Is the percentile real?

No. It’s illustrative only, mapped from the ratio. For actual percentiles, you’d need detailed local price distribution data.

Should I use assessed value or market value?

Use market value for comparisons; assessed values can be outdated or capped. Keep the source consistent when comparing over time.

Does property type matter?

Yes. A condo vs single-family median may differ. Compare like with like for meaningful ratios.

finance calculator

Home Value vs Median

Compare your home value to a local median home value with a simple ratio and percentile-style estimate.

Results

Home value ÷ median: 1.29
Illustrative percentile estimate: 7857.14%

How to use this calculator

Enter your home value and the local median home value.
Review the ratio and an illustrative percentile estimate.
Adjust for different medians (zip, city, county, state) to see how context shifts the comparison.

Inputs explained

Your home value: Estimated market value or recent appraisal for your property.
Local median home value: Median home value for the area you want to compare (zip, city, county, or state).

How it works

Ratio = your home value ÷ median home value.

Percentile-style estimate is a rough mapping from the ratio (illustrative only).

Formula

Ratio = homeValue ÷ medianValue. Illustrative percentile is mapped from the ratio (e.g., around 1.0 ≈ ~50th percentile; higher ratios suggest higher percentiles), but it is not based on a real distribution.

When to use it

Quickly benchmarking your home value against local medians.
Illustrating how far above/below median your home value sits.
Comparing purchase price vs median at time of purchase to see initial position.
Evaluating how a renovation or addition might move your home relative to median values.
Setting expectations for insurance or property tax discussions (though assessed values differ).
Sanity-checking a listing price relative to local medians before reviewing comps.
Contextualizing affordability when relocating—swap in a new city’s median to see how your current home compares.

Tips & cautions

Use a reliable median source (e.g., Zillow, local MLS stats).
Percentile estimate is illustrative; for precise stats, reference detailed market data.
Median choice matters: a high-cost zip vs a broader county median can change the ratio significantly.
If your local market is very skewed, a simple median comparison may not reflect neighborhood micro-markets.
Update values with recent comps; online estimates can lag fast-moving markets.
If comparing condos vs single-family, use medians for the same property type to avoid skewed ratios.
Use consistent value sources over time if tracking changes, so differences reflect the market not the data provider.
Simplified ratio and percentile estimate; not based on actual market distribution.
Does not account for home condition, lot size, school district, or renovations.
Percentile mapping is illustrative only and not derived from real price distribution data.
Assumes similar property types; condo vs single-family medians can differ.
Does not replace a CMA/appraisal; pricing decisions should rely on detailed comps.
No seasonality or inventory context; hot/cold markets may diverge from median-based expectations.

Worked examples

Above median

Home value $450,000; local median $350,000.
Ratio = 1.29. Illustrative percentile shows above-median positioning.

Below median

Home value $280,000; median $400,000.
Ratio = 0.70. Illustrative percentile shows below-median positioning.

Luxury relative to median

Home value $1,200,000; median $500,000.
Ratio = 2.4. Illustrative percentile near the high end (not a true market percentile).

Relocation comparison

Current home $500,000; current city median $450,000 → ratio 1.11 (slightly above).
Target city median $700,000; using same home value gives ratio 0.71.
Shows how a move to a higher-cost market shifts relative position below the new median.

Deep dive

Compare your home value to the local median with a quick ratio and percentile-style estimate.

Enter your home value and median to see how far above or below the typical home you are.

Test different medians (zip vs county vs state) to see how context shifts your home’s relative position.

Use this as a directional check before diving into detailed comps or appraisal data.

FAQs

Is the percentile real?: No. It’s illustrative only, mapped from the ratio. For actual percentiles, you’d need detailed local price distribution data.
Should I use assessed value or market value?: Use market value for comparisons; assessed values can be outdated or capped. Keep the source consistent when comparing over time.
Does property type matter?: Yes. A condo vs single-family median may differ. Compare like with like for meaningful ratios.

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Illustrative comparison only. Percentile output is not based on actual market distribution, and the ratio does not capture condition, location nuances, or property type differences. Use local comps and professional appraisals for decisions.