WalletHub has ranked McKinney as the No. 1 real estate market in the entire country in 2025.
McKinney not only secured the top position in real estate markets but also saw Richardson, Frisco, Denton, and Allen ranking among the top 10. This means that North Texas cities represent half of the top 10 real estate markets in the United States, according to WalletHub.
When it comes to the best markets, the study looked beyond just which cities possessed the lowest-priced homes. Instead, the report compared 300 cities using 17 indicators of housing market attractiveness coupled with economic strength.
“Current home prices are extremely important, but there’s much more that you need to look at when determining the health of a city’s real estate market,” said WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo.
To determine the ranking, cities were given a score out of a possible 100 points, with 80% of the score derived from the location’s real estate market, and the remaining grade determined by the city’s affordability and economic environment.
Real Estate Market Metrics:
- Home Value Forecast
- Median Home-Price Appreciation
- Median Days on the Market
- Share of Seriously Underwater Mortgages
- Ratio of Rent Price to Sale Price
- Foreclosure Rate
- Share of People Delinquent on their Mortgage Debt
- Vacancy Rate
- Share of Young Homes
- Building-Permit Activity
Affordability & Economic Environment Metrics:
- Housing Affordability
- Maintenance Affordability
- Population Growth Rate
- Job Growth Rate
- Unemployment Rate
- Underemployment Rate
- Median Credit Score
To secure the top spot, McKinney ranked No. 2 in the country in the “Real Estate Market” category and No. 3 in the “Affordability & Economic Environment” category. WalletHub attributed its success in large part to its recent growth.
“McKinney has the second-highest share of houses that were built between 2010 and 2023, at roughly 38%, which means that new buyers have a lot of options for houses that may not need major maintenance for a while. There are also plenty more new housing options coming, as McKinney has the third-highest number of building permits per capita,” read the report.
The study also highlighted McKinney’s robust job market, boasting the 11th-highest job growth rate nationally at nearly 21% annually.