Gold vs Real estate
Since Jan 1975, $10,000 in gold grew to $231,420 (6.3% a year) and $10,000 in US home prices to $131,506 (5.1% a year). Try your own amount and dates, or add more assets.
Real monthly data through Jul 2026, updated monthly. How we calculate$10,000 put into gold in Jan 1996 is now worth
Gold came out on top, 2.5× US home prices, which reached $40,721. Just keeping up with prices needed $21,627, and both did better. It ends in Jul 2026, the latest month with data for Real estate.
Full results by asset
| Asset | Worth now | Per year | Total return | Worst drop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | $102,080 | 7.9% | 921% | −39% (Dec 2015) |
| Real estate | $40,721 | 4.7% | 307% | −26% (Feb 2012) |
What each line measures: Gold, gold monthly average price in US dollars per ounce; Real estate, S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index: home prices only, without rent, mortgage, upkeep or taxes. Inflation uses the US Consumer Price Index. Monthly averages, data through Jul 2026; no fees or taxes. Past returns do not predict future returns.
Which has done better?
Over the whole period both have data, since Jan 1975, gold came out ahead with 6.3% a year against 5.1%. Over the last 10 years the lead went to gold. Starting dates matter: across all 499 10-year stretches in the data, gold beat US home prices 42% of the time.
| Period | Gold | Real estate |
|---|---|---|
| Last year | 21.9% | 1.9% |
| Last 5 years | 17.6% | 4.9% |
| Last 10 years | 11.8% | 6.3% |
| Last 20 years | 9.7% | 3.0% |
| Last 30 years | 8.2% | 4.7% |
| Since 1975 | 6.3% | 5.1% |
Yearly return, to Jul 2026. The higher one in each row is green.
Investing a little every month
$100 a month from Jul 2016 to Jul 2026 is 121 buys and $12,100 in total. In gold it would now be worth $28,056; in US home prices, $16,225. Monthly buying spreads the entry price, which matters most for the more volatile of the two.
Which is riskier?
The deepest fall from a high was 62% for gold, around Jul 1999, and 26% for US home prices, around Feb 2012. Gold asked more patience of its owners. These use monthly averages, so the worst single days were a little deeper.
What the numbers measure
- Gold: gold monthly average price in US dollars per ounce.
- Real estate: S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index: home prices only, without rent, mortgage, upkeep or taxes.
No fees or taxes are included. Past returns do not predict future returns.
Common questions
Gold or real estate: which has been the better investment?
Since Jan 1975, gold has returned more: 6.3% a year against 5.1% for US home prices. Over the last 10 years, gold came out ahead. Across every 10-year stretch in the data, gold beat US home prices 42% of the time, so the answer depends heavily on when you start.
Which is riskier, gold or US home prices?
By the deepest fall from a high, gold: gold dropped as much as 62% (around Jul 1999) and US home prices as much as 26% (around Feb 2012), using monthly averages.
How much would $10,000 in gold be worth today?
$10,000 put into gold in Jan 1975 would be worth about $231,420 by Jul 2026. The same money in US home prices would be about $131,506. Change the amount and dates in the calculator to see any period.
What if I invested monthly in gold or US home prices?
$100 a month from Jul 2016 to Jul 2026 adds up to $12,100. In gold it would now be about $28,056; in US home prices, about $16,225.
FatDCA comparisons are educational estimates, not investment, tax or legal advice.
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