Tech investments spur demand for homes in Gahanna's hottest ZIP code

For the second year in a row, the Realtor.com® Hottest ZIP Code in America is 43230 in Gahanna, OH. The small town of 35,000 residents in central Ohio is emerging as a desirable location, drawing comparisons to Palo Alto, CA.

Google’s data center is just 10 miles away in New Albany, OH, and Intel is investing $28 billion on new microchip factories spanning nearly 1,000 acres about five miles away in New Albany, Licking County.

Some of that Palo Alto influence might already be affecting Gahanna, where the median household income is $87,400. This figure is almost $10,000 more than the U.S. median annual household income as of July 2024, estimated at $78,171 by Motio Research.

Gahanna's homes are highly sought after. Located just east of Columbus and a short drive from John Glenn Columbus International Airport, homes in this suburb spent a median of 11 days on the market before being sold in the first half of 2024—42 days less than the national average. Properties attracted more than four times as many views per listing compared with the U.S. median.

The hottest ZIP codes list was compiled using Realtor.com listing data from January to June 2023. The economic research team assessed views per listing and how quickly homes were sold.

Gahanna’s ZIP code had a median list price of $345,000 in the first half of the year—11% below the metro average and nearly 13% below the national median of $439,950. "Affordability is one reason Gahanna is so popular with homebuyers," says Lori Kappes, executive director of Visit Gahanna.

This small town has also caught the attention of New York metro shoppers—8.3% of its home listing views came from there during the first half of 2024. However, most interest remains local with 53.2% of views coming from within the Columbus metro area.

Gahanna's rental market suggests potential for investors; it saw a 4.8 percentage point increase in investor share during Q1 2024 with investors acquiring 19.4% of sales.

The town offers over 750 acres of parkland and carries the title "Herb Capital of Ohio," featuring an herb center with classes and workshops. Additional attractions include North Market and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

The public school system received four out of five stars from the Ohio Department of Education last September. Just 15 miles away lies Ohio State University (OSU), enhancing educational and professional opportunities locally.

Ready to shop for a home? Listings include:

- A four-bedroom house at 614 Tall Oaks Dr for $350,000.

- A four-bedroom house at 280 Larry Ln for $419,555.

- A brick home at 270 Dellfield Way for $299,999.