These are the top metro areas across the country that searched for homes in the NYC area last year

Key Takeaways:

• We analyzed Zillow® search data to find the 10 metro areas with the most residents looking for homes in the New York metro area, as well as the 10 metros where the most New Yorkers are searching for homes to buy.
• Seven metro areas, including two in Florida, made both the inbound and outbound lists this year.
• Tampa, Dallas, and Atlanta are three new additions to this year’s inbound list.
• Philadelphia topped the list with the most residents looking for homes in the NYC area, and also took the top spot on the outbound list.

Bright lights and big cities may not be for everyone, but according to a new analysis of Zillow® search data, there are plenty of people across the country spending their nights dreaming of a move to the city that never sleeps. Read on, New Yorkers, to find out where your soon-to-be new neighbors might be hailing from — plus, discover the top destinations for those considering a move out of the NYC area.

Thinking about moving to the Big Apple yourself? Check out the StreetEasy® guide to moving to NYC for everything you need to know about choosing a neighborhood, finding a home, and more.

10. Tampa, FL

New to the inbound list this year is Tampa, which previously ranked in the top five locations New Yorkers were considering a move to in 2023. Perhaps it’s a sign that life in the Sunshine State isn’t all it’s cracked up to be after all.

9. San Francisco, CA

With NYC emerging as a burgeoning market for the tech industry in recent years, it’s no wonder that San Francisco has made an appearance on this list yet again. But while these West Coasters may be forever looking east, it seems their tickets are only one-way: San Francisco has never cracked the top destinations where New Yorkers are looking for homes in the three times we’ve run this analysis.

8. Dallas, TX

New residential construction may be booming in Texas’ most populous metro area, but it looks like Dallas residents are too busy daydreaming of a move up north to notice. While these Texans might feel that Dallas has prepared them for life in a big city, they’ll soon realize that — unlike in the Lone Star State — there’s nowhere to feel alone in a city as dense as NYC. 

7. Chicago, IL

Even more Chicago residents are considering a move east than before, bumping the Windy City up two spots to number seven. However, some might be reconsidering now that their city is finally getting a real slice of pizza. 

6. Atlanta, GA

Another metro new to this year’s inbound list is Atlanta, which previously came in as the number four spot New Yorkers wanted to relocate to in 2023. Whether or not those former New Yorkers passed their driver tests, it’s understandable that in Georgia’s sprawling, car-centric city, they might find themselves pining for the MTA.

5. Los Angeles, CA

Like San Francisco, Los Angeles is another California regular on the list of metros whose residents are looking at homes in New York City. And for good reason: those lengthy bicoastal flights provide the perfect opportunity to do some Zillowing and daydream of canceling your return flight home.

4. Boston, MA

Up three spots from last year’s inbound list is Boston. As the nation’s only other city where broker fees may still be considered the norm, it’s understandable that the passage of the FARE Act by the New York City Council in late 2024 — and the anticipated savings in upfront moving costs that come with it — had even more Bostonians wondering if now might be the time to move to NYC.

3. Miami, FL

Though it fell two spots from its previous number one ranking on the inbound list, it appears plenty of Miamians are still willing to trade the Florida sand for the New York snow. As we pointed out last year, the door between NYC and the Sunshine State continues to be a revolving one — Tampa and Miami made this year’s inbound list, but along with Orlando, also made this year’s outbound list.

2. Washington, D.C.

An onslaught of D.C. residents were considering their next move during an election year — perhaps wanting to make a career move from public to private sector, too. Or maybe they’re just looking for a shorter commute? Whatever the reason, NYC has plenty of cherry blossoms to offer a taste of home each spring.

1. Philadelphia, PA

Coming in at number one is Philly, unseating Miami as both the top metro searching for homes in the NYC area and the top metro where New Yorkers are searching for homes. Maybe it’s the Amtrak delays or the anticipation of another Super Bowl evening of greased pole climbers on Broad Street, but there’s something about the City of Brotherly Love that has its residents looking to trade their big city for an even bigger one. Though we have to admit, as the number one destination where New Yorkers are searching (and one of Zillow’s hottest markets of 2025), Philly must have some great things to offer — primarily its $1,700 typical asking rent and $256,000 median asking price.

Where are New Yorkers looking?

One in three New Yorkers considering buying a home in NYC are also contemplating a move out of the city at the same time. But after reviewing the list above, maybe they’ll see that the grass isn’t always greener. This year, seven of the top 10 metros where New Yorkers are looking for homes also happen to be top metros whose residents are looking for homes in the NYC area.

The top 10 metros — excluding the New York metro area itself — where New Yorkers are looking for homes are:

Moving to NYC?

StreetEasy is your go-to destination for all things NYC real estate, whether you’re buying, selling, or renting. See our comprehensive guide to moving to NYC for advice on selecting a neighborhood, logistics, managing costs, and more. Thinking about making a more permanent move to one of the five boroughs? Check out our first-time buyer guide for tips on purchasing your first property in NYC, and get matched with a StreetEasy Expert agent to take the next step toward unlocking your dream home.

Methodology

We tallied up Zillow page views of for-sale home listings from January through December 2024, grouped by the metropolitan statistical area of the listing, and the apparent location (also estimated at the metropolitan area level) of the user, whether on Zillow apps or websites.

StreetEasy is an assumed name of Zillow, Inc. which has a real estate brokerage license in all 50 states and D.C. See real estate licenses. StreetEasy does not intend to interfere with any agency agreement you may have with a real estate professional or solicit your business if you are already under contract to purchase or sell property. All data for uncited sources in this presentation has been sourced from Zillow data. Copyright © 2025 by Zillow, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.