US Median Home Price in 2026: Official Data and 10-Year Trend
The median sales price of homes sold in the United States stood at $403,200 as of January 2026, according to official data from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) database at fred.stlouisfed.org, retrieved on 2026-07-20. That figure marks a meaningful pullback from the recent peak and offers the clearest signal yet that the post-pandemic price surge is giving way to a cooling, though not collapsing, market. For buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines, the numbers deserve a close read.
Where Prices Stand Today: 1, 5, and 10-Year Comparison
The table below places the current $403,200 median against where prices were one, five, and ten years ago. The contrasts tell three very different stories about momentum.
| Timeframe | Date | Median Price (USD) | Absolute Change | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | January 2026 | $403,200 | — | — |
| 1 Year Ago | January 2025 | $423,100 | −$19,900 | −4.7% |
| 5 Years Ago | January 2021 | $355,000 | +$48,200 | +13.6% |
| 10 Years Ago | January 2016 | $299,800 | +$103,400 | +34.5% |
The one-year decline of $19,900 (−4.7%) is the most buyer-friendly headline in years. Prices are lower today than they were twelve months ago — a reversal from the relentless year-over-year gains that defined 2021 through early 2024. The five-year lens, however, provides important context: even after this pullback, homes cost $48,200 more than they did in January 2021. Zoom out to a decade and the cumulative gain is $103,400, or 34.5%. The market has cooled, but it has not unwound the structural appreciation of the past ten years.
Recent Quarterly Price Trend
The quarterly data points below trace the arc of prices from spring 2024 through early 2026. This granular view reveals a market that peaked, declined, briefly steadied, and then declined again — a pattern consistent with a gradual correction rather than a sharp crash.
| Quarter | Median Sales Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| April 2024 | $414,500 |
| July 2024 | $415,300 |
| October 2024 | $419,300 |
| January 2025 | $423,100 |
| April 2025 | $416,100 |
| July 2025 | $410,100 |
| October 2025 | $412,300 |
| January 2026 | $403,200 |
Prices climbed steadily from $414,500 in April 2024 to a local peak of $423,100 in January 2025 — a gain of $8,600 over three quarters. The reversal began in April 2025, with prices falling to $416,100, then to $410,100 by July 2025. A brief uptick to $412,300 in October 2025 suggested possible stabilization, but the January 2026 reading of $403,200 broke lower again. From peak to the most recent data point, the median has dropped $19,900. The trend is cooling, not crashing, but the direction over the past year is clearly downward.
Is the Correction Accelerating or Slowing?
The quarterly data shows that the pace of decline has been uneven. The sharpest single-quarter drop was $6,000 between January and April 2025, followed by another $6,000 drop through July 2025. The October 2025 bounce of $2,200 hinted at a floor forming, but January 2026 erased that gain and then some, falling $9,100 in a single quarter — the largest quarter-over-quarter drop in the dataset. That acceleration in the most recent quarter is worth monitoring. It suggests the correction may not yet be finished, though a single data point does not establish a new trend.
Affordability Implications for Buyers
A $19,900 price reduction in twelve months is real money. On a 30-year mortgage with a 10% down payment on a $403,200 home versus a $423,100 home, the lower price reduces the loan principal by $17,910, which translates to a meaningfully lower monthly payment before factoring in any rate changes. That said, the median price is still $103,400 higher than it was a decade ago, meaning affordability remains a genuine challenge for first-time buyers who did not benefit from prior appreciation in an existing home.
What This Means for Buyers
- Prices are lower than a year ago. The median has dropped $19,900 (−4.7%) year-over-year as of January 2026. Buyers entering now are paying less than those who bought at the January 2025 peak.
- The five-year picture still favors existing owners. Prices remain $48,200 above January 2021 levels. Anyone who purchased before the pandemic run-up still holds substantial equity.
- The correction appears gradual, not a crash. Eight quarters of data show a controlled decline with one brief uptick, not a freefall. Buyers should not expect a dramatic discount to materialize quickly.
- The most recent quarter showed the steepest drop. The $9,100 decline from October 2025 to January 2026 is the largest single-quarter move in the dataset. Buyers who can wait may benefit from continued softness, but waiting always carries its own risks.
- Ten-year appreciation is substantial. At +34.5% over ten years, real estate has compounded meaningfully. Buyers who purchase now and hold long term are buying into a market with a demonstrated track record of appreciation, even if near-term prices soften further.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current median US home sales price?
According to FRED data retrieved on 2026-07-20, the median sales price of houses sold in the United States was $403,200 as of January 2026.
Have home prices gone down in the past year?
Yes. The median price fell $19,900, or 4.7%, from $423,100 in January 2025 to $403,200 in January 2026. That is the most significant year-over-year decline visible in the recent data series.
How much have home prices risen over the past ten years?
From January 2016 to January 2026, the national median sales price rose $103,400, a cumulative gain of 34.5%. In January 2016 the median was $299,800; it now stands at $403,200.
Is now a good time to buy based on this data alone?
The data shows prices declining year-over-year and a steeper drop in the most recent quarter, which is favorable for buyers on price alone. However, the median is still 13.6% above its January 2021 level, meaning prices remain elevated in a historical context. This data covers price only and does not include mortgage rates, inventory levels, or local market conditions — all of which matter for any individual purchase decision.
About the Data
All figures in this article are drawn exclusively from FRED series MSPUS (Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States), published by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and hosted at fred.stlouisfed.org. The series measures the median transaction price of new and existing single-family homes sold, reported quarterly in nominal (not inflation-adjusted) dollars. Because it is a national median, it masks significant regional variation — markets in the Sun Belt, Midwest, or Northeast may behave quite differently from the national figure. The series also reflects the mix of homes sold in any given quarter, so a shift toward more lower-priced or higher-priced transactions can move the median independently of underlying value changes. Data was retrieved on 2026-07-20; the most recent observation is dated January 2026.