Austin real estate vs inflation: did it beat the dollar?
143% × 46%
Updated June 1, 2026 · Redfin · BLS / FRED (CPIAUCNS)
Since 2013, Austin real estate is up 143% while U.S. consumer prices rose 46%. Austin real estate far outpaced inflation — but the ride was brutal: its worst drop was 28%. Figures in U.S. dollars.
Base 100 since 2013
Why compare Austin home prices (US$/m²) and U.S. inflation (CPI-U)
Austin sits at the center of the Texas tech corridor, a magnet for software firms, semiconductor plants and out-of-state companies that relocated headquarters there over the past decade. That influx made it one of the Sun Belt's loudest pandemic-era booms: prices ran up sharply as remote workers and Bay Area money arrived after 2020, then cooled markedly as building caught up and rates rose. Texas has no state income tax, and the metro's mix of universities, music and employer relocations keeps demand on the affluent end for a southern market, though it trades well below the most expensive coastal hubs.
Returns by window
| Window | Austin home prices (US$/m²) | U.S. inflation (CPI-U) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | -6% | 4% |
| 5 years | -8% | 24% |
| 10 years | 67% | 39% |
| since 2013 | 143% | 46% |
The price of return: risk
| Asset | Annual volatility | Worst drop |
|---|---|---|
| Austin real estate | 11% | -28% |
| Inflation (CPI) | 1% | -2% |
$10,000 in each, since 2013
| Asset | Value today |
|---|---|
| Austin real estate | $24,303 |
| Inflation (CPI) | $14,553 |
Frequently asked questions
Did Austin real estate beat inflation?
Over the period, Austin real estate returned 143% while U.S. consumer prices rose 46%. The gap is what the asset earned beyond simply keeping pace with the dollar.
Does this account for the dollar losing value?
Yes. The inflation line is U.S. CPI, the measure of how much purchasing power the dollar lost over the same period. Returns above that line are gains in real terms.
Does a higher return mean a better investment?
Not on its own. A higher return came with higher risk here — the volatility and the largest drop on this page show how much the value swung along the way.
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Descriptive, educational content computed from official public data. Not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.