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
- $607,500
- Median market: $528,300
- Cost to build the economy ranch
- $269,100
- Median market: $234,000
- Cost to build the brick colonial
- $1,417,900
- Median market: $1,260,000
- Cape Cod, dollars per square foot
- 253
- Median market: 220
Cost to build the Cape Cod in Philadelphia: $607,500, against $528,300 in the median market. Higher than in 292 of the 349 markets, and the 3rd highest of the 12 Pennsylvania markets.
Cost to build the economy ranch in Philadelphia: $269,100, against $234,000 in the median market. Higher than in 292 of the 349 markets, and the 3rd highest of the 12 Pennsylvania markets.
Cost to build the brick colonial in Philadelphia: $1,417,900, against $1,260,000 in the median market. Higher than in 290 of the 349 markets, and the 3rd highest of the 12 Pennsylvania markets.
Cape Cod, dollars per square foot in Philadelphia: 253, against 220 in the median market. Higher than in 289 of the 349 markets, and the 3rd highest of the 12 Pennsylvania 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.
