As spring approaches and homeowners gear up to tackle long-awaited renovations, new data from Home Gnome reveals the best—and worst—U.S. cities in 2025 for taking on home improvement projects to add value or comfort to your space.
In a comprehensive study ranking 498 cities across the country, Home Gnome analyzed four major categories and 44 metrics, including the average age of homes, access to contractors and designers, and local project costs. The results spotlighted California as a dominant force in home improvement readiness.
Top-ranked cities
California cities claimed 13 of the top 15 spots across large, midsize, and small city categories. Miami, FL led large cities, followed by Jersey City, NJ and Santa Ana, CA. Among midsize cities, Norwalk, Inglewood, and Orange—all in California—took the top ranks. South Gate, CA, Buena Park, CA, and Tustin, CA led among small cities.
Challenging markets
At the opposite end, cities like Detroit, Rockford, and Flint were ranked the least favorable for home improvements, largely due to aging housing stock and limited access to professionals.
Key trends
-
Budget Boosters: Cities like New York and Newark are investing the highest percentage of income in renovations.
-
Contractor Central: The Northeast is home to top-rated access to home remodeling professionals, with New Rochelle, NY, and Clifton, NJ standing out.
-
California Dreaming: The Golden State’s consistent top performance signals a strong infrastructure and demand for home upgrades.
DIY gains ground amid rising costs
With nearly half of home improvement spending now going toward necessary replacements like roofing, plumbing, and electrical work, homeowners are increasingly prioritizing function over flair. Projects driven by personal style—such as adding new rooms—have dipped below one-third of total spending.
Even so, that hasn’t stopped the DIY crowd. Homeowners have collectively spent over $66 billion on do-it-yourself upgrades, with strong demand for products like soft-surface flooring, electrical materials, and landscaping supplies. With the typical U.S. home now more than 40 years old—and many even older—many residents are rolling up their sleeves to modernize their spaces themselves.
For budget-friendly home updates, consider peel-and-stick flooring, energy-efficient lighting upgrades, or easy-install backsplash tiles. Curb appeal can also be boosted with fresh paint, DIY landscaping, or modern house numbers.
To see where your city ranked or explore the full list, visit the complete study at Home Gnome’s website.
