Home prices in 1990: US median, states and today's value
The median new-house sale price in the US was $122,300 in 1990 (Census and HUD), equal to about $315,386 in September 2026 dollars. The FHFA house price index has since grown about 4.3 times, while the typical US home was worth $366,157 in September 2026 (Zillow).
- 1990 median price for a new house sold
- $122,300Sources: Census and HUD.
- September 2026 dollars
- $315,386. CPI-U adjusted.
Average and median house prices in 1990
The median sale price for a new house in 1990 was $122,300, while the average was $149,075, 22% above the median. A few costly houses pushed the average upward. An owner-occupied single-family home had a median value of $79,100 in the 1990 census. The FHFA index saw a steady 1990, up +3.1% over the year.
| Year | Median new house | Average new house | FHFA index, change on the year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 1990 | $122,300 | $149,075 | +3.1% |
| 1991 | $119,975 | $147,275 | +1.9% |
| 1992 | $121,375 | $144,675 | +2.8% |
| 1993 | $126,500 | $147,475 | +2.3% |
| 1994 | $130,425 | $154,175 | +2.5% |
| 1995 | $133,475 | $157,750 | +3.0% |
Yearly new-house sales data come from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD (FRED MSPUS, ASPUS). Yearly averages of the FHFA all-transactions index. More on each figure: median home price plus average home price in America.
Home prices in 1990 by state
Hawaii had the highest median home value in the 1990 census, at $245,300, while South Dakota had the lowest, at $45,200. Since 1990, the largest gain on the FHFA index came in Utah at +632%, and the smallest in Connecticut at +196%. During 1990 the FHFA index fell in eight states, and New Hampshire's −6.4% was the deepest drop.
| State | Median value, 1990 | Typical value, September 2026 | FHFA change in 1990 | FHFA change since 1990 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $53,700 | $238,614 | +1.7% | +275% |
| Alaska | $94,400 | $397,932 | +2.9% | +340% |
| Arizona | $80,100 | $416,733 | −0.1% | +451% |
| Arkansas | $46,300 | $224,158 | +0.8% | +278% |
| California | $195,500 | $761,538 | +8.3% | +327% |
| Colorado | $82,700 | $529,013 | +2.4% | +565% |
| Connecticut | $177,800 | $447,319 | −5.0% | +196% |
| Delaware | $100,100 | $405,061 | +3.3% | +247% |
| District of Columbia | $567,271 | +3.8% | +445% | |
| Florida | $77,100 | $375,361 | +2.0% | +440% |
| Georgia | $71,300 | $329,115 | +0.4% | +314% |
| Hawaii | $245,300 | $832,932 | +23.9% | +317% |
| Idaho | $58,200 | $476,754 | +6.9% | +565% |
| Illinois | $80,900 | $295,943 | +5.2% | +236% |
| Indiana | $53,900 | $257,165 | +3.5% | +284% |
| Iowa | $45,900 | $236,623 | +5.1% | +294% |
| Kansas | $52,200 | $246,055 | +0.2% | +307% |
| Kentucky | $50,500 | $230,909 | +2.9% | +311% |
| Louisiana | $58,500 | $213,867 | +1.2% | +271% |
| Maine | $87,400 | $412,002 | −1.8% | +346% |
| Maryland | $116,500 | $424,890 | +4.3% | +257% |
| Massachusetts | $162,800 | $655,219 | −4.0% | +340% |
| Michigan | $60,600 | $263,760 | +5.1% | +297% |
| Minnesota | $74,000 | $348,778 | +1.8% | +340% |
| Mississippi | $45,600 | $194,531 | +1.4% | +244% |
| Missouri | $59,800 | $265,387 | +0.8% | +291% |
| Montana | $56,600 | $467,275 | +4.4% | +625% |
| Nebraska | $50,400 | $278,299 | +3.8% | +338% |
| Nevada | $95,700 | $440,739 | +7.7% | +345% |
| New Hampshire | $129,400 | $510,937 | −6.4% | +332% |
| New Jersey | $162,300 | $575,123 | −3.5% | +307% |
| New Mexico | $70,100 | $315,812 | +1.1% | +319% |
| New York | $131,600 | $524,942 | −0.8% | +321% |
| North Carolina | $65,800 | $332,159 | +2.0% | +336% |
| North Dakota | $50,800 | $290,657 | +1.5% | +382% |
| Ohio | $63,500 | $245,982 | +4.5% | +263% |
| Oklahoma | $48,100 | $220,801 | +1.1% | +295% |
| Oregon | $67,100 | $492,753 | +14.4% | +565% |
| Pennsylvania | $69,700 | $287,078 | +2.5% | +272% |
| Rhode Island | $133,500 | $508,507 | −1.2% | +311% |
| South Carolina | $61,100 | $304,319 | +3.2% | +350% |
| South Dakota | $45,200 | $317,874 | +3.6% | +421% |
| Tennessee | $58,400 | $330,844 | +0.5% | +383% |
| Texas | $59,600 | $296,424 | +1.5% | +354% |
| Utah | $68,900 | $532,920 | +3.3% | +632% |
| Vermont | $95,500 | $391,900 | +1.2% | +318% |
| Virginia | $91,000 | $412,252 | +1.4% | +315% |
| Washington | $93,400 | $587,533 | +21.8% | +498% |
| West Virginia | $47,900 | $176,576 | +1.7% | +258% |
| Wisconsin | $62,500 | $337,196 | +5.1% | +374% |
| Wyoming | $61,600 | $369,044 | +8.3% | +490% |
Median values come from the U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Housing, based on owner reports. FHFA changes reflect the FHFA all-transactions house price index from the 1990 yearly average through Q2 2026. FHFA HPI datasets
What a home from 1990 is worth today
Consider a home that sold for $122,300 in 1990, which was the median new-house price. An increase based on the FHFA index gives the home a current value of about $530,522. Using consumer prices by themselves gives $315,386. Once adjusted for inflation, the median new house today costs 25% more than it did in 1990.
| A $122,300 home from 1990 | Worth now | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Grown with the US FHFA house price index | $530,522 | Q2 2026 |
| Grown with consumer prices only (CPI-U) | $315,386 | September 2026 |
Each series compared with itself in 1990 and now:
| Series | 1990 | Now | As of | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value, Census of Housing | $79,100 | $119,600 | 2000, last census | +51% |
| Median new house sold, Census and HUD | $122,300 | $393,300 | Q3 2026 | +222% |
| Average new house sold, Census and HUD | $149,075 | $494,400 | Q3 2026 | +232% |
| FHFA house price index (an index, not dollars) | 165.9 | 719.9 | Q2 2026 | +334% |
| Consumer prices (CPI-U) | 130.7 | 336.9 | September 2026 | +158% |
With a city and amount paid in mind: the home appreciation calculator.
1990 seen in context
Grey marks the average, steel the median new house; the dashed line points to 1990.
Earlier data: home prices in 1989. Later data: home prices in 1991. For home prices across all years in one place, see yearly home prices. View the housing market crash history covering every fall since 1975. Look up the present-day value of a 1990 home purchase in each city: the appreciation calculator.