The Nicest Historic Neighborhoods in Every State

What exactly makes a neighborhood “nice”? In most cases, this is one of those instances in which you know it when you see it. There’s a certain charm, tidiness and livability you encounter in a nice neighborhood, especially when that neighborhood is so historic that it’s been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We’ve crunched the numbers, and these are the nicest historic neighborhoods in every state.

What makes a neighborhood “nice” is subjective, based on individual preferences, priorities and values. There are plenty of factors at play that can contribute to the overall appeal and desirability of a neighborhood, including safety and security, cleanliness and maintenance, good schools, proximity to amenities and services, a strong sense of community, diversity in the community and housing options, walkability, and green spaces with ample room for recreation.

For today’s purposes, we’re defining “nice” by using one primary metric: average home value. The higher the home value, the higher the taxes paid to the community, and the more resources that can be allocated to the community. These are some seriously wealthy neighborhoods; some of which are also the most expensive zip code in their state, too.

To determine the nicest historic neighborhoods in the United States, 24/7 Tempo reviewed district listings from the National Register of Historic Places and five-year data on home value from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey. Historic districts registered in the NRHP were ranked based on the average home value of owner-occupied housing units within their boundaries.

District-level average home values were aggregated from the census tract level using spatial boundary definitions from the NRHP and the U.S. Census Bureau. Data on median home age is also from the U.S. Census Bureau. Only historic districts with at least 50 housing units were considered. (To explore other neighborhoods in the U.S., check out The Fastest Growing Neighborhoods in America.)

Alabama: Twickenham Historic District (Huntsville, AL)

• Average home value: $916,168
• Median home age: 51 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1973

Alaska: Chicken Ridge Historic District (Juneau, AK)

• Average home value: $394,410
• Median home age: 71 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1995

Arizona: North End Historic Residential District (Flagstaff, AZ)

• Average home value: $622,860
• Median home age: 61 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1986

Arkansas: Hillcrest Historic District (Little Rock, AR)

• Average home value: $587,070
• Median home age: 63 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1990

California: Professorville Historic District (Palo Alto, CA)

• Average home value: $4,220,708
• Median home age: 71 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1980

Colorado: Colorado Chautauqua (Boulder, CO)

• Average home value: $1,633,704
• Median home age: 56 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1978

Connecticut: Compo–Owenoke Historic District (Westport, CT)

• Average home value: $1,976,455
• Median home age: 65 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1991

Delaware: Baynard Boulevard Historic District (Wilmington, DE)

• Average home value: $309,641
• Median home age: N/A
• Year listed as historic district: 1979

Florida: Naples Historic District (Naples, FL)

• Average home value: $4,310,660
• Median home age: 33 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1987

Georgia: Dublin Commercial Historic District (Dublin, GA)

• Average home value: $1,384,057
• Median home age: 48 years
• Year listed as historic district: 2002

Hawaii: Schofield Barracks Historic District (Wahiawa, HI)

• Average home value: $651,215
• Median home age: 48 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1998

Idaho: Fort Street Historic District (Boise, ID)

• Average home value: $682,942
• Median home age: 55 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1982

Illinois: Sheffield Historic District (Chicago, IL)

• Average home value: $1,268,354
• Median home age: 55 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1976

Indiana: North Meridian Street Historic District (Indianapolis, IN)

• Average home value: $521,317
• Median home age: N/A
• Year listed as historic district: 1986

Iowa: Melrose Historic District (Iowa City, IA)

• Average home value: $464,401
• Median home age: 55 years
• Year listed as historic district: 2004

Kansas: Old West Lawrence Historic District (Lawrence, KS)

• Average home value: $371,294
• Median home age: 56 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1972

Kentucky: Mockingbird Valley Historic District (Louisville, KY)

• Average home value: $647,092
• Median home age: 57 years
• Year listed as historic district: 2007

Louisiana: Garden District (New Orleans, LA)

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• Average home value: $976,161
• Median home age: N/A
• Year listed as historic district: 1971

Maine: Cape Arundel Summer Colony Historic District (Kennebunkport, ME)

• Average home value: $969,283
• Median home age: 51 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1984

Maryland: Kensington Historic District (Kensington, MD)

• Average home value: $1,024,850
• Median home age: 66 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1980

Massachusetts: Beacon Hill Historic District (Boston, MA)

• Average home value: $2,292,316
• Median home age: 51 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1966

Michigan: Northville Historic District (Northville, MI)

• Average home value: $551,510
• Median home age: 77 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1972

Minnesota: Country Club Historic District (Edina, MN)

• Average home value: $1,512,186
• Median home age: 70 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1982

Mississippi: South Lamar Historic District (Oxford, MS)

• Average home value: $613,106
• Median home age: 32 years
• Year listed as historic district: 2009

Missouri: Wydown–Forsyth District (Clayton, MO)

• Average home value: $822,487
• Median home age: N/A
• Year listed as historic district: 1988

Montana: South Tracy–South Black Historic District (Bozeman, MT)

• Average home value: $669,105
• Median home age: 46 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1987

Nebraska: Boulevards Historic District (Lincoln, NE)

• Average home value: $262,821
• Median home age: 67 years
• Year listed as historic district: 2008

Nevada: Boulder City Historic District (Boulder City, NV)

• Average home value: $527,345
• Median home age: 44 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1983

New Hampshire: Little Boar’s Head Historic District (North Hampton, NH)

• Average home value: $731,554
• Median home age: 40 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1999

New Jersey: Short Hills Park Historic District (Millburn, NJ)

• Average home value: $1,839,368
• Median home age: 70 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1980

New Mexico: Taos Downtown Historic District (Taos, NM)

• Average home value: $853,446
• Median home age: 56 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1982

New York: Sagaponack Historic District (Southampton, NY)

• Average home value: $3,447,703
• Median home age: 36 years
• Year listed as historic district: 2000

North Carolina: Myers Park Historic District (Charlotte, NC)

• Average home value: $1,357,674
• Median home age: 52 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1987

North Dakota: North Side Fargo Builder’s Residential Historic District (Fargo, ND)

• Average home value: $297,523
• Median home age: 61 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1987

Ohio: Upper Arlington Historic District (Upper Arlington, OH)

• Average home value: $671,123
• Median home age: 71 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1985

Oklahoma: Maple Ridge Historic Residential District (Tulsa, OK)

• Average home value: $678,017
• Median home age: 75 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1983

Oregon: King’s Hill Historic District (Portland, OR)

• Average home value: $996,017
• Median home age: 66 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1991

Pennsylvania: Dolington Village Historic District (Dolington, PA)

• Average home value: $1,090,510
• Median home age: 31 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1994

Rhode Island: Watch Hill Historic District (Westerly, RI)

• Average home value: $1,538,283
• Median home age: 53 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1985

South Carolina: Pettigru Street Historic District (Greenville, SC)

• Average home value: $1,075,136
• Median home age: 67 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1982

South Dakota: McKennan Park Historic District (Sioux Falls, SD)

• Average home value: $330,626
• Median home age: N/A
• Year listed as historic district: 1984

Tennessee: Belle Meade Golf Links Subdivision Historic District (Nashville, TN)

• Average home value: $1,948,270
• Median home age: 61 years
• Year listed as historic district: 2004

Texas: Dallas Downtown Historic District (Dallas, TX)

• Average home value: $3,142,962
• Median home age: 49 years
• Year listed as historic district: 2006

Utah: Yalecrest Historic District (Salt Lake City, UT)

• Average home value: $800,126
• Median home age: 74 years
• Year listed as historic district: 2007

Vermont: Stowe Village Historic District (Stowe, VT)

• Average home value: $646,862
• Median home age: 40 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1978

Virginia: Cromwell’s Run Rural Historic District (Rectortown, VA)

• Average home value: $1,334,806
• Median home age: 50 years
• Year listed as historic district: 2008

Washington: Harvard-Belmont District (Seattle, WA)

• Average home value: $1,118,406
• Median home age: 56 years
• Year listed as historic district: 1982

West Virginia: Old Charles Town Historic District (Charles Town, WV)

• Average home value: $306,326
• Median home age: 37 years
• Year listed as historic district: 2000

Wisconsin: Shorewood Historic District (Village of Shorewood Hills, WI)

• Average home value: $907,513
• Median home age: 42 years
• Year listed as historic district: 2002

Wyoming: Moore Haven Heights Historic District (Cheyenne, WY)

• Average home value: $365,820
• Median home age: 76 years
• Year listed as historic district: 2009