Montclair’s 07042 ZIP code is now the second-hottest ZIP code in the country, according to Realtor.com’s 2026 rankings. Only Peabody, Massachusetts, ranked higher. For a town that has spent years hearing some version of “why does anyone pay that much to live here,” the number lands like a receipt.
What Made Montclair’s 07042 the Country’s Second-Hottest ZIP Code
The ranking measures two things: how long homes sit before selling, and how much demand they draw, meaning how often people search for and click on listings there compared with the rest of the country. Montclair topped both. Homes in 07042 spent a median of 18 days on the market in the first half of 2026 and pulled in 3.3 times the national average in listing views. This particular ZIP code has never cracked this specific ranking before, even though greater Montclair has shown up in past cycles.
This ranking covers 07042 alone, Montclair’s original ZIP code. Upper Montclair’s 07043 has its own story, which we have covered in full, and did not make the rank this year.
How Much Does It Actually Cost to Buy in Montclair Right Now
Montclair’s median listing price in 07042 hit $1.05 million in the first half of 2026, the highest average home value of any ZIP code on Realtor.com’s entire 50-market list. Homes still sold in 18 days.
That combination caught even the people who track this data for a living off guard. Hannah Jones, senior economist at Realtor.com, told Travel+Leisure she was struck to see a ZIP with a median price north of $1 million make the list at all, adding, “In a housing market where affordability has been front and center, it’s notable to see a ZIP that pricey rise all the way to the top.”
Homes in 07042 sold for 16.7% above asking price in the first half of the year, the highest premium of any ZIP in Realtor.com’s top 10, and a familiar pattern for anyone tracking Montclair’s own recent numbers. Buyers aren’t stretching to get there, either. The average down payment was 22.1%, more than $318,000, with a median credit score of 783, the strongest financial profile of any ZIP in the ranking.
Why Buyers Keep Choosing Montclair Over Everywhere Else
None of that has cooled demand. It’s just clarified who’s buying in, and increasingly, why.
The average home for sale in 07042 ran 2,625 square feet in the first half of 2026, 85.6% larger than the typical home in the broader New York metro area. Buyers here aren’t just paying for a town. They’re paying for square footage that has gotten hard to find closer to the city. They’re not traveling far to find it, either. Nearly 75% of listing views on 07042 properties came from inside the New York metro itself.
There’s a certain vindication in that for anyone who has spent the last few years fielding raised eyebrows over the price tag. Whether the town holds onto No. 2 next year depends on inventory nobody can predict yet, but for the moment, the receipts are in.
Buying or selling in 07042 right now, or watching from the sidelines with your own theory about why the market won’t quit? Tell us what you’re seeing.
Image credit: Realtor.com
