Chicago home prices (US$/m²): returns since 2012
Chicago home prices, measured as the typical value per square meter (data: Redfin). This is the value of the property itself — bricks and mortar — not an investor's total return.
It excludes rent received and all costs (closing, property taxes, maintenance, vacancy). Compare it against U.S. inflation (CPI) and the S&P 500 below to see whether Chicago real estate kept up.
Chicago is the largest Midwest metro and typically a mid-tier market, more affordable per square meter than the coastal giants despite being a major financial, transport and corporate hub. The wider metro spans dense lakefront neighborhoods and a vast suburban ring, which holds the typical price down relative to supply-constrained coastal cities. Chicago was among the markets hit hard by the 2008 housing crash, and its recovery was slower than in many Sun Belt and coastal metros, a pattern the per-square-meter history reflects.
Cumulative return by window (in U.S. dollars)
| Window | Cumulative |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 6% |
| 5 years | 19% |
| 10 years | 45% |
Largest historical drop: -32% · annual volatility: 23% . Typical home price per m² (Redfin). Excludes rent received, closing costs, property taxes, maintenance and vacancy — the value of the property itself, not the investor's total return.
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Descriptive, educational content computed from official public data. Not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.