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Upstate really is great. So much so that the Rochester, New York area emerged as one of the most competitive real estate markets in the country this spring.
According to new data from the National Association of Realtors, Monroe County — where Rochester stands — ranked fifth nationwide in March for market “hotness,” a measure that blends buyer demand with housing supply indicators, such as time on market and online listing activity.
Among more than 1,600 US counties analyzed, it was the highest-performing in New York State by a wide margin.
Several other upstate pockets also landed in the national top 100, including Broome County, which covers Binghamton, at No. 23 — and Livingston County, home to towns like Geneseo in the Finger Lakes region, at No. 27.
Nearby Ontario and Tompkins counties — anchored by Canandaigua and Ithaca, respectively — also posted strong showings, alongside Tioga County near the Pennsylvania border.
The “hotness” index, which underpins the rankings, gauges local housing dynamics by combining median days on market with listing page view activity.
Homes in the Rochester area, for example, are not only drawing high levels of online interest but are also selling at a faster clip than in much of the country.
While Onondaga County, which includes Syracuse, came in lower at No. 531 nationally, it still placed within the top 25 in New York, underscoring steady regional demand.
The broader trend suggests that smaller metro areas in New York — particularly those with more accessible price points — are gaining traction amid ongoing affordability challenges in larger cities.
A recent analysis from Redfin labeled the small village of Fairport, New York — a suburb roughly 20 minutes outside of Rochester — as one of 2025’s hottest neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, New York state overall has remained steady as the top contender for hottest real estate markets, having four of the nation’s fastest-selling housing markets since January 2025.
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