Manchester-Nashua Drops From Top 20 Hottest Markets

Manchester-Nashua, New Hampshire, a market that previously held the No. 1 spot a record 35 times, has dropped out of Realtor.com's top 20 hottest housing markets for September 2026. The city, once considered an affordable alternative to Boston, ranked 38th in September, a significant decline from its 8th place position in July and its consistent presence in the top 20 since March 2020. This marks a notable shift for a market that has historically been a strong performer in Realtor.com's rankings, which date back to 2017. The "hottest" market designation is determined by two primary metrics: the level of demand, measured by unique views per property on Realtor.com, and the pace of the market, indicated by the number of days a listing remains active online. While Manchester-Nashua continues to attract significant buyer interest, with listings garnering 2.7 times the national average in viewership, its performance has been hampered by an increase in the time properties spend on the market. According to Realtor.com senior economist Hannah Jones, the typical home in Manchester took 48 days to sell in September, approximately a week longer than the national average for the hottest markets. This extended time on market is a key factor contributing to the metro's drop in the rankings. Factors contributing to this slowdown include affordability challenges and buyer fatigue. Suzanne Damon, founder and CEO of The Damon Home Team in Manchester, noted that while the city still offers a price advantage over Boston, with a median listing price of $579,900 in September, buyers are increasingly scrutinizing monthly mortgage payments. The proximity to Boston, with a 50-mile commute, still offers potential savings of nearly $200,000 compared to Boston's median home price. However, rising mortgage rates, which have crossed the 7% threshold, are impacting buyer affordability and potentially contributing to the longer listing times. The shift in Manchester-Nashua's market position reflects broader trends in the housing sector, where demand and pace are being influenced by economic conditions and interest rate fluctuations. The Realtor.com Hottest Housing Markets report for August 2026 showed a regional balance, with the Midwest and Northeast each claiming 10 spots in the top 20, indicating a more distributed landscape of high-demand areas.