Cities With the Largest Increase in Home Prices Over the Last Decade

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While the U.S. real estate market appears to finally be cooling down, home price growth has been a defining economic trend in recent years. Over the past decade, U.S. home values grew by more than 81%, compared to average hourly earnings which saw a modest 47% increase. Consequently, housing affordability has taken a hit, while homeowners have seen substantial gains in their real estate wealth.

To examine trends in home price growth, including which U.S. locations have seen the most growth and where this price growth has most outpaced household income, Construction Coverage—a company that provides construction industry resources, guides, and research—analyzed the latest data from Zillow, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Here are the key takeaways from the analysis:

  • Home prices have risen far faster than incomes and inflation over the past decade. Since 2016, U.S. home values have increased by more than 81%, substantially outpacing wage growth (+47%)—resulting in worsening housing affordability nationwide.
  • Home price growth following the COVID-19 recession was initially rapid but has since normalized. National home prices surged 40% within just over two years after the 2020 recession before cooling to more typical long-term growth patterns by 2025, even as elevated mortgage rates continue to keep monthly housing costs high.
  • Mountain West and New England states recorded the largest increases in home prices. Idaho (+137.0%) led all states in 10-year home price appreciation, followed by New Hampshire (+114.0%), Maine (+110.8%), and Utah (+109.3%), while Louisiana (+17.0%), North Dakota (+25.1%), and Alaska (+38.6%) saw the slowest growth.
  • Home price growth varied dramatically at the city level. Cities like East Orange, NJ (+197.7%), Pine Hills, FL (+187.6%), and Miami Gardens, FL (+182.6%) experienced some of the nation’s largest increases, while high-cost coastal markets such as Oakland, CA (+14.0%) and San Francisco, CA (+14.1%) posted comparatively modest gains over the past decade.
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Cities With the Largest Increase in Home Prices Over the Last Decade
Cities With the Largest Increase in Home Prices Over the Last Decade
The last decade of rapid home price growth has severely worsened housing affordability across the U.S. A new analysis from Construction Coverage found that U.S. home values surged more than 81% between 2016 and 2026, dramatically outpacing wage growth (+47%) and reshaping housing affordability nationwide. The study analyzes Zillow and Census Bureau data to identify the states and cities with the largest increases in home prices over the last decade. 1 min