The Midwest came in hot this summer, claiming 11 spots in the Realtor.com August 2026 Hottest Housing Markets ranking.
The top spot went to Rockford, IL, which has sat at No. 1 only once before, in December 2024. As an affordable alternative to the neighboring hubs of Chicago and Madison, Rockford has access to big-city amenities with far lower costs.
Nicknamed “The Forest City” due to its lush trees and surrounding parks and forest preserves, Rockford has a population of roughly 147,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau…