Greater Boston’s Historic ‘Leather City’ Is America’s Hottest ZIP Code

Suburban enclaves located within a short drive of major job hubs in the Northeast and Midwest are seeing a surge in homebuyer demand, led by a Greater Boston community with a rich industrial past as a leather manufacturing capital. Peabody, MA (ZIP 01960) climbed to the top of the annual Realtor.com® Hottest ZIP Codes of 2026 list, marking the small community's triumphant comeback to the top 10 ranking after last appearing in 2021 at the third spot. A city of roughly 55,000 inhabitants sitting just 20 minutes from downtown Boston, Peabody has greatly benefited from its close proximity to the metro's economic engine, offering buyers a tempting mix of relative affordability, larger homes with distinctive character, and a more laid-back lifestyle. The hottest ZIP code rankings from Realtor.com take into account two aspects of the housing market: market demand, as measured by unique viewers per property on the website, and the pace of the market as measured by the number of days a listing remains active.The hottest areas are those that have the most unique viewers per listed property and fast-selling homes—a sign of limited supply.Loading...The 10 Hottest Zip Codes in 2026, with Peabod...