Statistics · 2026 · Real Estate
Median Home Price Statistics (2026)
The U.S. median sales price of new houses sold was $410,700 in Q2 2026, per Census and HUD data on FRED (MSPUS). That is down 1.3% from $416,100 a year earlier and 7.2% below the $442,600 record set in Q4 2022. Existing homes cost more: NAR put the August 2026 existing-home median at $429,100.
Key takeaways
- The Census median new-home sales price was $410,700 in Q2 2026, down 1.3% year over year and up 0.5% from Q1 2026.
- It sits 7.2% below the Q4 2022 record of $442,600; each of the last 4 quarters came in below the same quarter a year earlier.
- NAR’s existing single-family median was $434,900 in Q2 2026, about 6% above the new-home median for the same quarter.
- After inflation, today’s new-home median is 18% below its Q2 2022 real peak and 2.4% below Q2 2019.
- At a 7.28% mortgage rate with 20% down, principal and interest on the median new home is about $2,248 a month.
What is the median home price in the U.S. right now?
The median sales price of new houses sold in the United States was $410,700 in Q2 2026, per Census and HUD data published on FRED as series MSPUS. That is up 0.5% from $408,500 in Q1 2026 and down 1.3% from $416,100 in Q2 2025. FRED lists the next quarterly release for October 27, 2026.
1. Median new-home sales price: $410,700 in Q2 2026
The Census/HUD median sales price of new houses sold (FRED MSPUS) was $410,700 in Q2 2026. MSPUS comes from the Census New Residential Sales survey, so it covers newly built single-family houses sold, not resales.
2. Year over year: −1.3%
Against $416,100 in Q2 2025, the median fell 1.3%. The trailing four-quarter average is $410,400, −1.9% versus the prior four quarters ($418,450), WealthyBud arithmetic.
3. Quarter over quarter: +0.5%
The Q2 2026 median rose 0.5% from $408,500 in Q1 2026. MSPUS is not seasonally adjusted, so compare the same quarter across years before reading much into one quarterly move.
| Quarter | Median sales price | vs prior quarter | vs same quarter a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 2026 | $410,700 | +0.5% | −1.3% |
| Q1 2026 | $408,500 | −0.9% | −3.5% |
| Q4 2025 | $412,300 | +0.5% | −1.7% |
| Q3 2025 | $410,100 | −1.4% | −1.3% |
| Q2 2025 | $416,100 | −1.7% | +0.4% |
| Q1 2025 | $423,100 | +0.9% | −0.9% |
| Q4 2024 | $419,300 | +1.0% | −0.9% |
| Q3 2024 | $415,300 | +0.2% | −4.6% |
How do new-home and existing-home median prices compare?
Existing homes now cost more than new ones at the median. NAR put the Q2 2026 existing single-family median at $434,900, about 6% above the $410,700 Census new-home median for the same quarter. NAR’s August 2026 existing-home median for all housing types was $429,100, up 1.6% from a year earlier.
4. Existing-home median: $429,100 in August 2026
NAR’s August 2026 Existing-Home Sales report put the median existing-home price for all housing types at $429,100, up 1.6% from $422,400 a year earlier and the 38th straight month of annual gains.
5. Existing single-family median: $434,900 in Q2 2026
The NAR Q2 2026 metro home price report put the national median existing single-family price at $434,900, up 1.5% from a year earlier. That is the same quarter as the latest Census new-home print.
6. Existing homes cost about 6% more than new at the median
$434,900 versus $410,700 is a gap of about $24,200, or 5.9% (WealthyBud arithmetic). The two surveys measure different homes, so the gap reflects size, location and mix, not only price.
The two medians move on different paths: NAR’s existing-home median has risen year over year for 38 straight months, while the Census new-home median was lower than a year earlier in each of the last 4 quarters. For growth rates across metros, see home price appreciation statistics; for builder activity, see housing starts statistics.
How have median home prices changed over time?
The Census new-home median has grown from $17,800 in Q1 1963 to $410,700, about 23 times higher. Over the last decade it rose 34.2% from $306,000, or 3.0% a year. Over five years the gain is 11.7%, because prices have drifted lower since the Q4 2022 peak.
7. Record high: $442,600 in Q4 2022
The highest quarterly MSPUS value on file is $442,600 in Q4 2022. The Q2 2026 median is 7.2% below that, about $31,900 lower.
8. Housing-crash low: $208,400 in Q1 2009
Between 2007 and 2012, the lowest new-home median was $208,400 in Q1 2009. Today’s median is about 2.0 times that level.
9. Ten-year change: +34.2% (+3.0% a year)
From $306,000 in Q2 2016 to $410,700 in Q2 2026, the new-home median gained 34.2%, or 3.0% compounded per year (WealthyBud arithmetic on MSPUS).
10. Versus pre-pandemic: +27.3% since Q2 2019
The Q2 2019 median was $322,500. The Q2 2026 figure is 27.3% higher in nominal dollars, with most of that gain arriving in 2021 and 2022.
| Starting quarter | Median then | Total change | Annualized |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 2025 | $416,100 | −1.3% | −1.3% |
| Q2 2021 | $367,800 | +11.7% | +2.2% |
| Q2 2016 | $306,000 | +34.2% | +3.0% |
| Q2 2006 | $246,300 | +66.7% | +2.6% |
| Decade | Average quarterly median | Highest quarter | Lowest quarter | Quarters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | $21,679 | $25,900 | $17,800 | 28 |
| 1970s | $39,588 | $64,700 | $22,600 | 40 |
| 1980s | $87,190 | $124,800 | $63,700 | 40 |
| 1990s | $135,135 | $165,300 | $117,000 | 40 |
| 2000s | $210,740 | $257,400 | $163,200 | 40 |
| 2010s | $281,122 | $337,900 | $219,500 | 40 |
| 2020s | $401,508 | $442,600 | $317,100 | 26 |
FRED’s MSPUS series starts in 1963 and runs quarterly. WealthyBud’s on-disk copy ends at Q2 2026 ($410,700); this page does not estimate later quarters.
Are home prices higher than in 2006 after inflation?
Barely. In Q2 2026 dollars, the Q2 2006 new-home median was $407,490, so today’s $410,700 is only 0.8% higher after inflation. The real peak was $499,810 in Q2 2022; prices are now 17.8% below it and 2.4% below Q2 2019.
11. Real peak: $499,810 in Q2 2022 (today’s dollars)
Adjusting each quarter by the CPI-U (FRED CPIAUCSL) quarterly average, the highest real new-home median came in Q2 2022. The nominal record came later, in Q4 2022, but by then inflation had already cut its real value.
12. 17.8% below the real peak
Today’s $410,700 is 17.8% below the $499,810 real peak. In nominal terms the median is 6.2% below that quarter’s $437,700; inflation since then accounts for the rest of the real decline.
13. Below 2016 and 2019 in real terms
In Q2 2026 dollars, the median was $425,281 in Q2 2016 and $420,720 in Q2 2019. The latest median is 3.4% and 2.4% below those levels after inflation (WealthyBud arithmetic).
| Quarter | Nominal median | In Q2 2026 dollars | Q2 2026 vs that quarter (real) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 1963 | $17,800 | $194,481 | +111.2% |
| Q2 2006 | $246,300 | $407,490 | +0.8% |
| Q2 2016 | $306,000 | $425,281 | −3.4% |
| Q2 2019 | $322,500 | $420,720 | −2.4% |
| Q2 2022 | $437,700 | $499,810 | −17.8% |
| Q4 2022 | $442,600 | $493,663 | −16.8% |
What does the Case-Shiller index say about home prices?
The Case-Shiller national index, which tracks repeat sales of the same homes, was 337.3 in July 2026 (January 2000 = 100), up 1.9% from a year earlier and a record high. It is 83% above its 2006 bubble peak, so resale values keep rising even as new-home medians slip.
14. Case-Shiller national index: +1.9% year over year
The S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index (FRED CSUSHPINSA) read 337.306 in July 2026 against 330.923 in July 2025 (not seasonally adjusted). Over ten years it rose 84.3%.
15. 83% above the 2006 bubble peak
The pre-crisis high was 184.608 in July 2006 and the post-crisis low was 133.987 in February 2012. July 2026’s 337.306 is 82.7% above the 2006 peak.
The index and the medians answer different questions. A median moves when the mix of homes sold changes, such as more small or more distant new builds. Case-Shiller compares the same homes over time, so it isolates price change. Both are useful; just don’t compare their percent changes one for one.
What is the median home price by metro?
Across 778 metros with at least 100 active listings, the typical median list price was $338,962 in September 2026, per Realtor.com data. 536 of those metros list below the $410,700 national new-home median, and 16 have a median list price of $1 million or more.
16. Typical metro median list price: $338,962 (September 2026)
WealthyBud takes the median of 778 metro medians from Realtor.com Research — housing inventory data (WealthyBud data · 778 metros · September 2026). List prices are asking prices, not closed sales.
17. Highest and lowest: Nantucket, MA and Canton, IL
Nantucket, MA has the highest median list price at $5,873,250 and Canton, IL the lowest at $99,900. Among metros with a million or more residents, San Jose, CA is highest ($1,388,472) and Pittsburgh, PA lowest ($245,000).
For full ranked lists, see the most expensive places to buy a house, the cheapest places to buy a house and price-to-income ratio by market. Each metro links to its own market page with days on market, price cuts and inventory.
What does the median-priced home cost per month?
At the 7.28% average 30-year fixed rate as of October 1, 2026, a $410,700 home with 20% down costs about $2,248 a month in principal and interest. At last year’s 6.34% rate, the same loan cost $2,042. Taxes and insurance come on top of that.
18. About $2,248 a month on the median new home
A $328,560 loan (80% of $410,700) over 30 years at 7.28%, the Freddie Mac PMMS via FRED (MORTGAGE30US) weekly average as of October 1, 2026, works out to about $2,248 a month before taxes and insurance (WealthyBud arithmetic).
19. Rates add about $206 a month versus a year ago
At the year-ago 6.34% rate, the same loan cost about $2,042. The 0.94-point rise adds roughly $206 a month, more than the 1.3% price dip saves.
20. About $1,855 a month on the typical metro listing
Using the $338,962 typical metro list price instead, 20% down at 7.28% gives about $1,855 a month in principal and interest. Local taxes vary; see property tax by metro.
What this means for buyers and investors
New-home medians are drifting lower while resale prices keep rising, so buyers open to new construction face a lower national median than in the resale market. With mortgage rates at 7.28%, the number that matters is the local median and the monthly payment it implies.
- Compare a listing with its metro median, not the $410,700 national new-home figure.
- Run the payment at today’s 7.28% rate; a small price cut rarely offsets a higher rate.
- Check new-construction supply in the same metro before paying a premium for a resale home.
- Use repeat-sales indexes for growth and medians for price level; don’t mix the two.
Local supply matters as much as the national median. See building permits by metro for where new homes are coming, and new construction statistics for national permit and completion data.
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