In this edition of The Price Point—a weekly series where Redfin data journalists explore current housing inventory across a rotating combination of budgets and metro areas—we’re looking at some of the hottest real estate markets in the country, according to Redfin’s latest analysis.
Our annual Hottest Neighborhoods report ranks U.S. zip codes in the 100 most populous metro areas by year-over-year growth in listing views on Redfin.com and Redfin Compete Score—a measure of how difficult it is to win a home. This year, several neighborhoods that landed in the top 10 clustered around three metro areas: Milwaukee, WI, Detroit, MI, and Long Island, NY.
And with a national lens in mind, we’re exploring what you can get in these markets for the current U.S. median home price, which, as of April 2026, is approximately $400,000. Hint: The $400,000 inventory available in Milwaukee and Detroit looks a lot different than Long Island.
What $400,000 Gets You In Milwaukee, WI: All Kinds of Comfort
Three Milwaukee-area towns made our top 10 Hottest Neighborhoods ranking—Oak Creek, WI (ranked 3rd), West Bend, WI (ranked 5th) and Menomonee Falls, WI (ranked 10th). Local Redfin agents attributed the area’s omnipresence on the 2026 list to its relative low cost of living and proximity to Chicago.
In Milwaukee, $400,000 can buy lots of different lifestyles. Downtown, this price point typically yields a midsized, semi-updated unit, like this ~1,100-square-foot, 1-bed, 1.5-bathroom condo with great views of the city’s skyline.
1,119 sq ft condo in Milwaukee listed by Redfin agent W.J. Eulberg
Further out from the city center—but closer to Chicago—$400,000 buys about double the size. Case in point: this ~2,300-square-foot home in the Wisconsin-Illinois border neighborhood of Twin Lakes, WI is currently listed for $475,000. It’s located in a golf course community, too.
2,323 sq ft home in Twin Lakes, WI listed by Redfin agent Melissa Nelson
Overall, the greater Milwaukee market is extremely competitive; in April, it was home to one of the strongest seller’s markets in the country.
What $400,000 Gets You In Detroit, MI: Sizable Single-Family Homes
Two Detroit-area towns made our top 10 Hottest Neighborhoods ranking—Lincoln Park, MI (ranked 6th) and Howell, MI (ranked 9th). Like Milwaukee, local Redfin agents attributed the area’s hotness to its low cost of living. Median home prices in Detroit have consistently been among the lowest in the country as of late, so $400,000 can stretch quite far.
Just beyond the city’s outerbelt in Waterford, MI, for example, $425,000 will buy this updated 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom single-family home built in 2020.
1,725 sq ft home in Waterford, MI listed by Redfin agent Daniel Wickman
In nearby Romulus, MI, $400,000 can net you even more space, including this ~2,300 square-foot home featuring four bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms on a well-maintained street. It’s slightly older and less updated though; a common compromise for increased square footage, no matter where you look.
2,346 sq ft home in Romulus, MI listed by Redfin agent Desiree Bourgeois
Still, buyers should beware: inventory at this price point around Detroit is quite slim at present. Speaking about the area for our Hottest Neighborhoods report, Redfin Premier agent Anne Loehr told us that “there just aren’t many homes to sell right now—it’s such a popular place.”
What $400,000 Gets You In Long Island, NY: Humble Homes
Two towns on Long Island made our top 10 Hottest Neighborhoods ranking—Oceanside, NY (ranked 4th) and Little Neck, NY (ranked 8th). The median home price in both neighborhoods sits well over $700,000, so $400,000 doesn’t net nearly as much space—or amenities—as it does in Milwaukee or Detroit.
Instead, older, smaller condos, like this 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom 800-square-foot co-op in Farmingdale are standard fare.
800 sq ft condo in Farmingdale, NY listed by Redfin agent Peggy Papazaharias
This 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom home further out in Ridge, NY, meanwhile, pushes on the upper limits of $400,000 can buy on Long Island. It’s somewhat updated, has a picturesque backyard, and is close to the beach—but at just over 840 square feet, it’s still very small.
842 sq ft home in Ridge, NY listed by Redfin agent Peggy Papazaharias
As of April 2026, homes in the broader Nassau County, NY metro area spend 35 days on the market before going into contract; that’s an entire two weeks faster than the national average.
Editor’s note: This is a weekly column. The listing status and prices of featured homes are subject to change.
