1980's House Prices

Nine states more than doubled their house price-to-income ratio between 1980 and 2023, including Massachusetts, which went from 2.4 to 5.7. Hawaii has the highest house price-to-income ratio today and held the same title in 1980. North Dakota and Arizona residents pay roughly the same percentage of their income in housing costs today as in 1980 (27%).

California, Texas, Hawaii and Louisiana. Take a trip back to 1980! Discover the average cost of a house and see how it compares to today's market. You won't believe the difference!

This calculator uses the official Consumer Price Index for Housing from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Housing costing $100,000 in 1980 would cost $425,307.74 in 2025.

The median price of a new home these days is about $426,000, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Looking back at 1980, the median new home cost more like $68,000.

See United States historical monthly median single family home prices from 1953-2024. Non-seasonally adjusted values, with and without inflation. Uncover the average home price in 1980, the economic factors that shaped it, and how its value compares to today.

However, real house prices (inflation adjusted) declined 13% from peak to trough, and it took over 7 years to return to the previous real peak. If we use the Freddie Mac House Price index, nominal prices declined almost 7% from peak to trough in the 1980 period, and real prices declined almost 17%. Graph and download economic data for All-Transactions House Price Index for South Dakota (SDSTHPI) from Q1 1975 to Q2 2025 about SD, appraisers, HPI, housing, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Discover the real cost to buy a home in 1980, including prices, mortgage rates, and lessons for today's buyers. See how much has changed! The FHFA House Price Index® (FHFA HPI®) is a comprehensive collection of publicly available house price indexes that measure changes in single.