Clear Estimates Research ·
The limits of cost per square foot: what it really costs to build a house in every U.S. ZIP code
- Cost to build the Cape Cod
- $497,600
- Median market: $528,300
- Cost to build the economy ranch
- $221,000
- Median market: $234,000
- Cost to build the brick colonial
- $1,196,300
- Median market: $1,260,000
- Cape Cod, dollars per square foot
- 207
- Median market: 220
Cost to build the Cape Cod in Durham: $497,600, against $528,300 in the median market. Lower than in 247 of the 349 markets, and the highest of the 7 North Carolina markets.
Cost to build the economy ranch in Durham: $221,000, against $234,000 in the median market. Lower than in 245 of the 349 markets, and the highest of the 7 North Carolina markets.
Cost to build the brick colonial in Durham: $1,196,300, against $1,260,000 in the median market. Lower than in 249 of the 349 markets, and the highest of the 7 North Carolina markets.
Cape Cod, dollars per square foot in Durham: 207, against 220 in the median market. Lower than in 246 of the 349 markets, and the highest of the 7 North Carolina markets.
Modeled cost to build a 1,200 sq ft economy ranch, a 2,400 sq ft mid-grade Cape Cod and a 4,000 sq ft premium brick colonial, median across the market's ZIP codes. Land not included.
Source: Clear Estimates pricing data, modeled project costs, October 2026.
