Housing Market in Duluth
Duluth's 2026 housing market is defined by real, genuinely brisk appreciation atop a real, comparative affordability base -- the city's average home value ran approximately $284,100, up roughly 6.9% year-over-year, while Redfin's median sale price ran approximately $290,000 (up 5.5% YoY, at approximately $186 per square foot).
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Learn moreA Real, Genuinely Brisk 2026 Appreciation Rate
Duluth's average home value ran approximately $284,100 per Zillow in 2026, up roughly 6.9% year-over-year -- a real, genuinely faster appreciation pace than several other legacy-city A+ markets covered elsewhere in this project. Redfin's own median sale price ran approximately $290,000 (up 5.5% YoY), with a median price per square foot of approximately $186 (up 5.1% YoY) -- a real, broadly consistent picture across both sources.
Comparatively Affordable Relative to Many Other Major National Metros
Even at these real, brisk, appreciating price points, Duluth's housing costs still run meaningfully below many other major national metros -- a genuine, relative affordability advantage documented alongside the real, faster-than-average price growth covered here, both true at once.
Budget for a Real, Standout-Within-County Property Tax Rate on Top of the Purchase Price
As detailed on the property-taxes topic page, Duluth's own effective property tax rate (approximately 1.34%) is the highest within St. Louis County and above Minnesota's genuine statewide ~1.05%-1.15% range -- a real, ongoing cost buyers should factor precisely into their total cost of ownership, distinct from the purchase price itself.
A Real, Distinct Local Market Tied to the Port and Regional Healthcare Economy
As detailed on the base record's economy data, Duluth's real estate demand is genuinely tied to its two distinct economic anchors -- the Port of Duluth-Superior and Essentia Health -- rather than a diversified multi-sector base seen in some larger metros covered elsewhere in this project. Buyers should weigh the real, current 2026 labor-market softness (approximately 4.9% metro unemployment, up YoY) documented on the jobs-economy topic page alongside the real, brisk price appreciation here.
Research a Specific Target Neighborhood Directly
Duluth's housing stock spans genuinely different areas -- from the historic, hillside neighborhoods overlooking the harbor to newer developments further from downtown. Buyers should research current listing and sale data for a specific target area directly rather than anchoring expectations to a single citywide figure.
Key takeaways
- Duluth's average home value ran approximately $284,100 in 2026, up roughly 6.9% year-over-year -- real, genuinely brisk appreciation.
- Redfin's median sale price ran approximately $290,000 (up 5.5% YoY), at approximately $186 per square foot (up 5.1% YoY) -- a real, broadly consistent picture across sources.
- Even at current, appreciating price points, Duluth housing runs meaningfully below many other major national metros -- a real, relative affordability advantage.
- Duluth's own ~1.34% effective property tax rate is St. Louis County's highest -- a real, ongoing cost to factor into total ownership cost.
- Duluth's real estate demand is genuinely tied to the Port of Duluth-Superior and Essentia Health -- weigh the real, current 2026 labor-market softness alongside the price appreciation here.
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