Table of Contents
- Key Findings
- The Fastest & Slowest-Selling Architectural Style by U.S. City
- The Most & Least Expensive Architectural Style by U.S. City
- Closing Thoughts
- Methodology
Some home architectural styles practically line up back-to-back showings the moment they hit the market, while others take a little longer to find the right buyer. We analyzed Redfin home listings across the 50 largest U.S. cities, pulling the median days on the market and median home price for 11 common architectural styles, from Cape Cod and Ranch to Farmhouse and Spanish, to identify the fastest- and slowest-selling styles and the most and least expensive, by city and nationwide.
At FHIA Remodeling, we know curb appeal is currency. As a Florida-based expert in impact windows and doors, roofing, and exterior upgrades, FHIA helps homeowners make the kinds of improvements that shape first impressions and resale outcomes. Mapping which architectural styles draw the most interest helps homeowners prioritize curb-appeal upgrades that move the needle for their existing home.
Key Findings
- Cape Cod homes sell in under a month on average (29.5 days), making them the fastest-moving architectural style on the market, followed by Mid-Century Modern homes (41.5 days) and Ranches (42.8 days).
- Spanish-style homes take more than twice as long as Cape Cod homes to sell (70.9 days), topping the list as the slowest-selling architectural style, followed by Georgian homes (63.9 days) and Victorian homes (58.6 days).
- The most expensive architectural styles are Georgian ($1,275,006) and Spanish-style homes ($1,245,995) — the only styles topping $1M.
- The least expensive styles are Cape Cod homes ($438,175) and Ranches ($523,969).
Cape Cod & Mid-Century Home Styles Sell the Fastest
These are the architectural styles selling the fastest—and the slowest—according to median days on the market:
- Cape Cod - 29.5 days
- Mid-Century Modern - 41.5 days
- Ranch - 42.8 days
- Tudor - 43.6 days
- Contemporary - 44.6 days
- Colonial - 48.5 days
- Craftsman - 52.6 days
- Farmhouse - 53.8 days
- Victorian - 58.6 days
- Georgian - 63.9 days
- Spanish - 70.9 days
If you’ve ever wondered why that charming Cape Cod cottage seems to get snatched up the minute it hits Zillow, it’s because age and price often do the heavy lifting in real estate. Cape Cods, Ranches, and even Mid-Century homes tend to be smaller, more affordable starter properties, making them very attractive for first-time buyers who want move-in-ready vibes without the sticker shock. Their relative simplicity and practicality mean buyers can envision themselves moving in quickly.
On the flip side, ornate stunners like Victorians, Georgians, and Spanish-style homes may linger on the market because they’re pricier, older, and often come with maintenance quirks. While these homes drip with character, not every buyer is eager to bankroll the upkeep or the mortgage. Essentially, fast-moving homes are often the ones that balance charm with accessibility, while the slow-burners tend to be the historic or high-end dream houses that need a very specific type of buyer ready to commit.
The Fastest & Slowest-Selling Architectural Style by U.S. City
The fastest-selling pairings in the entire study (all closing in under nine days) are: Boston—Colonial (7.0 days), San Francisco—Craftsman (8.0), Chicago—Craftsman (8.5), Milwaukee—Tudor (8.5), and Seattle—Colonial (8.5). Translation: in these cities, these styles are gone in a blink.
Regional preferences are clear. Boston’s Colonial homes sell in just seven days on average, unsurprising given the region’s historic affinity for the style. In major urban markets such as Chicago and San Francisco, Craftsman homes lead, reflecting demand for practical layouts, human-scale proportions, and character-forward details.
Zooming out, two broad themes anchor the chart: Contemporary home styles dominate quick sales across major metros—Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York City—which suggests that urban buyers are chasing modern, move-in-ready design, or at least the sleek, functional vibe those styles project. Meanwhile, Victorian, Georgian, and Spanish homes take longer to sell. These styles may offer rich character, but the upkeep, renovations, and higher price tags tend to cool buyer urgency.
Florida Focus: Which Styles Sell Fast & Which Stall?
Across our Florida service areas, the fastest-selling architectural styles in major metros are:
- Jacksonville - Craftsman (40.5 days)
- Orlando - Farmhouse (42.0 days)
- Tampa - Contemporary (46.0 days)
- Miami - Mid-Century Modern (83.0 days)
Each of these styles favors open floor plans, indoor–outdoor flow, and relatively low-maintenance materials that play well with heat, humidity, and storm preparedness.
By contrast, the slowest sellers in Florida cities—Miami—Colonial (112.0), Orlando—Colonial (72.0), Tampa—Tudor (105.0), and Jacksonville—Mid-Century Modern (85.0)—often come with more formal, compartmentalized layouts; maintenance-heavy details (think steep roofs and intricate trim); or older systems that can require costly updates like HVAC.
Georgian & Spanish Home Styles Are the Most Expensive
These are the architectural styles that are most and least expensive, according to the median home price:
- Georgian - $1,275,006
- Spanish - $1,245,995
- Tudor - $885,428
- Farmhouse - $828,700
- Colonial - $808,245
- Mid-Century Modern - $785,471
- Contemporary - $777,346
- Victorian - $741,861
- Craftsman - $710,247
- Ranch - $523,969
- Cape Cod - $438,175
The price leaderboard comes with a serious “stately-home” premium: Georgian ($1.275M) and Spanish-style homes ($1.246M) top the chart, with Tudor ($885K) not far behind, styles known for grand facades, intricate details, and often, prime addresses. The next tier—Farmhouse ($829K) and Colonial ($808K)—still commands a classic curb-appeal markup, while Mid-Century Modern ($785K) and Contemporary homes ($777K) sit in the middle of the pack, offering clean lines and modern layouts without estate-level price tags.
Victorian ($742K) and Craftsman homes ($710K) deliver period charm at more approachable prices. The most budget-friendly of the bunch are Ranches ($524K) and Cape Cod homes ($438K), with smaller footprints and simpler construction that keep costs in check.
The Most & Least Expensive Architectural Style by U.S. City
The price ceiling skews grand and historic: Georgian and Colonial styles dominate the top slots, with Boston—Georgian at $4.995M and San Diego—Colonial at $4.945M setting the benchmark. Big coastal markets pile on premiums elsewhere, too—Los Angeles—Colonial ($2.537M), New York—Spanish ($2.535M), Miami—Contemporary ($2.470M), and San Jose—Mid-Century Modern ($2.644M)—showing how design pedigree (and zip code) drives price. A few flips keep it interesting: San Francisco—Craftsman is the city’s most expensive at $1.998M, while Spanish is actually the least expensive there at $914,833.
Ranch and Cape Cod repeatedly show up as the least expensive by city. Home prices dip to $84,000 for Detroit—Ranch, $129,900 in Cleveland—Ranch, and hover in the low-to-mid $200Ks for several Rust Belt and Midwest markets (Pittsburgh—Cape Cod $229,450; Buffalo—Cape Cod $229,900; Louisville—Cape Cod $260,000). Even in high-cost metros, the “least expensive” label doesn’t always mean cheap—Miami—Ranch ($1.275M) and San Diego—Mid-Century Modern ($1.825M) show how local market pressure can lift the floor, regardless of style.
Closing Thoughts
In short, our city-by-city scan of Redfin listings shows clear patterns: approachable, move-in-ready looks tend to sell faster, ornate styles take longer, and price tiers skew toward grand, detail-heavy architecture at the top with right-sized classics at the value end.
We ran this study to put numbers behind a simple idea: exterior choices influence market outcomes. That’s FHIA Remodeling’s lane—where curb appeal meets Florida-ready performance through impact windows and doors, roofing, and other exterior upgrades. If you’re weighing a home improvement project, consider a free consultation to plan upgrades that complement your home’s architectural style.
Methodology
Using Redfin home listings, we scraped the median home price and median days on the market across 11 of the most popular architectural styles in America's 50 largest cities, all to uncover the fastest-selling and most/least expensive home styles around the country. The architectural styles analyzed are as follows: Cape Cod, Colonial, Contemporary, Craftsman, Farmhouse, Georgian, Mid-Century Modern, Ranch, Spanish, Tudor, and Victorian.
Redfin listing filters applied:
- Single-family homes for sale were included in the study. Townhomes, apartments, lots/land, and mobile homes were excluded from the analysis.
- New construction plans (i.e., blueprints, “to-be-built” listings) were excluded from the analysis.
- Listings were filtered by the architectural style of the home.
The fastest-selling and most/least expensive home styles in the U.S., overall, are based on averages across the 50 most populous U.S. cities analyzed in the study. Only the architectural styles with at least 10 listings in each city were included. We collected the median home price and the median days on the market for each style in each city to weed out outliers.
Fair Use
You are welcome to use, reference, and share non-commercial excerpts of this study with proper attribution. If you cite or cover our findings, please link back to this page so readers can view the full methodology, charts, and context.
