ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Homebuyers considering a move to New Jersey may want to keep a close eye on Atlantic City and the surrounding housing market over the next year.
According to Zillow’s housing market forecast, Atlantic City, New Jersey, is projected to experience a 3.5% increase in home prices between June 2026 and June 2027 — the largest forecast increase among the 300 largest U.S. metropolitan housing markets.
Atlantic City ranked No. 1 among the 15 metropolitan areas Zillow expects to experience the greatest home price growth during the period.
The forecast could be particularly significant for prospective homebuyers considering South Jersey, where Atlantic County offers a combination of coastal communities, suburban neighborhoods, employment opportunities and access to the Jersey Shore.
Atlantic City Housing Market Stands Out Nationally
Housing markets across the United States have undergone a significant adjustment as buyers contend with mortgage rates, affordability pressures, changing inventory levels and economic uncertainty.
Against that backdrop, Zillow’s forecast for Atlantic City stands out.
A projected 3.5% increase from June 2026 through June 2027 does not suggest the dramatic home price appreciation experienced during the pandemic-era housing boom. Instead, it points toward continued price resilience at a time when housing market conditions vary considerably across the country.
For prospective buyers, the forecast is important because it suggests that waiting for significantly lower home prices in the Atlantic City metropolitan area may not necessarily produce the savings some buyers anticipate.
At the same time, forecasts are projections rather than guarantees. Mortgage rates, housing inventory, employment conditions, consumer confidence and broader economic trends can all change the direction of a local housing market.
What the Forecast Could Mean for People Moving to New Jersey
For individuals and families planning to relocate to New Jersey during the next year, Atlantic City’s projected price growth provides another factor to consider when determining when and where to purchase a home.
A 3.5% increase would mean that a home valued at $300,000, for example, would theoretically increase by approximately $10,500 if it appreciated at the forecast rate over the year.
For a $400,000 property, the same percentage would represent approximately $14,000 in additional value.
Actual appreciation will vary considerably by municipality, neighborhood, property type and individual home. However, the forecast illustrates why prospective buyers may want to evaluate South Jersey housing opportunities sooner rather than assuming prices will decline.
Atlantic City Metro Extends Beyond the Casinos and Boardwalk
People unfamiliar with New Jersey may associate Atlantic City primarily with casinos, beaches, hotels and the Boardwalk. The metropolitan housing market, however, encompasses a much broader residential region.
Atlantic County includes communities offering everything from coastal and resort-oriented living to suburban and more rural environments.
For relocators, that means searching the Atlantic City metro does not necessarily mean living in downtown Atlantic City.
Communities throughout Atlantic County can provide access to the region’s employment centers and recreational amenities while offering very different housing types and lifestyles.
That flexibility could appeal to retirees, remote workers, families and professionals seeking an alternative to the considerably more expensive housing markets found closer to New York City.
South Jersey Offers a Different Relocation Proposition
New Jersey is a relatively small state geographically, but its housing markets can vary dramatically.
Northern New Jersey attracts buyers seeking access to New York City and major employment centers in places such as Newark, Jersey City and the surrounding suburbs. Central New Jersey provides access to both the New York and Philadelphia regions, while South Jersey has its own combination of Philadelphia-area commuting communities, coastal destinations and more affordable housing markets.
The Atlantic City region adds another option.
Residents can have access to the Jersey Shore while remaining connected to the broader South Jersey economy. The region is also within driving distance of Philadelphia, making it potentially attractive to buyers who do not need to commute daily into New York City.
Housing Demand Could Have Implications Beyond Homebuyers
Continued home price appreciation could also matter to existing homeowners and real estate investors.
For homeowners, rising property values can increase household equity. For investors, appreciation can strengthen the long-term economics of owning residential property, although taxes, insurance, maintenance expenses and rental market conditions must also be considered.
Atlantic City and surrounding Shore communities also have unique considerations because coastal properties can face different insurance, flood-risk and maintenance requirements than properties farther inland.
Prospective buyers relocating from outside New Jersey should therefore look beyond the purchase price when calculating the true cost of homeownership.
Property taxes, homeowners insurance, flood insurance where applicable, utilities, commuting expenses and maintenance should all be incorporated into a relocation budget.
Buyers Should Research Individual Atlantic County Communities
A metropolitan-area forecast should not be interpreted as predicting identical price growth in every community.
Housing conditions can differ significantly between Atlantic City itself and surrounding municipalities.
Prospective buyers should examine local inventory, recent comparable sales, property taxes, school districts, transportation, flood zones and neighborhood-level price trends before deciding where to purchase.
Families relocating with children may place greater emphasis on schools and suburban communities, while retirees could prioritize proximity to the Shore, healthcare and lower-maintenance properties. Remote workers may have considerably more flexibility in deciding how far they live from the region’s primary employment centers.
Understanding those differences can help relocators determine whether the broader Atlantic City housing market fits their lifestyle and financial priorities.
Atlantic City Could Be a Housing Market to Watch in 2027
Being ranked first among the nation’s 300 largest metropolitan housing markets for projected home price growth puts Atlantic City in an unusual national position.
The 3.5% Zillow forecast for June 2026 through June 2027 suggests that South Jersey could remain relatively resilient even as the national housing market continues adjusting to affordability challenges and changing economic conditions.
For prospective New Jersey residents, the forecast provides another reason to expand a home search beyond the state's better-known New York City commuter markets.
Atlantic City and the surrounding region offer a distinctly South Jersey alternative — combining access to the Shore, diverse communities and a housing market that Zillow currently expects to outperform the country's other major metropolitan areas for home price growth over the coming year.
For buyers planning a move to New Jersey in 2026 or 2027, Atlantic City may be one housing market worth putting on the relocation shortlist.