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
- $693,300
- Median market: $528,300
- Cost to build the economy ranch
- $308,300
- Median market: $234,000
- Cost to build the brick colonial
- $1,602,000
- Median market: $1,260,000
- Cape Cod, dollars per square foot
- 289
- Median market: 220
Cost to build the Cape Cod in San Francisco: $693,300, against $528,300 in the median market. Higher than in 342 of the 349 markets, and the 2nd highest of the 16 California markets.
Cost to build the economy ranch in San Francisco: $308,300, against $234,000 in the median market. Higher than in 341 of the 349 markets, and the 2nd highest of the 16 California markets.
Cost to build the brick colonial in San Francisco: $1,602,000, against $1,260,000 in the median market. Higher than in 344 of the 349 markets, and the 2nd highest of the 16 California markets.
Cape Cod, dollars per square foot in San Francisco: 289, against 220 in the median market. Higher than in 342 of the 349 markets, and the 2nd highest of the 16 California 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.
