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If you're buying or selling a home in Iowa in early 2026, competition can make a big difference in your strategy. In faster-moving markets, buyers may need to act quickly and come prepared, with homes going under contract in a matter of days. In other cities, listings are sitting longer as economic uncertainty and high costs give buyers and sellers pause.

Nationwide, housing markets are , although competition varies from the Northeast to the South. Understanding where homes are selling the fastest can help buyers gauge how competitive a market is and help sellers set realistic expectations.

To see where homes are selling the fastest in Iowa right now, ranked the top cities based on their average "days on market"—the time it takes for a new listing to go under contract. The lower the number, the more competitive the city. Rankings are based on the December 2025 monthly average or monthly average median.

#1. Carlisle, Iowa
- Days on market: 7
- Median sale price: $253,250
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 102.1%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 50.0%
- See

#2. Perry, Iowa
- Days on market: 11
- Median sale price: $209,500
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 99.0%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 33.3%
- See

#3. Cedar Falls, Iowa
- Days on market: 12
- Median sale price: $256,250
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 99.1%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 44.0%
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#4. Maxwell, Iowa
- Days on market: 14
- Median sale price: $179,950
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 98.5%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 0.0%
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#5. Missouri Valley, Iowa
- Days on market: 14
- Median sale price: $155,000
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 97.1%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 33.3%
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#6. Monticello, Iowa
- Days on market: 15
- Median sale price: $184,500
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 98.5%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 0.0%
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#7. Waverly, Iowa
- Days on market: 19
- Median sale price: $253,900
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 98.1%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 50.0%
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#8. Clive, Iowa
- Days on market: 22
- Median sale price: $385,000
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 98.1%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 22.7%
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#9. Storm Lake, Iowa
- Days on market: 22
- Median sale price: $158,000
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 98.2%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 42.9%
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#10. Waterloo, Iowa
- Days on market: 23
- Median sale price: $162,500
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 97.0%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 46.7%
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#11. West Burlington, Iowa
- Days on market: 27
- Median sale price: $108,500
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 98.4%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 100.0%
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#12. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Days on market: 28
- Median sale price: $192,250
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 99.1%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 22.0%
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#13. Ames, Iowa
- Days on market: 30
- Median sale price: $259,900
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 98.6%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 21.9%
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#14. DeWitt, Iowa
- Days on market: 30
- Median sale price: $269,000
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 98.8%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 50.0%
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#15. Nevada, Iowa
- Days on market: 30
- Median sale price: $220,000
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 97.4%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 0.0%
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#16. Marshalltown, Iowa
- Days on market: 30
- Median sale price: $141,500
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 95.1%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 23.8%
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#17. Marion, Iowa
- Days on market: 31
- Median sale price: $267,812.50
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 99.6%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 26.9%
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#18. Sioux City, Iowa
- Days on market: 31
- Median sale price: $218,000
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 99.0%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 26.2%
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#19. Muscatine, Iowa
- Days on market: 32
- Median sale price: $174,500
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 96.7%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 21.4%
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#20. Grundy Center, Iowa
- Days on market: 33
- Median sale price: $164,000
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 100.7%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: not available
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#21. Des Moines, Iowa
- Days on market: 33
- Median sale price: $210,000
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 97.7%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 23.5%
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#22. West Des Moines, Iowa
- Days on market: 33
- Median sale price: $316,000
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 97.8%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 14.8%
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#23. Vinton, Iowa
- Days on market: 34
- Median sale price: $185,000
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 96.8%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 0.0%
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#24. Council Bluffs, Iowa
- Days on market: 34
- Median sale price: $235,000
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 97.4%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 41.0%
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#25. Le Claire, Iowa
- Days on market: 34
- Median sale price: $330,500
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 98.1%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 25.0%
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#26. Bettendorf, Iowa
- Days on market: 36
- Median sale price: $293,000
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 98.1%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 8.3%
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#27. Pella, Iowa
- Days on market: 36
- Median sale price: $378,500
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 97.4%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 25.0%
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#28. Huxley, Iowa
- Days on market: 39
- Median sale price: $315,000
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 98.8%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 0.0%
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#29. Davenport, Iowa
- Days on market: 39
- Median sale price: $199,750
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 97.9%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 11.4%
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#30. Knoxville, Iowa
- Days on market: 40
- Median sale price: $159,000
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 96.5%
- Share of homes that went off market in two weeks: 28.6%
- See