A small lakeside city sandwiched between Chicago and Milwaukee has quietly become the most in-demand housing market in the US.

Kenosha, Wisconsin, rose to the top of Realtor.com's December hottest housing markets list — a ranking that signals buyer demand has become so intense it has turned the market into the most competitive in the country at the end of last year.

Homes in Kenosha, a suburb of Milwaukee, are now attracting more than three times the national average number of online views and selling weeks faster than the typical US property.

'With a median listing price of $384,000, the metro's relative affordability has broadened its appeal, drawing interest from both local buyers and shoppers from nearby Chicago, which is not as affordable,' said Realtor.com senior economist Jake Krimmel. 

Researchers measured housing market ‘hotness’ using a combination of buyer demand — tracked through unique online views per listing — and market pace, measured by how long homes take to sell. 

By those metrics, Kenosha stood out. Listings attracted more than three times the national average number of views, while the typical home spent just 44 days on the market — nearly a month faster than the US norm.

'I was born and raised here and it's been wonderful to see the evolution of our city over the past several decades,' local realtor Nina Ferraro told Daily Mail.  'We sit on Lake Michigan, directly between Chicago and Milwaukee, which makes us ideal for both accessibility and affordability.'   

The midsized metro of around 100,000 leapfrogged Springfield, Massachusetts, which had dominated the ranking for much of last year. 

Kenosha's year-end surge capped off months of growing buyer interest. Homes are now flying off the market faster than almost anywhere else in the country.

Many Kenosha listings now reach intense competition and end in bidding wars.

The city, located along the shores of Lake Michigan, has now appeared on the site's top 20 hottest housing markets list in 10 of the first 11 months of 2025, before making its year-end victory in the top spot.

Local real estate professionals say Kenosha's appeal is rooted in both geography and lifestyle.

'We are sometimes referred to as 'Chiwaukee,' because we are kind of basically right in between two large cities, being Milwaukee, WI, and Chicago, IL,' said local realtor Wendy Gauss.

'I think that that's what's drawing a lot of people into our area.'

The commute to either metro takes under an hour by car or train, which allows residents to enjoy suburban living with access to two major cities and their culture and job markets.

Despite its smaller size, Kenosha and the neighboring metro Racine are home to several major employers, including the multibillion-dollar shipping and packing company Uline and the US headquarters of international electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn.

'We have a lot of really big corporations moving into the area, and that's why we have so much growth going on,' Gauss said.

Living just ten minutes from the Illinois border also offers financial advantages.

'We have a lot of people that commute, so they live in Wisconsin because Wisconsin's taxes are cheaper or cost of living is cheaper, but they work in Illinois because the pay rate in Illinois is higher,' Gauss said.

Kenosha's natural beauty adds to the appeal. The city boasts a picturesque waterfront lined with beaches, parks, and walking trails, alongside a revitalized downtown filled with locally owned shops, restaurants, breweries, and boutiques.

Many local Lake Michigan beaches, known for free access, lighthouses and sandy shores also have boardwalks and playgrounds. Simmons Island Beach, Eichelman Park Beach,  Southport Beach, and Pennoyer Park Beach are favorites. 

Kenosha also landed on the nation's fastest-moving housing markets, tying with San Jose, CA, for second place, with homes spending a median of 33 days on the market in 2025.

Only Lancaster, PA, and a tie between Springfield, MA, and Reading, PA, edged it out at 32 days.

According to Gauss, the pace is due to not enough homes for sale.

'We need more houses. We need to build more,' she said.

The influx of residents is transforming Kenosha's downtown.

A $450 million redevelopment project has been approved in the heart of the city, promising new apartments, hotels, offices and retail spaces an investment expected to inject new energy and jobs into the city.

Kenosha's population of roughly 99,147 residents enjoy low crime and top public schools.

While the median household income sits slightly below the national average, the overall cost of living index in Kenosha is slightly cheaper than the national norm, making the city an attractive option for people priced out of expensive coastal markets.

Community insights ranker Niche assigns Kenosha an overall grade of B plus, with high marks for nightlife, diversity and outdoor activities.

The city also scores B plus for jobs and B for families.

Families tend to find Kenosha appealing, due to above average public schools and easy outdoor living with plenty of beaches, parks and cycling paths, including the historic Washington Park Velodrome, the longest-operating outdoor cycling track of its kind in the country.

Kenosha also ranks high in varied cultural and economic backgrounds in the state.

Of the top 20 hottest markets on Realtor's list, 11 were in the Midwest, including seven in Wisconsin, more than any other state.

Illinois accounted for three markets, and Ohio had one.

Midwestern listings averaged about 2.6 times the national level of views, with homes selling three to four weeks faster than the typical US property.

'Northeast markets, while fewer in number, continued to post especially high viewer intensity, reflecting ongoing inventory constraints and spillover demand from higher-priced coastal metros,' Krimmel said.

While the surge in demand for affordable Midwestern markets has buyers flocking to the lower-cost metros, it's also driving prices up fast.

Krimmel warned that the competition is unlikely to ease anytime soon.

'Looking ahead to 2026, easing mortgage rates could support renewed buyer activity, but persistent inventory constraints, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast, are likely to keep competition elevated in the most affordable, high-demand markets,' he said.