According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for housing are 277.20% higher in 2025 versus 1981 (a $1,663,215.02 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2025: Housing experienced an average inflation rate of 3.06% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, housing costing $600,000 in the year 1981 would cost $2,263,215.02 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.88% 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 $600,000 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 | $600,000.00 | 11.48% |
1982 | $643,309.50 | 7.22% |
1983 | $660,520.94 | 2.68% |
1984 | $687,946.88 | 4.15% |
1985 | $715,270.68 | 3.97% |
1986 | $736,414.71 | 2.96% |
1987 | $758,324.82 | 2.98% |
1988 | $786,721.14 | 3.74% |
1989 | $816,700.72 | 3.81% |
1990 | $853,370.79 | 4.49% |
1991 | $887,078.65 | 3.95% |
1992 | $912,972.42 | 2.92% |
1993 | $937,589.38 | 2.70% |
1994 | $961,235.96 | 2.52% |
1995 | $985,648.62 | 2.54% |
1996 | $1,014,402.45 | 2.92% |
1997 | $1,040,909.09 | 2.61% |
1998 | $1,064,708.89 | 2.29% |
1999 | $1,088,100.10 | 2.20% |
2000 | $1,125,740.55 | 3.46% |
2001 | $1,170,939.73 | 4.02% |
2002 | $1,196,884.58 | 2.22% |
2003 | $1,226,864.15 | 2.50% |
2004 | $1,258,375.89 | 2.57% |
2005 | $1,299,489.27 | 3.27% |
2006 | $1,348,876.40 | 3.80% |
2007 | $1,391,532.18 | 3.16% |
2008 | $1,435,867.21 | 3.19% |
2009 | $1,441,133.81 | 0.37% |
2010 | $1,435,816.14 | -0.37% |
2011 | $1,454,709.40 | 1.32% |
2012 | $1,478,701.74 | 1.65% |
2013 | $1,509,481.61 | 2.08% |
2014 | $1,548,416.24 | 2.58% |
2015 | $1,580,584.27 | 2.08% |
2016 | $1,619,838.10 | 2.48% |
2017 | $1,668,016.85 | 2.97% |
2018 | $1,716,147.09 | 2.89% |
2019 | $1,765,766.09 | 2.89% |
2020 | $1,804,416.75 | 2.19% |
2021 | $1,863,820.74 | 3.29% |
2022 | $1,997,161.39 | 7.15% |
2023 | $2,125,756.89 | 6.44% |
2024 | $2,218,613.89 | 4.37% |
2025 | $2,263,215.02 | 2.01%* |
* 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 | 340.875 |