According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for housing are 282.13% higher in 2025 versus 1981 (a $15,517 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2025: Housing experienced an average inflation rate of 3.09% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, housing costing $5,500 in the year 1981 would cost $21,017 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.91% during this same period, inflation for housing was higher.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 11.48%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for housing during the 1981-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for housing was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Housing, over time, for $5,500 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $5,500.00 | 11.48% |
| 1982 | $5,897.00 | 7.22% |
| 1983 | $6,054.78 | 2.68% |
| 1984 | $6,306.18 | 4.15% |
| 1985 | $6,556.65 | 3.97% |
| 1986 | $6,750.47 | 2.96% |
| 1987 | $6,951.31 | 2.98% |
| 1988 | $7,211.61 | 3.74% |
| 1989 | $7,486.42 | 3.81% |
| 1990 | $7,822.57 | 4.49% |
| 1991 | $8,131.55 | 3.95% |
| 1992 | $8,368.91 | 2.92% |
| 1993 | $8,594.57 | 2.70% |
| 1994 | $8,811.33 | 2.52% |
| 1995 | $9,035.11 | 2.54% |
| 1996 | $9,298.69 | 2.92% |
| 1997 | $9,541.67 | 2.61% |
| 1998 | $9,759.83 | 2.29% |
| 1999 | $9,974.25 | 2.20% |
| 2000 | $10,319.29 | 3.46% |
| 2001 | $10,733.61 | 4.02% |
| 2002 | $10,971.44 | 2.22% |
| 2003 | $11,246.25 | 2.50% |
| 2004 | $11,535.11 | 2.57% |
| 2005 | $11,911.99 | 3.27% |
| 2006 | $12,364.70 | 3.80% |
| 2007 | $12,755.71 | 3.16% |
| 2008 | $13,162.12 | 3.19% |
| 2009 | $13,210.39 | 0.37% |
| 2010 | $13,161.65 | -0.37% |
| 2011 | $13,334.84 | 1.32% |
| 2012 | $13,554.77 | 1.65% |
| 2013 | $13,836.91 | 2.08% |
| 2014 | $14,193.82 | 2.58% |
| 2015 | $14,488.69 | 2.08% |
| 2016 | $14,848.52 | 2.48% |
| 2017 | $15,290.15 | 2.97% |
| 2018 | $15,731.35 | 2.89% |
| 2019 | $16,186.19 | 2.89% |
| 2020 | $16,540.49 | 2.19% |
| 2021 | $17,085.02 | 3.29% |
| 2022 | $18,307.31 | 7.15% |
| 2023 | $19,486.10 | 6.44% |
| 2024 | $20,337.29 | 4.37% |
| 2025 | $21,017.00 | 3.34%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 30.785 | 32.031 | 34.000 | 36.400 | 37.985 | 39.469 | 41.162 | 45.808 | 50.638 | 53.762 | 57.423 | 62.462 | 70.062 | 81.062 | 90.369 | 96.892 | 99.485 | 103.615 | 107.731 | 110.915 | 114.215 | 118.492 | 123.008 | 128.531 | 133.608 | 137.508 | 141.215 | 144.777 | 148.454 | 152.785 | 156.777 | 160.362 | 163.885 | 169.554 | 176.362 | 180.269 | 184.785 | 189.531 | 195.723 | 203.162 | 209.586 | 216.264 | 217.057 | 216.256 | 219.102 | 222.715 | 227.351 | 233.215 | 238.060 | 243.973 | 251.229 | 258.478 | 265.952 | 271.773 | 280.720 | 300.803 | 320.172 | 334.157 | 345.325 |