Wanna get away? See the top vacation home markets of the year

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Published  December 20, 2024 1:09pm MST
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FILE-Luxury homes sit above the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

The Brief

    • Cape May County, New Jersey ranked as the number one vacation home market in 2024.
    • Three Florida counties made the list, offering consumers the appeal of beaches and other scenery in the surrounding areas.
    • The rankings of the vacation home markets are based on the demand for properties priced above $700,000.

Consumers in the market for a second place to call home when they want to take a vacation may have some viable options to choose from. 

The vacation housing market has experienced changes in 2024 compared to last year that have made properties in specific areas more popular. 

Pacaso, a marketplace for luxury vacation homes for co-ownership, shared a new analysis for luxury vacation homes this year by ranking the top properties in the U.S.

Data for the rankings were based on increases in second-home activity, the proportion of second homes to primary homes and demand for properties priced above $700,000.

These are the top vacation home markets in 2024. 

Top 20 vacation home markets 

  1. Cape May County, New Jersey
  2. Gulf County, Florida
  3. Walton County, Florida
  4. Barnstable County, Massachusetts
  5. Collier County, Florida
  6. Coconion County, Arizona
  7. Maui County, Hawaii
  8. Beaufort County, South Carolina
  9. New York County, New York
  10. Newport County, Rhode Island
  11. Washington County, Rhode Island
  12. Ocean County, New Jersey
  13. Palm Beach County, Florida
  14. Buncombe County, North Carolina
  15. Gallatin County, Montana
  16. Washington County, Utah
  17. Nassau County, Florida
  18. Deschutes County, Oregon
  19. Charleston County, South Carolina
  20. Cumberland County, Maine

A closer look at the top vacation home markets

Cape May County, New Jersey

Cape May County, New Jersey tops the list with a ratio of second homes to primary housing surpassing 150%. Pacaso explained in its report that the area is a preferred destination for people who live in areas lile Philadelphia and New York City, offering beac towns like Ocean City and Avalon.

Gulf County, Florida

According to Pacaso, Gulf County, Florida, which is part of the Panama City metro area, offers more than 200 miles of white-sand shoreline, and an option for second home buyers.

Walton County, Florida

Walton County, Florida is highlighted by popular beach towns along the Emerald Coast, making it an appealing place for buyers to purchase a vacation home. 

Barnstable County, Massachusetts

Barnstable County, Massachusetts is home to the iconic Cape Cod and the area is rooted in tradition offering plenty of vacation spaces with cultural appeal, Pacaso noted.

The Source

  • Information for this story was provided by Pacaso, which assembled its ranking by evaluating increases in second home activity, the proportion of second homes to primary homes, and the demand for properties priced above $700,000. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.