The Pandemic’s Effect on Home Prices in 20 Cities
Like most aspects of life, the pandemic had an impact.View Gallery
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The coronavirus pandemic has changed every aspect of our lives and had a significant impact on the economy and home values. Though home values have managed to increase somewhat during this time, the numbers are not huge.
Read: COVID’s Financial Impact After 1 Year: See All Our Coverage
To determine the top 20 cities with the highest percent change in home value during COVID-19, GOBankingRates used Zillow’s Single Family Residence Home Value time series data for the largest 250 cities in the United States. We looked at the difference between the February 2020 home value and the January 2021 home value and assessed the gross change ($) over the course of COVID-19. Cities like Boise, Idaho, and Chula Vista, California, had significant positive changes in home value, while the home values in cities like San Francisco and Laredo, Texas, actually decreased. All data was collected on and up to date as of Feb. 23, 2021. Find out where the pandemic has impacted home values the most.
20. Chandler, Arizona
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $344,064
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $395,746
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $51,682
- % change over course of COVID-19: 15.02%
19. Chula Vista, California
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $571,088
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $657,981
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $86,893
- % change over course of COVID-19: 15.22%
Find Out: 50 Cities Where It’s Cheaper To Buy a Home Than Rent
18. Gilbert, Arizona
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $361,422
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $416,641
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $55,219
- % change over course of COVID-19: 15.28%
17. Tucson, Arizona
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $213,528
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $246,607
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $33,079
- % change over course of COVID-19: 15.49%
16. Peoria, Arizona
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $307,816
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $356,107
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $48,291
- % change over course of COVID-19: 15.69%
15. Kansas City, Kansas
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $118,071
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $136,861
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $18,790
- % change over course of COVID-19: 15.91%
14. Augusta, Georgia
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $112,289
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $130,279
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $17,990
- % change over course of COVID-19: 16.02%
13. Newark, New Jersey
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $300,250
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $348,611
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $48,361
- % change over course of COVID-19: 16.11%
12. Tacoma, Washington
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $347,323
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $404,310
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $56,987
- % change over course of COVID-19: 16.41%
11. Tempe, Arizona
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $320,024
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $372,654
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $52,630
- % change over course of COVID-19: 16.45%
Find Out: 50 Cities With the Most Overpriced Homes
10. Dayton, Ohio
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $66,256
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $77,271
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $11,015
- % change over course of COVID-19: 16.62%
More: What Realtors Say To Expect From the Housing Market for the Rest of 2021
9. Spokane, Washington
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $261,712
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $305,380
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $43,668
- % change over course of COVID-19: 16.69%
8. Mesa, Arizona
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $280,221
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $327,525
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $47,304
- % change over course of COVID-19: 16.88%
See: Great Places to Retire Where Rent Is Under $1,000 a Month
7. Glendale, Arizona
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $255,539
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $299,663
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $44,124
- % change over course of COVID-19: 17.27%
Find Out: This Is the Salary You Need To Afford the Average Home in Your State
6. Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $222,691
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $261,611
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $38,920
- % change over course of COVID-19: 17.48%
5. Birmingham, Alabama
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $62,858
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $74,088
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $11,230
- % change over course of COVID-19: 17.87%
Read: What Homes Will Be Worth in Your State by the End of 2021
4. Phoenix
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $270,336
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $318,799
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $48,463
- % change over course of COVID-19: 17.93%
3. Detroit
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $37,925
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $45,222
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $7,297
- % change over course of COVID-19: 19.24%
Find Out: Houses in These 29 Cities Are Suddenly Major Bargains
2. Cleveland
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $66,304
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $79,194
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $12,890
- % change over course of COVID-19: 19.44%
1. Boise, Idaho
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $341,433
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $422,683
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $81,250
- % change over course of COVID-19: 23.80%
More From GOBankingRates
- If You Get a Stimulus Check, How Will You Use It? Take Our Poll
- How Long $1 Million in Savings Will Last in Every State
- 30 Essential Money Habits
- 27 Ugly Truths About Retirement
Methodology: For this piece GOBankingRates used Zillow’s Single Family Residence Home Value time series data for the largest 250 cities in the United States. For these 250 cities, GOBankingRates found (1) the February 2020 home value; (2) the January 2021 home value; (3) the gross change ($) over the course of COVID-19; and (4) the percent change to home value over the course of COVID-19. With these factors, GOBankingRates found the 20 cities with the highest percent change in home value during COVID-19, the 20 cities with the highest gross change ($) in home value during COVID-19 and the four cities with negative home value change during COVID-19. All data was collected on and up to date as of Feb. 23, 2021.
About the Author
Jordan Rosenfeld
Jordan Rosenfeld is a freelance writer and author of nine books. She holds a B.A. from Sonoma State University and an MFA from Bennington College. Her articles and essays about finances and other topics has appeared in a wide range of publications and clients, including The Atlantic, The Billfold, Good Magazine, GoBanking Rates, Daily Worth, Quartz, Medical Economics, The New York Times, Ozy, Paypal, The Washington Post and for numerous business clients. As someone who had to learn many of her lessons about money the hard way, she enjoys writing about personal finance to empower and educate people on how to make the most of what they have and live a better quality of life.
View All

The coronavirus pandemic has changed every aspect of our lives and had a significant impact on the economy and home values. Though home values have managed to increase somewhat during this time, the numbers are not huge.
Read: COVID’s Financial Impact After 1 Year: See All Our Coverage
To determine the top 20 cities with the highest percent change in home value during COVID-19, GOBankingRates used Zillow’s Single Family Residence Home Value time series data for the largest 250 cities in the United States. We looked at the difference between the February 2020 home value and the January 2021 home value and assessed the gross change ($) over the course of COVID-19. Cities like Boise, Idaho, and Chula Vista, California, had significant positive changes in home value, while the home values in cities like San Francisco and Laredo, Texas, actually decreased. All data was collected on and up to date as of Feb. 23, 2021. Find out where the pandemic has impacted home values the most.
20. Chandler, Arizona
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $344,064
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $395,746
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $51,682
- % change over course of COVID-19: 15.02%
19. Chula Vista, California
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $571,088
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $657,981
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $86,893
- % change over course of COVID-19: 15.22%
Find Out: 50 Cities Where It’s Cheaper To Buy a Home Than Rent
18. Gilbert, Arizona
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $361,422
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $416,641
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $55,219
- % change over course of COVID-19: 15.28%
17. Tucson, Arizona
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $213,528
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $246,607
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $33,079
- % change over course of COVID-19: 15.49%
16. Peoria, Arizona
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $307,816
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $356,107
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $48,291
- % change over course of COVID-19: 15.69%
15. Kansas City, Kansas
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $118,071
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $136,861
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $18,790
- % change over course of COVID-19: 15.91%
14. Augusta, Georgia
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $112,289
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $130,279
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $17,990
- % change over course of COVID-19: 16.02%
13. Newark, New Jersey
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $300,250
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $348,611
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $48,361
- % change over course of COVID-19: 16.11%
12. Tacoma, Washington
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $347,323
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $404,310
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $56,987
- % change over course of COVID-19: 16.41%
11. Tempe, Arizona
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $320,024
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $372,654
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $52,630
- % change over course of COVID-19: 16.45%
Find Out: 50 Cities With the Most Overpriced Homes
10. Dayton, Ohio
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $66,256
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $77,271
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $11,015
- % change over course of COVID-19: 16.62%
More: What Realtors Say To Expect From the Housing Market for the Rest of 2021
9. Spokane, Washington
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $261,712
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $305,380
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $43,668
- % change over course of COVID-19: 16.69%
8. Mesa, Arizona
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $280,221
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $327,525
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $47,304
- % change over course of COVID-19: 16.88%
See: Great Places to Retire Where Rent Is Under $1,000 a Month
7. Glendale, Arizona
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $255,539
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $299,663
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $44,124
- % change over course of COVID-19: 17.27%
Find Out: This Is the Salary You Need To Afford the Average Home in Your State
6. Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $222,691
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $261,611
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $38,920
- % change over course of COVID-19: 17.48%
5. Birmingham, Alabama
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $62,858
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $74,088
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $11,230
- % change over course of COVID-19: 17.87%
Read: What Homes Will Be Worth in Your State by the End of 2021
4. Phoenix
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $270,336
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $318,799
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $48,463
- % change over course of COVID-19: 17.93%
3. Detroit
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $37,925
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $45,222
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $7,297
- % change over course of COVID-19: 19.24%
Find Out: Houses in These 29 Cities Are Suddenly Major Bargains
2. Cleveland
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $66,304
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $79,194
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $12,890
- % change over course of COVID-19: 19.44%
1. Boise, Idaho
- Feb. 2020 Home value: $341,433
- Jan. 2021 Home value: $422,683
- Gross change ($) over course of COVID-19: $81,250
- % change over course of COVID-19: 23.80%
More From GOBankingRates
- If You Get a Stimulus Check, How Will You Use It? Take Our Poll
- How Long $1 Million in Savings Will Last in Every State
- 30 Essential Money Habits
- 27 Ugly Truths About Retirement
Methodology: For this piece GOBankingRates used Zillow’s Single Family Residence Home Value time series data for the largest 250 cities in the United States. For these 250 cities, GOBankingRates found (1) the February 2020 home value; (2) the January 2021 home value; (3) the gross change ($) over the course of COVID-19; and (4) the percent change to home value over the course of COVID-19. With these factors, GOBankingRates found the 20 cities with the highest percent change in home value during COVID-19, the 20 cities with the highest gross change ($) in home value during COVID-19 and the four cities with negative home value change during COVID-19. All data was collected on and up to date as of Feb. 23, 2021.
About the Author
Jordan Rosenfeld
Jordan Rosenfeld is a freelance writer and author of nine books. She holds a B.A. from Sonoma State University and an MFA from Bennington College. Her articles and essays about finances and other topics has appeared in a wide range of publications and clients, including The Atlantic, The Billfold, Good Magazine, GoBanking Rates, Daily Worth, Quartz, Medical Economics, The New York Times, Ozy, Paypal, The Washington Post and for numerous business clients. As someone who had to learn many of her lessons about money the hard way, she enjoys writing about personal finance to empower and educate people on how to make the most of what they have and live a better quality of life.