.6%
5. Pinnacle
5-year % change in home value: 48.3%
October 2025 home value: $263,392
1-year % change in home value: 5.5%
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Hilton Head Island posted a 77% increase in home value since 2020, top in the state. Since last October, Columbia and Spartanburg — two cities that didn’t make GBR’s top five — were the only two South Carolina locales to exceed 5% growth.
1. Chesnee
October 2025 home value: $284,123
1-year % change in home value: 5.0%
5-year % change in home value: 55.2%
2. Forest Acres
October 2025 home value: $334,059
1-year % change in home value: 5.3%
5-year % change in home value: 48.3%
3. Campobello
October 2025 home value: $370,725
1-year % change in home value: 3.8%
5-year % change in home value: 57.3%
4. Central
October 2025 home value: $283,294
1-year % change in home value: 3.5%
5-year % change in home value: 56.9%
5. Hilton Head Island
5-year % change in home value: 77.3%
October 2025 home value: $1,002,578
1-year % change in home value: 0.8%
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Residents of Jacksboro who bought their home five years ago have seen their values jump 75% on average, top among Tennessee markets. Lexington didn’t make GBR’s top five despite posting the highest year-over-year growth (with 5%).
Average home values in Highland Park have jumped a whopping 93% since October of 2020. Highland Park also posted the second-highest year-over-year growth (4%).
1. Highland Park
October 2025 home value: $3,037,209
1-year % change in home value: 4.1%
5-year % change in home value: 92.7%
2. University Park
October 2025 home value: $2,426,265
1-year % change in home value: 4.7%
5-year % change in home value: 80.6%
3. Madisonville
October 2025 home value: $249,186
1-year % change in home value: 3.9%
5-year % change in home value: 50.0%
4. Southlake
October 2025 home value: $1,260,120
1-year % change in home value: 1.9%
5-year % change in home value: 66.2%
5. San Elizario
5-year % change in home value: 49.1%
October 2025 home value: $168,939
1-year % change in home value: 2.9%
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Highland Springs paced Virginia cities with 62% home value growth over the past five years. Since last October, Crewe has led the way with a lofty 13.6% jump.
1. Crewe
October 2025 home value: $182,954
1-year % change in home value: 13.6%
5-year % change in home value: 54.5%
2. Blackstone
October 2025 home value: $183,361
1-year % change in home value: 9.0%
5-year % change in home value: 55.0%
3. Gate City
October 2025 home value: $173,311
1-year % change in home value: 4.5%
5-year % change in home value: 58.8%
4. Amelia Court House
October 2025 home value: $321,241
1-year % change in home value: 7.0%
5-year % change in home value: 54.3%
5. Highland Springs
5-year % change in home value: 61.7%
October 2025 home value: $254,990
1-year % change in home value: 2.2%
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Home values in Barboursville spiked by 8% since October of 2024. Since October of 2020, Berkeley Springs has seen the highest value increase in the state (58%).
1. Summersville
October 2025 home value: $181,810
1-year % change in home value: 4.3%
5-year % change in home value: 54.0%
2. Hedgesville
October 2025 home value: $327,295
1-year % change in home value: 3.2%
5-year % change in home value: 55.6%
3. Berkeley Springs
October 2025 home value: $304,451
1-year % change in home value: 2.1%
5-year % change in home value: 58.3%
4. Harpers Ferry
October 2025 home value: $393,025
1-year % change in home value: 4.1%
5-year % change in home value: 52.2%
5. Barboursville
October 2025 home value: $203,830
1-year % change in home value: 8.1%
5-year % change in home value: 41.0%
Methodology: GOBankingRates looked at the 7,500 largest housing markets in America, according to Zillow, which also had a one-year and five-year percent change in home value above the national average. GOBankingRates then looked at these factors across every state. The one-year and five-year percent changes in home values were scored. The places had to have an October 2020 home value above $100,000. Zillow’s October 2025 data was collected Nov. 17, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Cities in Every Southern State Where Home Values Are Blowing Up
