{"id":108200,"date":"2025-12-11T11:21:25","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T19:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=108200"},"modified":"2025-12-11T11:21:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T19:21:25","slug":"holiday-movie-town-affordability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/","title":{"rendered":"What It Costs to Buy a House in America\u2019s Iconic Holiday Movie Towns"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Picture your favorite holiday movie. Maybe it\u2019s a scene from \u201cHome Alone\u201d in Illinois, or one of the dozens of Hallmark films set in small-town New England (even though <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/living-in-small-town-from-hallmark-christmas-movies-canada-2023-12\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">many<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are filmed in Canada). You probably remember them for their snow, romance, humor, and festive miracles \u2014 they may have even made you want to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/hallmark-movie-towns-you-can-visit-in-real-life-8760478\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">visit<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or live in the towns they depict.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But what are these places like in real life? If you were to move to one of these places today, could you afford to settle down, or would the price tag break the holiday spell?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s explore how affordable some of the most iconic movie towns really are. From timeless classics to contemporary hits, cozy up and take a snow-covered journey that may make you think about things a little differently.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67325\" src=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Winter-Snowy-Home.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1699\" height=\"1130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Winter-Snowy-Home.jpg 1699w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Winter-Snowy-Home-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Winter-Snowy-Home-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Winter-Snowy-Home-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Winter-Snowy-Home-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Winter-Snowy-Home-226x150.jpg 226w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Winter-Snowy-Home-947x630.jpg 947w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Winter-Snowy-Home-451x300.jpg 451w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1699px) 100vw, 1699px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. \u201cIt\u2019s a Wonderful Life\u201d (1946) \u2013 Seneca Falls, New York<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median sale price: <\/span><b>$260,000<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median household income: <\/span><b>$54,400<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This holiday classic is set in the fictional town of Bedford Falls, which is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverseneca.com\/things-to-do\/arts-history\/arts-history-blog\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">commonly thought<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be based on Seneca Falls in Upstate NY \u2014 a quiet, snowy hamlet full of small-town charm. The real-life town even <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverseneca.com\/things-to-do\/arts-history\/arts-history-blog\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">celebrates<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> its Hollywood connection with a dedicated museum and large <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wonderfullifemuseum.com\/2021-festival\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">annual festival<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you saw the movie\u2019s quaint streets, string lights, and old-school charm and thought it would be a nice place to visit or live, you\u2019re in luck. Seneca Falls\u2019 median sale price is nearly half the national rate, similar to nearby cities like Rochester and Syracuse.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. \u201cHome Alone\u201d (1990) \u2013 Winnetka, Illinois<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median sale price: <\/span><b>$1,758,000<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median household income: <\/span><b>$250,000<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may remember the classic brick homes and snow-covered lawns of the \u201cHome Alone\u201d world, where Kevin fended off two bumbling burglars and learned to outsmart the grown-ups around him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The movie is set in real-life Winnetka, Illinois, and on the surface, it might seem like a great place to live. But most people would have a hard time affording it. Homes regularly sell in the millions in this upscale suburb, and six-figure salaries are the norm. In fact, the real-life home of the fictional McCallister family, dubbed the \u201cHome Alone house,\u201d <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.architecturaldigest.com\/story\/everything-youve-ever-wondered-about-the-home-alone-house\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sold for $5.5 million<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in early 2025.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the whole, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/29470\/IL\/Chicago\/housing-market\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chicago is relatively affordable<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but its suburbs are often wealthy and defined by classic American architecture.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. \u201cA Christmas Story\u201d (1983) \u2013 Cleveland, Ohio<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median sale price: <\/span><b>$249,000<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median household income: <\/span><b>$67,586<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the movie is set in 1940s Indiana, much of \u201cA Christmas Story\u201d was filmed in Cleveland, giving the city a permanent place in holiday-movie history. The iconic house \u2014 now a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/housefromachristmasstory.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">museum<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 is tucked into the Tremont neighborhood just minutes from downtown. You can even spend the night and wake up in a pink bunny suit holding a Red Ryder BB gun, just like Ralphie dreamed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those interested in recreating the Christmas magic, Cleveland is a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/most-affordable-cities-in-the-us\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">very affordable<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> place to live, regularly ranking as one of the most affordable big cities in the country.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. \u201cElf\u201d (2003) \u2013 New York, New York<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median sale price: <\/span><b>$770,000<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median household income: <\/span><b>$81,228<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A more modern classic, \u201cElf\u201d is all about discovering the magic of the Big Apple: towering Christmas trees, sparkling storefronts, and big-city holiday fun. It was filmed on location throughout NYC, giving it a real-world feel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Hobbs family\u2019s home <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/elf-real-life-movie-locations-new-york-city-2020-11#about-three-miles-north-of-the-subway-entrance-youll-find-the-building-where-buddys-family-lives-55-central-park-west-10\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is located<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at 55 Central Park West, a landmarked building adjacent to Central Park. It\u2019s a prime location for city living, but would be difficult to afford today \u2014 a studio condo costs nearly $800,000. And on the whole, New York is one of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/most-expensive-cities-in-the-us\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">most expensive cities<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the nation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Numerous other holiday movies have been set in New York over the years, including \u201cMiracle on 34th Street\u201d (1947), \u201cScrooged\u201d (1988), and \u201cHome Alone 2: Lost in New York\u201d (1992).<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. \u201cRomance at Reindeer Lodge\u201d (2017) \u2013 Jamaica, Vermont<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median sale price: <\/span><b>$400,000<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median household income: <\/span><b>$71,364<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vermont has played host to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.burlingtonfreepress.com\/story\/entertainment\/2024\/12\/17\/hallmark-christmas-movies-set-in-vermont-rankings-how-to-watch\/77020072007\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">plenty<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of holiday movies, but nearly all of them have been set in fictional places. \u201cRomance at Reindeer Lodge\u201d is one of the rare ones set in a lodge in the real-life town of Jamaica, Vermont \u2014 even though it was <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/entertainmentnow.com\/hallmark\/where-romance-at-reindeer-lodge-filmed-town-city-location-hallmark\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">actually filmed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Connecticut. The movie is full of snowy landscapes and rustic charm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jamaica is a very rural town in mountainous southwestern Vermont, surrounded by ski resorts, parks, and quaint bed and breakfasts. It\u2019s relatively affordable, but primarily home to part-time residents or remote workers. Buying a house will cost around $400,000, which is just below the national rate.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. \u201cChristmas in Conway\u201d (2013) \u2013 Wilmington, North Carolina<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median sale price: <\/span><b>$470,000<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median household income: <\/span><b>$63,165<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cChristmas in Conway\u201d is a quintessential Hallmark movie: small-town charm, big romantic gestures, and a lovestruck community. It was filmed throughout the Wilmington area, using its landmarks and coastal charm to bring the story to life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wilmington has actually served as the backdrop of numerous other Hallmark films, including \u201cChristmas in Harmony\u201d (2021) and \u201cUSS Christmas\u201d (2020). The historic port city <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.starnewsonline.com\/story\/news\/local\/2025\/12\/03\/best-holiday-and-christmas-events-in-wilmington-nc\/87548398007\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prides itself<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on its holiday spirit, especially along the Riverwalk, where trees, boats, and buildings are all adorned with thousands of lights and events are held nearly every day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the movie magic gave you the itch to make the move, Wilmington is thankfully a relatively affordable place to buy a house. The median sale price is just above the national average, and household incomes come close to matching the cost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. \u201cA Biltmore Christmas\u201d (2023) \u2013 Asheville, North Carolina<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median sale price: <\/span><b>$450,000<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median household income: <\/span><b>$78,996<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set in the Blue Mountains of North Carolina, \u201cA Biltmore Christmas\u201d follows a screenwriter researching a classic holiday film who magically steps into its world. It was filmed at the famous <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biltmore.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Biltmore Estate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Asheville, North Carolina.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Biltmore Estate is a real-world escape to an age of romance and gilded-age extravagance. It was commissioned by business tycoon George Vanderbilt in the late 19th-century and today is the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biltmore.com\/blog\/10-fast-facts-about-biltmore\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">largest<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> privately-owned home in the U.S., at over 175,000 square feet. You can tour it year-round, and it is highly decorated for the holiday season.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buying a house in the area is fairly reasonable, too. Asheville is moderately priced for the region, with home costs and incomes fairly well aligned.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8. \u201cChristmas at Dollywood\u201d (2019) \u2013 Pigeon Forge, Tennessee<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median sale price: <\/span><b>$555,000<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median household income: <\/span><b>$53,839<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cChristmas at Dollywood\u201d is a Hallmark classic about new beginnings and unexpected romance. The movie is set and filmed in the namesake Dollywood Parks &amp; Resort, which is located in Pigeon Forge near Tennessee\u2019s Great Smoky Mountains.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The film mirrors reality in many ways: Dolly Parton plays herself as the park\u2019s owner \u2014 she is the real-life part-owner \u2014 as the resort gears up for its <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dollywood.com\/themepark\/festivals\/smoky-mountain-christmas\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smoky Mountains Christmas<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> festival, which is actually a beloved tradition in the region. Plus, it does snow in Pigeon Forge like the movie depicts, although usually just for a day or so.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the movie gave you the itch to move, it may be difficult to buy a house, unfortunately. Pigeon Forge is more expensive than nearby major cities like Knoxville, and the median sale price is about $100,000 above the national average.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9. \u201cThe Polar Express\u201d (2004) \u2013 Durango, Colorado<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median sale price: <\/span><b>$733,000\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median household income: <\/span><b>$79,545<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe Polar Express\u201d is a fantastical film full of childlike curiosity and believing in the impossible, and that split carries into the real world, too: You can actually <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.durangotrain.com\/events\/the-polar-express-train-ride\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ride the famous train<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Running from mid-November through the New Year, the train leaves from Durango, Colorado and takes passengers on a festive 75-mile journey to the \u201cNorth Pole\u201d (Silverton, CO).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other \u201cPolar Express\u201d recreations occur <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.raileventsinc.com\/polar-express-train-ride\/the-polar-express-train-ride-locations\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">throughout the country<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, from Chicago to St. Louis, but Durango\u2019s is iconic because of its snow, landscape, and magical destination.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buying a house in this winter wonderland may prove difficult, though, as the median sale price of a home is nearly twice the national average. Incomes don\u2019t come close to meeting the affordability threshold, either.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10. Most Other Holiday Movies \u2013 Towns in Connecticut<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median sale prices: <\/span><b>$278,000 to $2,238,000<\/b><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median household incomes: <\/span><b>$41,972 to $250,000+<\/b><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Statewide median sale price: <\/span><b>$460,000<\/b><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Statewide median household income: <\/span><b>$91,665<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If there were one state synonymous with modern Christmas movies, it would be Connecticut. Over the years, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ctvisit.com\/articles\/Christmas-movies-in-Connecticut\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">22 films<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have been filmed throughout the state, including \u201cChristmas on Honeysuckle Lane\u201d (2018), \u201cOne Royal Holiday\u201d (2020), and \u201cThe Noel Diary\u201d (2022). \u201cChristmas in Connecticut\u201d (1945) was arguably the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctinsider.com\/entertainment\/article\/holiday-hallmark-movies-ct-connections-21192043.php\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">first movie<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to bring the holiday spirit to the state.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s not hard to see why Hollywood likes the Constitution State. Historic towns like Stamford, Norwich, Hartford, and New London offer perfect backdrops for holiday magic, with storybook architecture and snowy New England charm. You can actually <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ctvisit.com\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/2024-11\/CT%20Christmas%20Movie%20Trail%20-%202024.pdf\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">take a tour<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of all 42 towns and villages in Connecticut where holiday movies have been filmed to fully indulge in the wonder.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you fell in love with the region\u2019s colonial charm, you\u2019ll be pleased to know that many areas of Connecticut come at lower costs, like Woodstock and Groton. On the flip side, Darien and Stamford are among the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stamfordadvocate.com\/connecticut\/article\/ct-richest-towns-fairfield-county-20372287.php\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">most expensive<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> places, with prices and incomes far above the statewide median.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Methodology<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Housing market data comes from Redfin as of November 2025. Income data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/data\/developers\/data-sets\/acs-5year.html\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2023 American Community Survey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 5-Year Estimates.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Could you afford a home in the town where your favorite holiday movie is set? From Winnetka, IL to Manchester, VT, the answer may surprise you \u2014 and could burst your holiday bubble.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":559,"featured_media":99787,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[34529,1327,36425,13096],"coauthors":[34342],"class_list":["post-108200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life-style","tag-buying-faq","tag-christmas","tag-culture-and-entertainment","tag-holiday"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Are Holiday Movie Towns Actually Affordable? | Redfin<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Could you afford a home in the town where your favorite holiday movie is set? From Winnetka, IL to Manchester, VT, the truth may surprise you.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What It Costs to Buy a House in America\u2019s Iconic Holiday Movie Towns\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Could you afford a home in the town where your favorite holiday movie is set? From Winnetka, IL to Manchester, VT, the truth may surprise you.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling &amp; More\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/redfin\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-11T19:21:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shutterstock_1590543571.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"894\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jamie Forbes\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@redfin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@redfin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jamie Forbes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jamie Forbes\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3603a267f733523fe5d675a16cf38715\"},\"headline\":\"What It Costs to Buy a House in America\u2019s Iconic Holiday Movie Towns\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-11T19:21:25+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1503,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/shutterstock_1590543571.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"buying faq\",\"christmas\",\"Culture and entertainment\",\"holiday\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Life &amp; Style\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"copyrightYear\":\"2025\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\\\/\",\"name\":\"Are Holiday Movie Towns Actually Affordable? | Redfin\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/shutterstock_1590543571.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-11T19:21:25+00:00\",\"description\":\"Could you afford a home in the town where your favorite holiday movie is set? From Winnetka, IL to Manchester, VT, the truth may surprise you.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/shutterstock_1590543571.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/shutterstock_1590543571.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":894},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"What It Costs to Buy a House in America\u2019s Iconic Holiday Movie Towns\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling &amp; More\",\"description\":\"Real estate on Wall Street, Main Street and your street.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Redfin\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/03\\\/Redfin-logo-512x512-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/03\\\/Redfin-logo-512x512-1.jpg\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Redfin\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/redfin\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/redfin\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/redfinrealestate\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/redfin\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.com\\\/redfin\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCMIuo1QSGcmWnevT9jdC_Ow\",\"https:\\\/\\\/en.wikipedia.org\\\/wiki\\\/Redfin\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3603a267f733523fe5d675a16cf38715\",\"name\":\"Jamie Forbes\",\"description\":\"Jamie has spent 4+ years with Redfin writing about housing affordability, livability, social issues, and the climate. He was born and raised in Seattle, where he currently lives with his wife and two pets. His dream home is a small, self-built, modern house in the forest where he can hear the wind blowing at night.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/author\\\/jamie-forbesredfin-com\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Are Holiday Movie Towns Actually Affordable? | Redfin","description":"Could you afford a home in the town where your favorite holiday movie is set? From Winnetka, IL to Manchester, VT, the truth may surprise you.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What It Costs to Buy a House in America\u2019s Iconic Holiday Movie Towns","og_description":"Could you afford a home in the town where your favorite holiday movie is set? From Winnetka, IL to Manchester, VT, the truth may surprise you.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/","og_site_name":"Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling &amp; More","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/redfin","article_published_time":"2025-12-11T19:21:25+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":894,"url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shutterstock_1590543571.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Jamie Forbes","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@redfin","twitter_site":"@redfin","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jamie Forbes","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/"},"author":{"name":"Jamie Forbes","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/3603a267f733523fe5d675a16cf38715"},"headline":"What It Costs to Buy a House in America\u2019s Iconic Holiday Movie Towns","datePublished":"2025-12-11T19:21:25+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/"},"wordCount":1503,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shutterstock_1590543571.jpg","keywords":["buying faq","christmas","Culture and entertainment","holiday"],"articleSection":["Life &amp; Style"],"inLanguage":"en-US","copyrightYear":"2025","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/","name":"Are Holiday Movie Towns Actually Affordable? | Redfin","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shutterstock_1590543571.jpg","datePublished":"2025-12-11T19:21:25+00:00","description":"Could you afford a home in the town where your favorite holiday movie is set? From Winnetka, IL to Manchester, VT, the truth may surprise you.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shutterstock_1590543571.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shutterstock_1590543571.jpg","width":1200,"height":894},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/holiday-movie-town-affordability\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What It Costs to Buy a House in America\u2019s Iconic Holiday Movie Towns"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/","name":"Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling &amp; More","description":"Real estate on Wall Street, Main Street and your street.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Redfin","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Redfin-logo-512x512-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Redfin-logo-512x512-1.jpg","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Redfin"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/redfin","https:\/\/x.com\/redfin","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/redfinrealestate\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/redfin","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/redfin\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCMIuo1QSGcmWnevT9jdC_Ow","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Redfin"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/3603a267f733523fe5d675a16cf38715","name":"Jamie Forbes","description":"Jamie has spent 4+ years with Redfin writing about housing affordability, livability, social issues, and the climate. He was born and raised in Seattle, where he currently lives with his wife and two pets. His dream home is a small, self-built, modern house in the forest where he can hear the wind blowing at night.","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/author\/jamie-forbesredfin-com\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/559"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108200"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108200\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":108206,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108200\/revisions\/108206"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108200"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=108200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}