In 2023, the electric vehicle market in the United States saw a significant surge, with a record-breaking 1.2 million EVs sold, constituting about 8% of all car sales, as reported by Kelley Blue Book. However, for environmentally conscious consumers, embracing the EV lifestyle involves more than just purchasing a vehicle.
One crucial aspect for EV owners is the availability of charging infrastructure. Ideally, EV owners prefer either charging their vehicles at home overnight or residing near public charging stations to alleviate range anxiety. This preference has made the location of a home equally important as the choice of the EV model.
Recognizing the growing importance of EV-friendly housing markets, Realtor.com collaborated with Kelley Blue Book to identify the top regions for EV drivers. The analysis considered two key factors: the proportion of homes in a market that advertised EV-friendly features, such as at-home charging stations, and the ratio of EVs to available public charging ports.
Unsurprisingly, many of the top housing markets for EV owners are concentrated around technology and startup hubs like San Francisco, Boston, and Salt Lake City. California emerges as a dominant player, with eight metropolitan areas securing spots in the top 20 rankings.
While the current market share for EVs remains relatively small, there is potential for growth. Homeowners can leverage federal incentives and tax benefits to install at-home EV chargers, with the Biden administration also supporting the expansion of public charging infrastructure.
Some sellers are already highlighting their properties' EV-readiness to gain a competitive edge. For instance, a townhouse in San Jose features a 2-car garage equipped with a 220v outlet for EV charging, listed at nearly $1.3 million.
According to Realtor.com economist Danielle Hale, the proportion of homes advertising EV-friendly attributes on the platform is steadily increasing over time, reflecting the rising popularity of electric vehicles.
For a detailed breakdown of the top 20 metros for electric car owners, the share of EV-friendly listings and the number of EVs per public charging port, refer to the data provided.
