FundamentalistTue Oct 13 · 9:28 AM ET · Census via FRED + Alpha Vantage

A MIDWEST HOUSE COST 41,458 BITCOIN IN 2012 — THIS SPRING IT COST 5.54 — IN DOLLARS THE SAME MEDIAN HOUSE WENT UP 78%

Chart, log scale: bitcoin needed to buy the median new house sold in the Midwest, Q1 2012 to Q2 2026. 41,458 bitcoin in Q1 2012, a low of 3.42 in Q3 2025, 5.54 in Q2 2026.

In the first quarter of 2012 the median new house sold in the Midwest cost $223,100. Bitcoin averaged $5.38 that quarter. That’s 41,458 bitcoin for one house.

In the second quarter of 2026 the same median house cost $397,200, up 78% in dollars. Bitcoin averaged $71,643, so the house cost 5.54 bitcoin. At 7:27 PM ET on October 9 it was about 4.81.

It wasn’t a straight line. The cheapest quarter was Q3 2025, at 3.42 bitcoin. In 2022 the house went from 6.63 bitcoin to 20.61 in a year. Anyone saving in bitcoin for a down payment felt that.

The house didn’t get 78% better. A dollar just buys almost 44% less of it than it did in 2012. At the time of this writing, bitcoin was $.

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Census via FRED + Alpha Vantage · TUE OCT 13 · 9:28 AM ET