According to a joint ranking from The Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com, the Glass City placed fourth in the Summer 2025 Housing Market ranking.
TOLEDO, Ohio — According to Northwest Ohio Realtors, the city of Toledo has maintained its status as one of the top housing markets in America.
The city was ranked fourth in the Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com Summer 2025 Housing Market Ranking, placing it among the top U.S. metro areas offering a balance of affordability, quality of life, and expected home value growth. Only Manchester-Nashua, New Hampshire; Canton-Massillon, Ohio; and Springfield, Massachusetts ranked higher.
The ranking evaluates the 200 largest metro areas in the country, using a mix of housing market metrics and economic and lifestyle indicators. Buyers are looking for places where their money can stretch further without compromising on quality of life, according to the report.
“This ranking confirms what those of us who live and work here already know—Toledo is an affordable, high-quality place to live, and build a future. Our strong housing market, combined with short commute times, great neighborhoods, and access to amenities, makes northwest Ohio a great option for homebuyers,” said Emily Bailey, President of Northwest Ohio Realtors.
Despite some improvement in the number of homes available for sale nationally, the report noted that buyers remain hesitant due to affordability challenges, not inventory shortages. The dynamic provides an edge to Midwestern and Northeastern cities like Toledo, where home prices remain more accessible compared to coastal markets.
The ranking also took into account factors like median home price trends, supply and demand indicators, property tax rates, and climate risk. It weighed local economic health through unemployment rates, wage growth, commute times, and even the availability of amenities like coffee shops and home improvement stores.
Toledo’s inclusion near the top of the list signals a broader shift in buyer behavior, with more people willing to invest in smaller, more affordable metro areas that offer long-term value and livability.
Three other Ohio cities made their way into the ranking. Canton-Massillon (2), Akron (11), and Dayton (22) also performed well, further highlighting the Buckeye State’s growing appeal in the national real estate market.