Appleton, Wis., Claims No. 1 Spot in Fall 2026 Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com® Housing Market Ranking
PR Newswire•29/10/2026•09:00 ET
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Key Highlights
- ➤Appleton, Wis., ranks No. 1 in Fall 2026 housing market ranking
- ➤30-year mortgage rate reaches 7.40%, up from 6.27% a year ago
- ➤19 of the top 20 markets are in the Midwest and Northeast
- ➤Appleton listings more than doubled year over year to 695 homes
- ➤National market moves toward buyers as October Market Clock reaches 4 o’clock
Expert Statements
Hannah Jones, Senior economist at Realtor.com
“Higher mortgage rates have made the affordability challenge more acute, but they have also sharpened the search for markets where buyers can get more value for their money.”
Hannah Jones, Senior economist at Realtor.com
“Appleton's top ranking reflects a broad set of strengths rather than one standout metric, including a strong local economy, relatively low housing and living costs, steady demand, improving inventory and a high quality of life.”
Hannah Jones, Senior economist at Realtor.com
“The broader list shows that buyers continue to gravitate toward markets where the fundamentals still add up.”
Appleton, Wis., Claims No. 1 Spot in Fall 2026 Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com® Housing Market Ranking PR Newswire
Midwest and Northeast markets continue to lead as buyers seek value amid higher mortgage rates
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