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
- $537,900
- Median market: $528,300
- Cost to build the economy ranch
- $238,800
- Median market: $234,000
- Cost to build the brick colonial
- $1,280,200
- Median market: $1,260,000
- Cape Cod, dollars per square foot
- 224
- Median market: 220
Cost to build the Cape Cod in Portland: $537,900, against $528,300 in the median market. Higher than in 190 of the 349 markets, and the highest of the 3 Maine markets.
Cost to build the economy ranch in Portland: $238,800, against $234,000 in the median market. Higher than in 191 of the 349 markets, and the highest of the 3 Maine markets.
Cost to build the brick colonial in Portland: $1,280,200, against $1,260,000 in the median market. Higher than in 192 of the 349 markets, and the highest of the 3 Maine markets.
Cape Cod, dollars per square foot in Portland: 224, against 220 in the median market. Higher than in 190 of the 349 markets, and the highest of the 3 Maine 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.
