Flint Named America’s Least Profitable City for Property Growth

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Article courtesy of RealWorldInvestor.com,

• Flint, Michigan, has the highest annual decrease in property value, at negative 2.81%.
• The study analyzed data sourced from Realtor on the average annual property value change across 363 US cities between 2021 and 2025.

• Bloomington, Illinois, has the highest annual increase in property value, at an average of 30.24%.

A new study has revealed the US cities with the slowest climbing property value.

The research, conducted by investing review site RealWorldInvestor.com, analyzed data from Realtor to find the median property value over the last five years in 363 US cities. The median price in 2021 was compared to the price in 2025 to calculate the average annual percentage change. The US cities with the greatest increase in property value determined the final ranking.

Flint, Michigan, ranks first, with an average value decrease of 2.81%. From 1,293 properties, the median listing price declined from $179,990 in January 2021 to $157,198 in January 2025. The city’s highest median listing price was in January 2024 at $192,425.

San Francisco, California, follows in second, with an average annual change of negative 2.76%. Based on 4,719 listings, the median listing price fell from $989,000 in January 2021 to $882,000 in January 2025.

In third place is Boulder, Colorado, with a 2.26% average annual decrease in property value. Bridgeport Connecticut, and Altoona, Pennsylvania, follow in fourth and fifth, with decreases of 2.24% and 2.03%, respectively. 

Table 1: US cities with the highest average annual property value increase

Bloomington, Illinois, ranks first, with an average value increase of 30.24% per year. From a sample of 265 properties, the city recorded a median value of $135,000 in January 2021 and $291,000 in January 2025. Bloomington’s highest recorded median value was in January 2024, at $352,450.

Muncie, Indiana, ranks second, with an average value increase of 27.48% per year. Muncie recorded a median value of $68,950 in January 2021 and $152,925 in January 2025 from a sample size of 285 properties. The city’s highest recorded median value was $167,400 in January 2023.

In third place is Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, with an average value increase of 22.56% per year. The city’s median property value climbed from $164,450 in January 2021 to $329,450 in January 2025 from a sample of 219 properties. Fond du Lac’s highest median property value was $329,742 in January 2023.

Paducah, Kentucky, ranks fourth, with an average value increase of 20.16% per year. From a sample of 316 properties, the city recorded a median value of $139,900 in January 2021 and $249,950 in January 2025. Paducah’s highest recorded median value was in January 2024, at $269,950.

In fifth comes St. Joseph, Missouri, with an average value increase of 18.51% per year. St. Joseph recorded a median value of $115,000 in January 2021 and $223,200, the highest recorded value over the five years, in January 2025 from a sample size of 272 properties.

Farmington, New Mexico, ranks sixth, with an average value increase of 17.62% per year. The city’s median property value climbed from $205,000 in January 2021 to $381,995 in January 2025 from a sample of 222.

Seventh on the list is Erie, Pennsylvania, with an average value increase of 17.61% per year. From a sample of 341 properties, the city recorded a median value of $135,000 in January 2021 and $249,675 in January 2025, the highest recorded value.

In eighth place is Lawton, Oklahoma, with an average value increase of 17.55% per year. Lawton recorded a median value of $104,975 in January 2021 and $176,325 in January 2025 from a sample size of 619 properties. The city’s highest recorded median value was $203,688 in January 2024.

Mansfield, Ohio, ranks ninth, with an average value increase of 17.29% per year. The city’s median property value climbed from $122,000 in January 2021 to $219,900, the highest recorded value over the five years, in January 2025 from a sample of 233.

Landing the tenth spot is Vineland, New Jersey, with an average value increase of 17.13% per year. From a sample of 414 properties, the city recorded a median value of $160,000 in January 2021 and $299,850 in January 2025, the highest recorded value.

Table 2: US cities with the highest average annual property value increase 

Adam Koprucki, Founder of RealWorldInvestor.com, comments,

“Buying a home is a great way to build wealth as property values increase over time. These findings highlight the most lucrative cities for prospective buyers, with Illinois’ Bloomington taking the top spot in America, as properties saw a 30.24% annual increase in 2025. Whether it’s a young couple buying their first family home or a landlord purchasing apartments to rent, making informed decisions about the location of properties will ensure it becomes a long-term investment as its equity grows.”

Source

• Realtor

Methodology

Data on the median property value in 363 US cities between January 2021 and January 2025 was sourced from Realtor. The median value changes from 2021 to 2025 were analyzed to determine each city’s average annual percentage increase. The final ranking was determined by the US cities with the greatest median property value increase per year.

Table 3: Top 50 cities with the highest average annual property value increase