Fort Worth real estate vs inflation: did it beat the dollar?
174% × 46%
Updated June 1, 2026 · Redfin · BLS / FRED (CPIAUCNS)
Since 2013, Fort Worth real estate is up 174% while U.S. consumer prices rose 46%. Fort Worth real estate far outpaced inflation — but the ride was brutal: its worst drop was 11%. Figures in U.S. dollars.
Base 100 since 2013
Why compare Fort Worth home prices (US$/m²) and U.S. inflation (CPI-U)
Fort Worth sits at the western half of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, historically the more affordable and lower-key of the two, with roots in cattle, energy and defense manufacturing rather than finance. It shared in the broad Sun Belt run-up that followed 2020, as Texas drew migration from costlier states, and then in the cooling that came with higher mortgage rates. For most of its modern history it has tracked below the coastal metros on price per square meter, a gap that has long been part of the region's draw. The table below shows how that value held up against inflation.
Returns by window
| Window | Fort Worth home prices (US$/m²) | U.S. inflation (CPI-U) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | -2% | 4% |
| 5 years | 16% | 24% |
| 10 years | 85% | 39% |
| since 2013 | 174% | 46% |
The price of return: risk
| Asset | Annual volatility | Worst drop |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Worth real estate | 6% | -11% |
| Inflation (CPI) | 1% | -2% |
$10,000 in each, since 2013
| Asset | Value today |
|---|---|
| Fort Worth real estate | $27,403 |
| Inflation (CPI) | $14,553 |
Frequently asked questions
Did Fort Worth real estate beat inflation?
Over the period, Fort Worth real estate returned 174% 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.