People have long thought of certain zip codes as hotter because of their affluence, top public-school systems or proximity to an important highway or shopping center. Who can forget—if old enough—the chic status of Beverly Hills and its 90210 ZIP code portrayed on a TV show? That city is not on a list compiled by Realtor.com. Instead, this list reveals the hottest ZIP codes in America, not based on super affluence but because of their commutable homes that are near certain large cities as more return to work in offices, maybe not all the time but at least some time. 

"As many companies continue to call employees back to the office, we're seeing a surge in home shoppers who are seeking a desirable combination of cost and convenience within commuting distance of major metropolitan areas," said Danielle Hale, Chief Economist for Realtor.com.

Which cities and suburbs made it onto the top 10 of this ranking, the ninth annual report of this kind? For the first time in five years, the suburbs of Boston, New York, Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis—did. The homes in these markets—all found in the Midwest or Northeast–have more affordable housing stock relative to the rest of the country, are less expensive than their nearby metro area homes or provide better value with more space at a lower price, the survey reported. All also have homes that are priced either at or below the U.S. median, are larger in size than the U.S. average, received an average of 3.6 more views per listing than others in the rest of the country and also sold one month faster than the average sold listing this year.