Days on market is one of the clearest signals of who has the upper hand. When homes sell in a week or two, sellers set the terms. When they sit for two months, buyers can negotiate.
Here's the median days on market for active listings in 30 big US cities, next to how much list prices have moved over the past year.
Days on market by city
| City | Median days on market | Typical list price | List price change, past year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 10 days | $493,000 | +5.4% |
| Milwaukee, WI | 25 days | $217,000 | +3.8% |
| Sacramento, CA | 30 days | $506,000 | -0.2% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 31 days | $404,000 | +1.9% |
| Columbus, OH | 34 days | $268,000 | +1.0% |
| Louisville, KY | 34 days | $333,000 | +1.7% |
| Houston, TX | 35 days | $347,000 | +1.1% |
| San Diego, CA | 36 days | $907,000 | -5.7% |
| Seattle, WA | 36 days | $820,000 | -4.0% |
| Boston, MA | 41 days | $805,000 | -0.4% |
| Fresno, CA | 42 days | $446,000 | +2.7% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 43 days | $384,000 | +1.5% |
| Los Angeles, CA | 45 days | $973,000 | -3.5% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 46 days | $319,000 | -1.9% |
| Las Vegas, NV | 46 days | $502,000 | +0.7% |
| Nashville, TN | 49 days | $469,000 | -4.7% |
| Indianapolis, IN | 51 days | $231,000 | +0.1% |
| Washington, DC | 51 days | $630,000 | -3.0% |
| Charlotte, NC | 52 days | $437,000 | -1.8% |
| Detroit, MI | 54 days | $116,000 | +0.1% |
| Portland, OR | 56 days | $495,000 | -2.7% |
| Denver, CO | 57 days | $639,000 | -3.0% |
| Dallas, TX | 59 days | $387,000 | -2.4% |
| Baltimore, MD | 59 days | $254,000 | -3.1% |
| Tucson, AZ | 60 days | $252,000 | -10% or more |
| San Antonio, TX | 66 days | $288,000 | -1.6% |
| Austin, TX | 68 days | $489,000 | -6.1% |
| Memphis, TN | 68 days | $176,000 | -6.7% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 74 days | $189,000 | -8.1% |
| New York, NY | 78 days | $893,000 | -2.5% |
Slow markets and falling prices go together
The five fastest markets (Chicago, Milwaukee, Sacramento, Phoenix, Columbus) have list prices up an average of +2.4% on a year ago. The five slowest (San Antonio, Austin, Memphis, Philadelphia, New York) are down an average of 5.0%.
That's what you'd expect. Homes that don't sell get cut, and new sellers price below the stale listings. Chicago, IL stands out on the other side: a median of 10 days and list prices up 5.4%, the strongest seller's market of the 30.
What it means for you
If you're buying in a slow market, a listing that's been sitting past the local median is a natural place to negotiate. Asking about price cuts and how long it has been listed is fair game.
If you're selling in a slow market, price for the market you're in, not last year's. A listing that sits picks up a stigma that often costs more than pricing right from day one. The best time of year to list matters too.
If you're in a fast market, expect competition and fewer concessions, and have financing lined up before you look.
How this is measured
These are RentCast's median days on market for sale listings in each city's most populous ZIP codes, weighted by each ZIP's listings. They're based on listings, not closed sales.
For the full picture for one city, open its home value forecast. To see where prices are heading in your ZIP code, try Predictye Property.
Sources
- City figures are RentCast market data for each city's most populous ZIP codes, as of October 14, 2026, counting only ZIP codes with at least 20 active listings. They're averages of ZIP medians, not appraisals.
Don't guess. Just Predictye.