According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for housing are 786.57% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $3,618,216.09 difference in value).
Between 1972 and 2026: Housing experienced an average inflation rate of 4.12% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, housing costing $460,000 in the year 1972 would cost $4,078,216.09 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.87% during this same period, inflation for housing was higher.
In the year 1972: Pricing changed by 3.93%, which is below the average yearly change for housing during the 1972-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), inflation for housing was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Housing, over time, for $460,000 beginning in 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | $460,000.00 | 3.93% |
| 1973 | $479,615.79 | 4.26% |
| 1974 | $533,801.98 | 11.30% |
| 1975 | $590,027.44 | 10.53% |
| 1976 | $626,442.90 | 6.17% |
| 1977 | $669,170.36 | 6.82% |
| 1978 | $727,920.62 | 8.78% |
| 1979 | $816,385.90 | 12.15% |
| 1980 | $944,568.29 | 15.70% |
| 1981 | $1,053,037.79 | 11.48% |
| 1982 | $1,129,073.25 | 7.22% |
| 1983 | $1,159,273.80 | 2.67% |
| 1984 | $1,207,439.31 | 4.15% |
| 1985 | $1,255,410.60 | 3.97% |
| 1986 | $1,292,505.81 | 2.95% |
| 1987 | $1,330,960.52 | 2.98% |
| 1988 | $1,380,776.86 | 3.74% |
| 1989 | $1,433,409.33 | 3.81% |
| 1990 | $1,497,791.85 | 4.49% |
| 1991 | $1,556,930.55 | 3.95% |
| 1992 | $1,602,377.03 | 2.92% |
| 1993 | $1,645,590.04 | 2.70% |
| 1994 | $1,687,055.10 | 2.52% |
| 1995 | $1,729,879.67 | 2.54% |
| 1996 | $1,780,375.77 | 2.92% |
| 1997 | $1,826,890.44 | 2.61% |
| 1998 | $1,868,646.82 | 2.29% |
| 1999 | $1,909,723.45 | 2.20% |
| 2000 | $1,975,756.81 | 3.46% |
| 2001 | $2,055,093.94 | 4.02% |
| 2002 | $2,100,637.53 | 2.22% |
| 2003 | $2,153,270.00 | 2.51% |
| 2004 | $2,208,621.49 | 2.57% |
| 2005 | $2,280,772.64 | 3.27% |
| 2006 | $2,367,392.86 | 3.80% |
| 2007 | $2,442,296.05 | 3.16% |
| 2008 | $2,520,108.59 | 3.19% |
| 2009 | $2,529,352.29 | 0.37% |
| 2010 | $2,520,019.25 | -0.37% |
| 2011 | $2,553,178.68 | 1.32% |
| 2012 | $2,595,288.54 | 1.65% |
| 2013 | $2,649,310.62 | 2.08% |
| 2014 | $2,717,645.43 | 2.58% |
| 2015 | $2,774,103.95 | 2.08% |
| 2016 | $2,842,998.10 | 2.48% |
| 2017 | $2,927,557.69 | 2.97% |
| 2018 | $3,012,031.83 | 2.89% |
| 2019 | $3,099,118.18 | 2.89% |
| 2020 | $3,166,954.82 | 2.19% |
| 2021 | $3,271,215.66 | 3.29% |
| 2022 | $3,505,243.70 | 7.15% |
| 2023 | $3,730,942.79 | 6.44% |
| 2024 | $3,893,917.96 | 4.37% |
| 2025 | $4,038,405.39 | 3.71% |
| 2026 | $4,078,216.09 | 0.99%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Housing:
| Year | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 30.783 | 32.033 | 34.000 | 36.400 | 37.983 | 39.475 | 41.158 | 45.808 | 50.633 | 53.758 | 57.425 | 62.467 | 70.058 | 81.058 | 90.367 | 96.892 | 99.483 | 103.617 | 107.733 | 110.917 | 114.217 | 118.492 | 123.008 | 128.533 | 133.608 | 137.508 | 141.217 | 144.775 | 148.450 | 152.783 | 156.775 | 160.358 | 163.883 | 169.550 | 176.358 | 180.267 | 184.783 | 189.533 | 195.725 | 203.158 | 209.586 | 216.264 | 217.057 | 216.256 | 219.102 | 222.715 | 227.351 | 233.215 | 238.060 | 243.972 | 251.229 | 258.478 | 265.952 | 271.773 | 280.720 | 300.803 | 320.172 | 334.157 | 346.557 | 349.973 |