Six U.S. states see average home equity gains exceed $200,000

Six U.S. states have seen average home equity gains exceed $200,000 per mortgaged property between Q1 2020 and Q2 2026, according to data from Cotality analyzed by Griffin Funding. New Jersey recorded the highest gain at $250,861, followed by Connecticut at $239,653, Rhode Island at $224,813, California at $214,632, Massachusetts at $213,288, and New Hampshire at $206,811.

While these rising values increase financial cushions for established homeowners, they present challenges for renters. In states like California and Connecticut, where equity gains surpassed the $200,000 threshold, more than half of renters were reported as cost-burdened in 2024, spending over 30 percent of their income on housing and utilities. These findings, incorporating data from Harvard’s 2026 housing report, highlight the diverging financial realities between property owners and renters.