| Metro Area | State | Median $/sqft | Median Home Price | YoY Change |
|---|
A 2,000 sqft home in San Francisco is worth ~$1.5M while the same home in Detroit is ~$260K. Regional price per square foot varies from $130 to $750+, making location the single most important factor in any home valuation. Within a metro, neighborhood-level differences of 30–50% are common — this tool provides metro-level baselines as a starting point.
A home in "excellent" condition (fully renovated, modern finishes) commands 15–25% more than the same home in "average" condition. This represents $50K–$150K on a typical US home. Key upgrades that drive value: updated kitchens (+5–10%), renovated bathrooms (+3–5% each), new roof (+3–5%), and modern HVAC systems (+2–4%). However, over-improving beyond neighborhood norms rarely recoups full cost.
Homes with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms represent the highest-demand configuration in most US markets. Going from 2 to 3 bedrooms adds 10–15% to value, but the 4th and 5th bedrooms add incrementally less (5–8% and 2–4% respectively). Bathrooms follow a similar pattern — the jump from 1 to 2 full baths is worth more than from 3 to 4. For maximum ROI, match the dominant bedroom/bath count in your neighborhood.
This estimator uses a comparable analysis approach based on median price-per-square-foot data for 30 major US metropolitan areas as of Q1 2026. Regional baselines are sourced from public real estate data aggregators and represent approximate metro-wide medians for single-family homes.
Adjustments are applied for property characteristics: age premium/discount (newer homes command higher $/sqft), bedroom and bathroom count (relative to the 3-bed/2-bath baseline), lot size (relative to the 0.25-acre baseline), condition multiplier (1=poor through 5=excellent), and amenity bonuses (garage, pool). The low and high estimates represent ±10% of the mid estimate to reflect typical market variability.