This Florida Town Is the State's Fastest-growing Housing Market-With Home Values Doubling in 5 Years

"If you're looking to buy a Florida home that will eventually increase in value, GOBankingRates recently found out where, exactly, you'd likely see the highest returns on your investment. After analyzing 7,500 of the largest U.S. housing markets with above-average home value growth, the personal finance resource identified five cities in each state where prices are likely to rise. In Florida, Palm Beach took the top spot."

"Of course, property in this famously ritzy coastal town doesn't come cheap. According to GOBankingRates data, the median home value in October 2025 in Palm Beach was a staggering $9,815,790, a 118.2 percent increase in five years. Notably, as of Dec. 22, 2025, Zillow reports a slightly different home value average, just north of $2 million. If you're priced out of Palm Beach, but still want to invest in a home in Florida, GOBankingRates has four more options."

"Wauchula came in at No. 2, with a one-year and five-year change in home value of 3.1 percent and 64.8 percent, respectively. The quiet town sits on the banks of the Peace River, about an hour away from Tampa. The median home value here in October 2025 was $235,107. Old Town in Dixie County ranked third, with a median home value of $207,787, and an impressive 48 percent increase in real estate prices over five years."

Florida attracts out-of-state newcomers with warm weather, hundreds of miles of beaches, lower property taxes, no state income tax, and opportunities for high-return real estate investment. An analysis of 7,500 large U.S. housing markets with above-average home-value growth identified five cities in each state where prices are likely to rise. Palm Beach ranks highest in Florida, with a reported October 2025 median home value of $9,815,790 and a 118.2 percent five-year increase, though Zillow shows a different average near $2 million. Wauchula (No. 2) saw one-year and five-year gains of 3.1 percent and 64.8 percent, with a $235,107 median. Old Town (No. 3) posted a $207,787 median and a 48 percent five-year increase. South Bay and Bell complete the top five, each with October 2025 medians under $300,000.

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