If you think everyone moving to Arizona is headed straight for Scottsdale, Chandler or central Phoenix, the latest migration data tells a different story.
Some of the hottest ZIP codes in America are right here in the Phoenix metro area, and several of them are farther outside the traditional core than you might expect.
New 2026 migration data from MovingPlace shows Surprise, Peoria, Goodyear and North Phoenix appearing in national Top 10 rankings for residential moving activity.
And one Arizona ZIP code keeps showing up again and again.
Arizona Is Showing Up on the National Moving Map
MovingPlace analyzes residential moving activity across the United States using data covering millions of moves each year. Rather than simply asking which cities are growing, its Hottest ZIP Codes reports look at activity at the ZIP-code level.
That distinction is important.
A city as large as Phoenix can have very different housing and migration trends from one side of the Valley to another. Looking at individual ZIP codes gives us a much better picture of where people are actually choosing to live.
It also provides another piece of the puzzle when combined with what’s happening in the broader Phoenix Metro housing market.
So far in MovingPlace’s published 2026 reports, several Phoenix-area ZIP codes have broken into its national Top 10 rankings.
Surprise, AZ — 85387
This is the Arizona ZIP code that really jumps off the page.
Surprise’s 85387 ranked:
- #6 nationally in January — 11.0 moves per 1,000 residents
- #5 nationally in March — 8.8 moves per 1,000 residents
- #5 nationally in April — 9.0 moves per 1,000 residents
- Tied #8 nationally in June — 9.0 moves per 1,000 residents
That’s significant because we’re not looking at a ZIP code that suddenly appeared for one month and disappeared.
85387 has repeatedly ranked among the hottest ZIP codes in the country.
MovingPlace points to several factors helping drive the area’s popularity, including available land, master-planned communities, new residential development and relative affordability within the Phoenix metro area.
By the June report, MovingPlace listed the median home price in 85387 at approximately $453,800.
Surprise has been on our radar as well. You can see an example of the housing available in the area in our Surprise, Arizona home spotlight.
Peoria’s 85383 Makes the National Top 10
Here’s one that should get the attention of anyone following the North and Northwest Valley.
Peoria ZIP code 85383 ranked #10 nationally for total move volume in MovingPlace’s January 2026 report.
The ZIP recorded 288 moves during the period analyzed, representing a 46.19% month-over-month increase.
MovingPlace went so far as to call 85383 the “hottest spot in the Phoenix metro area” in that report.
For those of us who live and work in the North Valley, this isn’t entirely surprising.
The 85383 corridor offers a combination of newer housing, master-planned communities, proximity to North Phoenix and access to growing commercial and employment areas.
But seeing it rank among the Top 10 ZIP codes in the entire country for move volume puts that local growth into perspective.
North Phoenix Makes the List Too
Another interesting entry is 85054, which includes the Desert Ridge area of North Phoenix.
In MovingPlace’s March report, 85054 reached #9 nationally for moves per capita, recording approximately 7.5 moves per 1,000 residents.
This one is particularly interesting because it isn’t a far-outlying West Valley suburb.
Desert Ridge combines North Phoenix access with shopping, dining, employment, freeway access and relatively newer housing — exactly the type of location that can appeal to people relocating from outside Arizona.
North Phoenix is also part of a much larger growth story extending north through communities such as Tramonto, Sonoran Foothills and Anthem. For a closer look at that part of the Valley, visit our local resource at All About Anthem.
Goodyear Joins the National Top 10
The West Valley wasn’t finished.
Goodyear ZIP code 85338 reached #6 nationally for total move volume in MovingPlace’s March report, with 213 moves recorded during the period analyzed.
MovingPlace identified it as Goodyear’s first appearance in its national Top 10.
That gives us four Arizona locations appearing in MovingPlace’s 2026 national rankings:
- Surprise — 85387
- Peoria — 85383
- Phoenix / Desert Ridge — 85054
- Goodyear — 85338
And when you put them on a map, an interesting pattern becomes much easier to see.
The Bigger Story: People Are Moving Toward Phoenix’s Outer Growth Corridors
The takeaway isn’t simply that “people are moving to Phoenix.”
We’ve known for years that Arizona and the Phoenix metropolitan area attract people from other parts of the country.
What’s more interesting is where within metro Phoenix the activity is occurring.
The 2026 MovingPlace data provides another indication that buyers and relocating households are looking toward areas where they can find some combination of:
- Newer homes and new construction
- Master-planned communities
- More home for the money
- Available land
- Community amenities
- Access to major employment centers
- A suburban lifestyle while remaining connected to Phoenix
That helps explain why places such as Surprise, Peoria and Goodyear are competing nationally with fast-growing suburbs in Texas, Florida and other Sun Belt states.
It’s also happening during an interesting period for Phoenix real estate. Buyers currently have considerably more inventory and negotiating power than they did during the frenzy of 2020–2022. You can see the numbers in our latest Phoenix Metro Housing Market Update.
Surprise 85387 May Be the ZIP Code to Watch
If there is one Arizona ZIP code worth watching closely, it’s 85387.
Surprise wasn’t just on one list.
It keeps coming back.
The ZIP was already #5 nationally in MovingPlace’s December 2025 report before ranking #6 in January 2026. It then returned to #5 in March, remained #5 in April and was still in the national Top 10 in the June report.
That’s a much stronger signal than a one-month surge.
MovingPlace’s June report describes the Northwest Valley’s long-term growth fundamentals as including land availability, master-planned communities and relative affordability within the Phoenix metro area.
Those are some of the same factors we see influencing buyers throughout the North and Northwest Valley.
What Does This Mean If You’re Buying a Home?
Migration data shouldn’t be used by itself to decide where to buy a home.
But it can tell you something about where demand is developing.
If you’re considering Surprise, Peoria, North Phoenix or another growing Phoenix suburb, understanding how many people are moving into the area can help provide context about housing demand, future development and competition.
It also reinforces why comparing communities is so important.
A home that’s $500,000 in one part of the Valley can offer a completely different combination of lot size, age, amenities, commute and lifestyle than a $500,000 home 20 miles away.
The “best” community isn’t necessarily the hottest ZIP code.
It’s the community that best matches your lifestyle, budget and long-term plans.
If you’re beginning that process, our Buying a Home resources are a good place to start, or you can search homes throughout the Phoenix area.
What Does This Mean If You’re Thinking About Selling?
For homeowners, migration trends can be equally useful.
Strong relocation activity can increase the potential buyer pool for certain communities, particularly when buyers moving from another state aren’t initially familiar with all of the different areas within metro Phoenix.
That makes positioning and marketing especially important.
You’re not simply competing against the house down the street.
A buyer considering Peoria may also be comparing homes in Anthem, North Phoenix, Surprise, Cave Creek or other North Valley communities.
Understanding those competing markets is a major part of determining how a home should be priced and marketed.
If you’re wondering what today’s changing market means for your property, you can also get an instant estimate of your home’s current value.
Is the Phoenix Growth Story Changing?
Maybe not changing — but becoming more specific.
For years the national story has been:
“People are moving to Arizona.”
The more interesting question today may be:
“Where in Arizona are they moving?”
The early 2026 data suggests that some of the strongest activity is occurring along the Valley’s expanding suburban corridors.
Surprise keeps appearing nationally.
Peoria’s 85383 recorded a major surge in moving volume.
North Phoenix’s 85054 made the national per-capita rankings.
Goodyear’s 85338 broke into the national Top 10.
That’s something we’ll continue watching as 2026 progresses.
Thinking About Moving Somewhere in the Phoenix Area?
One of the biggest advantages of the Phoenix metro area is the sheer number of choices.
Anthem, Peoria, North Phoenix, Surprise, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Goodyear and the surrounding communities can offer dramatically different homes, amenities and lifestyles.
If you’re considering a move, search Phoenix-area homes for sale or explore All About Anthem if the North Valley is on your radar.
And if you’re thinking about selling, we can show you how your home compares with the properties buyers are considering throughout your competitive market.
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David & Donna Patterson | Patterson Real Estate Group
📞 623-692-6996 | HireDavidandDonna.com
Have a real estate question? Give us a call or text — we’re always happy to talk real estate.
With more than two decades of Arizona real estate experience, David & Donna help buyers and sellers understand not only what the market is doing, but what it means for their specific situation.
Source: MovingPlace Hottest ZIP Codes in America reports, including its December 2025 and January, March, April and June 2026 reports. MovingPlace states that its rankings use proprietary residential moving data from Porch Group and include both inbound moves and moves originating within the same ZIP code. Migration activity should not be interpreted as home-price appreciation or a prediction of future real estate values.