Home prices in 1984: US median, states and today's value
A new house at the median price in the US went for $79,950 in 1984 (Census and HUD). In September 2026 dollars, that is about $259,314. The FHFA house price index has risen by a factor of about 5.9 since then, while a typical US home stands at $366,157 as of September 2026 (Zillow).
- New house median sale price, 1984
- $79,950Sources: Census and HUD.
- Converted to September 2026 dollars
- $259,314, adjusted using CPI-U.
1984 house prices: median and average
The median price for a new house in 1984 was $79,950, and the average came to $97,550. That average sat 22% above the median, since a few costly houses push averages up. The FHFA index rose +4.5% during 1984, making it a steady year.
| Year | Median new house | Average new house | FHFA index, change on the year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $62,750 | $71,900 | +13.7% |
| 1980 | $64,750 | $76,375 | +7.9% |
| 1981 | $68,950 | $83,175 | +4.4% |
| 1982 | $69,225 | $83,850 | +1.0% |
| 1983 | $75,375 | $89,775 | +7.2% |
| 1984 | $79,950 | $97,550 | +4.5% |
| 1985 | $84,275 | $100,825 | +5.1% |
| 1986 | $92,025 | $112,075 | +6.8% |
| 1987 | $104,700 | $127,575 | +6.5% |
| 1988 | $112,225 | $138,650 | +5.4% |
| 1989 | $120,425 | $148,125 | +5.3% |
U.S. Census Bureau and HUD, yearly new houses sold (FRED MSPUS, ASPUS). Yearly average of the FHFA all-transactions index. More on the two measures: median price of a home and average home price in America.
Home prices in 1984 by state
The biggest FHFA index gain since 1984 came in District of Columbia, +888%, and the smallest in Louisiana, +228%. During 1984, the FHFA index fell in eight states, with its largest drop in Wyoming at −7.1%.
| State | Typical value, September 2026 | FHFA change in 1984 | FHFA change since 1984 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $238,614 | +6.3% | +350% |
| Alaska | $397,932 | +5.9% | +229% |
| Arizona | $416,733 | +3.9% | +507% |
| Arkansas | $224,158 | +3.1% | +305% |
| California | $761,538 | +3.2% | +706% |
| Colorado | $529,013 | +0.1% | +582% |
| Connecticut | $447,319 | +12.2% | +438% |
| Delaware | $405,061 | +7.0% | +500% |
| District of Columbia | $567,271 | +6.3% | +888% |
| Florida | $375,361 | +2.8% | +551% |
| Georgia | $329,115 | +5.4% | +425% |
| Hawaii | $832,932 | +3.5% | +792% |
| Idaho | $476,754 | +1.1% | +653% |
| Illinois | $295,943 | +5.6% | +413% |
| Indiana | $257,165 | +1.4% | +402% |
| Iowa | $236,623 | +1.1% | +365% |
| Kansas | $246,055 | +0.3% | +351% |
| Kentucky | $230,909 | +2.6% | +428% |
| Louisiana | $213,867 | −0.2% | +228% |
| Maine | $412,002 | +13.0% | +669% |
| Maryland | $424,890 | +5.7% | +490% |
| Massachusetts | $655,219 | +21.3% | +686% |
| Michigan | $263,760 | +0.8% | +501% |
| Minnesota | $348,778 | +3.6% | +437% |
| Mississippi | $194,531 | +2.2% | +274% |
| Missouri | $265,387 | +6.5% | +391% |
| Montana | $467,275 | +10.8% | +624% |
| Nebraska | $278,299 | +1.3% | +393% |
| Nevada | $440,739 | −0.7% | +450% |
| New Hampshire | $510,937 | +14.5% | +611% |
| New Jersey | $575,123 | +14.0% | +635% |
| New Mexico | $315,812 | −0.2% | +351% |
| New York | $524,942 | +16.7% | +644% |
| North Carolina | $332,159 | +7.4% | +480% |
| North Dakota | $290,657 | +13.2% | +372% |
| Ohio | $245,982 | +2.0% | +388% |
| Oklahoma | $220,801 | −3.7% | +230% |
| Oregon | $492,753 | −1.1% | +773% |
| Pennsylvania | $287,078 | +5.1% | +523% |
| Rhode Island | $508,507 | +7.6% | +760% |
| South Carolina | $304,319 | +3.1% | +475% |
| South Dakota | $317,874 | +6.7% | +478% |
| Tennessee | $330,844 | +1.7% | +525% |
| Texas | $296,424 | +1.0% | +318% |
| Utah | $532,920 | −0.1% | +664% |
| Vermont | $391,900 | +6.4% | +625% |
| Virginia | $412,252 | +4.9% | +533% |
| Washington | $587,533 | +3.7% | +854% |
| West Virginia | $176,576 | −0.7% | +295% |
| Wisconsin | $337,196 | +1.5% | +504% |
| Wyoming | $369,044 | −7.1% | +436% |
FHFA change figures use the all-transactions house price index, comparing the 1984 yearly average with Q2 2026. Data source: FHFA HPI datasets
Current value of a 1984 home
Consider a house costing $79,950 in 1984, which equaled the median new-house price. With the FHFA index applied, the home would now be worth about $474,317; consumer prices alone would put it at $259,314. Adjusted for inflation, the median price of a new house today sits 52% above the 1984 level.
| A $79,950 home from 1984 | Worth now | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Grown with the US FHFA house price index | $474,317 | Q2 2026 |
| Grown with consumer prices only (CPI-U) | $259,314 | September 2026 |
Every series set against itself, 1984 and now:
| Series | 1984 | Now | As of | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median new house sold, Census and HUD | $79,950 | $393,300 | Q3 2026 | +392% |
| Average new house sold, Census and HUD | $97,550 | $494,400 | Q3 2026 | +407% |
| FHFA house price index (an index, not dollars) | 121.3 | 719.9 | Q2 2026 | +493% |
| Consumer prices (CPI-U) | 103.9 | 336.9 | September 2026 | +224% |
Find the value for a given city and purchase price with the home appreciation calculator.
1984 seen in context
A steel line shows the median new house and a grey line the average, while a dashed line points to 1984.
Before that: home prices in 1982. For the next year, see home prices in 1985. View home prices by year for every year on one page. See every fall since 1975 in the housing market crash history. For current values city by city, use the home appreciation calculator for a home bought in 1984.