Statistics · 2026 · Real Estate
Home Price Appreciation Statistics (2026)
The median U.S. metro's home prices rose 3.7% in the year to Q1 2026, 49.7% over five years and 95.1% over ten, using the Federal Housing Finance Agency's index for 373 metros. Nationally, FHFA reports prices up 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026. Growth was uneven: 23 metros fell over the latest year while 163 more than doubled in a decade.
Key takeaways
- The median metro's FHFA index rose 3.7% in one year, 49.7% in five years and 95.1% in ten years, through Q1 2026.
- FHFA's national index was up 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026, and NAR's median existing-home price was up 1.6% in August 2026.
- Boise, ID grew fastest over ten years at 161.5%, against 30.1% in Houma, LA.
- 23 of 373 FHFA metros posted a one-year decline, while 429 of 789 metros with 100 or more listings show a lower Realtor.com median list price than a year ago.
- 366 of 373 metros sit above their own 2000–2019 price trend, by a median of 54.2%.
How much have U.S. home prices risen in the past year?
U.S. home prices rose about 2.6% in the year to July 2026, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency's seasonally adjusted index. The National Association of Realtors reports a 1.6% gain in the August median existing-home price. Metro median list prices (Realtor.com) tell a flatter story, with a median change of −0.6%.
1. FHFA: U.S. house prices up 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026
The FHFA House Price Index rose 0.3% from June to July in its seasonally adjusted monthly series, published September 29, 2026.
2. NAR: median existing-home price $429,100 in August 2026, up 1.6%
The National Association of Realtors Existing-Home Sales report puts the median existing-home price for all housing types at $429,100, up from $422,400 a year earlier. NAR calls it the 38th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.
3. Case-Shiller national index: +1.9% in July 2026
WealthyBud's calculation from the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index as published on FRED (not seasonally adjusted, January 2000 = 100): 337.306 in July 2026 against 330.923 a year earlier.
4. Median new-house price: $410,700 in Q2 2026, −1.3% from Q2 2025
The Census Bureau and HUD median sales price of new houses sold (FRED series MSPUS, not seasonally adjusted) was $410,700 in the second quarter of 2026 and $416,100 a year earlier. It covers new houses only, and the year-over-year change is WealthyBud's calculation.
5. Median metro list price: −0.6% year over year
Across 789 metros with at least 100 active listings, the median change in the Realtor.com median list price is −0.59%; 352 metros are up and 429 are down (WealthyBud data · 789 metros · Realtor.com listings · September 2026). Listing prices are asking prices and can diverge from repeat-sales indexes.
How much have home prices grown over five and ten years?
The median metro's home prices rose 49.7% over five years and 95.1% over ten years, through Q1 2026, using FHFA's index for 373 metros. The Case-Shiller national index gained 84.3% from July 2016 to July 2026. In 163 metros the FHFA index more than doubled in a decade.
6. Median one-year appreciation: 3.7% (Q1 2026)
Half of the 373 FHFA metros gained less than 3.7% over the four quarters to Q1 2026, which is the newest quarter in WealthyBud's metro data (WealthyBud data · 373 metros · FHFA Q1 2026 · September 2026).
7. Median five-year appreciation: 49.7%
Over the 20 quarters to Q1 2026, the middle metro gained 49.7% (WealthyBud data · 373 metros · FHFA Q1 2026 · September 2026). That is a cumulative change, not an annual rate.
8. Median ten-year appreciation: 95.1%
Over the 40 quarters to Q1 2026, the middle metro gained 95.1%, and 163 of 373 metros gained 100% or more (WealthyBud data · 373 metros · FHFA Q1 2026 · September 2026). The Case-Shiller national index rose 84.3% over a matching ten years to July 2026; it is a different index, so treat the comparison as a rough guide.
9. 366 of 373 metros sit above their own long-run price trend
WealthyBud fits each metro's FHFA index from 2000 through 2019 to a straight line on a log scale and extends it to Q1 2026. The median metro now sits 54.2% above that line (WealthyBud data · 373 metros · FHFA Q1 2026 · September 2026). This is a descriptive gauge, not a forecast. For outlooks see home price forecast statistics.
10. NAR: home prices rose in 80% of metros in Q2 2026
The NAR quarterly metro home price report found that prices rose in 80% of metro markets in the second quarter of 2026, up from 71% in the first quarter, and 5% of metros recorded double-digit gains. The report uses single-family median prices.
Which metros appreciated the fastest?
Boise, ID posted the fastest ten-year appreciation at 161.5% through Q1 2026, followed by Coeur d'Alene, ID at 159.5% and Homosassa Springs, FL at 157.8%. The ranking covers 350 FHFA metros with 100,000 or more residents, using the index through Q1 2026.
11. Boise, ID leads: +161.5% in ten years
The top three are Boise, ID, Coeur d'Alene, ID and Homosassa Springs, FL. The leader's index gained 38.4% over five years and +2.0% over the latest year, after a 88.9% gain in the five years before that (WealthyBud data · 350 metros of 100,000 or more people · FHFA Q1 2026 · September 2026).
12. Idaho holds 4 of the 10 fastest places
The top ten spans 5 states: ID (4), FL (3), MI (1), TN (1), UT (1). All ten carry WealthyBud's “High” volatility label (WealthyBud data · 350 metros of 100,000 or more people · FHFA Q1 2026 · September 2026).
| Metro | 1-year | 5-year | 10-year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Boise, ID | +2.0% | +38.4% | +161.5% |
| 2. Coeur d'Alene, ID | +2.8% | +45.3% | +159.5% |
| 3. Homosassa Springs, FL | −0.5% | +59.2% | +157.8% |
| 4. Sebring, FL | −0.1% | +58.7% | +150.5% |
| 5. Idaho Falls, ID | +4.7% | +43.8% | +150.1% |
| 6. Muskegon, MI | +4.6% | +65.3% | +149.3% |
| 7. Lakeland, FL | +1.6% | +54.5% | +141.9% |
| 8. Twin Falls, ID | +2.7% | +52.5% | +139.8% |
| 9. Knoxville, TN | +3.3% | +73.0% | +138.9% |
| 10. Logan, UT | +4.6% | +53.5% | +138.8% |
Compare any metro in the appreciation dashboard or see the best appreciation markets for 2026.
See every metro's 1-, 5- and 10-year appreciation
Which metros appreciated the least?
Houma, LA had the slowest ten-year appreciation at 30.1% through Q1 2026, followed by Lafayette, LA at 34.0% and Lake Charles, LA at 34.3%. All ten are up over the decade. The ranking covers 350 metros with 100,000 or more residents.
13. Houma, LA trails: +30.1% in ten years
The fastest metro grew 5.4 times as much as the slowest over the same ten years (WealthyBud data · 350 metros of 100,000 or more people · FHFA Q1 2026 · September 2026).
14. Louisiana holds 9 of the 10 slowest places
All ten carry WealthyBud's “Low” volatility label (WealthyBud data · 350 metros of 100,000 or more people · FHFA Q1 2026 · September 2026).
- Houma, LA gained 30.1% over ten years and 20.7% over five.
- Lafayette, LA gained 34.0% over ten years and 22.3% over five.
- Lake Charles, LA gained 34.3% over ten years and 14.3% over five.
- Shreveport, LA gained 35.4% over ten years and 23.3% over five.
Where are home prices falling?
23 of 373 FHFA metros show a one-year price decline through Q1 2026, and Punta Gorda, FL fell the most at 7.3%. Listing prices show more weakness: 429 of 789 metros with 100 or more listings have a lower Realtor.com median list price than a year ago. Index declines and list-price declines measure different things.
15. 23 of 373 metros fell in the latest year (6.2%)
19 of them have 100,000 or more residents. The steepest drop is Punta Gorda, FL at −7.3% (WealthyBud data · 373 metros · FHFA Q1 2026 · September 2026).
16. 429 of 789 metros have lower Realtor.com median list prices than a year ago (54.4%)
147 metros are down 5% or more and 153 are up 5% or more (WealthyBud data · 789 metros · Realtor.com listings · September 2026). Metros with fewer than 100 listings are excluded because a few listings can swing a median, and a drop can reflect the mix of homes listed.
- Punta Gorda, FL fell 7.3% in the year to Q1 2026, while still up 34.6% over five years.
- Brunswick, GA fell 6.2% in the year to Q1 2026, while still up 58.7% over five years.
- Hammond, LA fell 5.5% in the year to Q1 2026, while still up 24.4% over five years.
- Hattiesburg, MS fell 4.7% in the year to Q1 2026, while still up 40.5% over five years.
How volatile are home prices by metro?
Home price volatility varies by metro: Merced, CA has the highest, at 15.1 percentage points, and Monroe, LA the lowest, at 2.4. WealthyBud measures volatility as the standard deviation of FHFA year-over-year changes over 20 years. The high-volatility group's median ten-year gain was 114.0%, against 79.9% for the low group.
17. Highest volatility: Merced, CA at 15.1 points
The five most volatile metros of 100,000 or more people include Merced, CA, Las Vegas, NV and Stockton, CA; 3 of the five are in CA. The steadiest is Monroe, LA at 2.4. Volatility is the standard deviation of year-over-year FHFA index changes over 20 years (WealthyBud data · 350 metros of 100,000 or more people · FHFA Q1 2026 · September 2026).
18. High-volatility metros gained a median 114.0% in ten years; low-volatility metros 79.9%
WealthyBud labels each metro Low, Medium or High by terciles of its volatility value, which is stored to one decimal. Many metros tie at the cut points, so the groups are uneven: 145 Low (2.4–5.2), 106 Medium (5.3–6.5) and 122 High (6.6–15.1) (WealthyBud data · 373 metros · FHFA Q1 2026 · September 2026). Volatility uses a 20-year window, while the appreciation figures cover the latest ten years, so the comparison is descriptive and says nothing about future returns.
| Volatility label | Metros | Median volatility (pct. pts) | Median 10-year appreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 145 | 4.60 | +79.9% |
| Medium | 106 | 5.85 | +100.2% |
| High | 122 | 8.00 | +114.0% |
What this means for buyers and investors
For buyers, use the one-year number to judge today's market and the ten-year number to judge a metro's track record. Price paths feed directly into housing market statistics.
For investors, check both appreciation and income. 366 of 373 metros now sit above their pre-2020 trend, and past gains do not repeat on schedule. Pair these numbers with local data in housing market by state statistics.
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