Maine City Named 2024 Most Popular Vacation Spot in America by Zillow

If you've spent your entire life living in Maine, some of the increased tourism interest in recent years seems almost unbelievable. Rarely does a native Mainer ever think cities and towns in Maine compare to hotspots like New York City, Los Angeles or even Disney World.

But it's time to rethink all of that.

Real estate marketplace Zillow has released their 2024 year in review, which collects all of their real estate data, rental data and searches to determine which towns and cities are the hottest in various categories.

Portland, Maine, is Officially a Vacation Destination

Zillow's research named Portland, Maine, as the most popular vacation town in America for 2024. For those that live in Portland, they felt that. Hotel rates were sky high, streets were jammed with people and restaurant reservations were often difficult to come by this summer.

Zillow's methodology on how that arrived at Portland as the most popular vacation town may make some people nervous. In order to qualify as a vacation destination, at least 33% of all housing units have to be designated for non-primary use. Meaning second homes or short-term rentals.

New England was Home to the Most Popular Real Estate Market in the Nation

Another surprising finding from Zillow's year in review was that New England is home to the most popular real estate market in the country. That market? Manchester, New Hampshire.

Manchester has suddenly become a popular market for those working in Boston as well as cities in Massachusetts that don't want the hassle and expense of living in the big city.

Home values in Manchester rose more than 7% last year and the market doesn't seem to be slowing down.