Luxury Lens: Where are the luxury hotspots for vacation homes? September 16, 2026

As travelers begin planning seasonal getaways, new research identifies the leading vacation home markets in the U.S. and the premium price tags these spots command.

Map of the United States titled "Luxury Vacation Home Hotspots" showing vacation homes as a percentage of total housing stock in selected markets. Nantucket, Massachusetts has the highest share at 55%, followed by Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts at 54% and Breckenridge, Colorado at 46%. Other locations shown include Morehead City, North Carolina (34%), Barnstable Town, Massachusetts (33%), Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina (31%), Atlantic City-Hammonton, New Jersey (29%), and Heber, Utah, Edwards, Colorado, and Boone, North Carolina (28% each).

In Realtor.com’s “June 2026 Luxury Housing Report,” published July 15, 2026, Nantucket, Massachusetts has the nation’s highest share of vacation properties. Second homes account for more than half (55%) of housing on the elite New England island, with the 10% most expensive listings there starting at US$14,117,250, according to the research.

Coastal, beach and mountain retreat destinations feature heavily in markets with high concentrations of vacation homes, Realtor.com’s data shows. Holiday homes make up 54.4% of residences in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, another sought-after island destination, where top flight listings start at US$8,235,000.

Bar chart titled "Luxury Vacation Home Hotspots" showing the starting price for the top 10% most expensive homes by location. Nantucket, Massachusetts ranks highest at $14.1 million, followed by Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts at $8.2 million, Heber, Utah at $6.0 million, and Edwards, Colorado at $5.7 million. Other markets shown include Breckenridge, Colorado; Barnstable Town, Massachusetts; Atlantic City-Hammonton, New Jersey; Boone, North Carolina; Morehead City, North Carolina; and Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, with starting luxury-home prices ranging from approximately $1.4 million to $3.7 million.

Breckenridge, in the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, stands out in the Realtor.com data for its 46% share of vacation homes, while Heber, Utah, is the third most expensive U.S. vacation home market, with luxury listings starting at US$6,038,000.

“There is a level of luxury where the destination is intentional,” says Anthony Smith, senior economist at Realtor.com, places where “scenery carries more value than proximity to a major economic engine.”

Cover Property: Sotheby’s International Realty – East Hampton Brokerage