Pools May Add a Splash to Home Value

Swimming pools can help to significantly boost a home price. A new study from LendingTree shows that homes with pools are valued 54% higher than those without one.

The median home with a pool is valued at $469,187, while the median home without a pool is valued at $305,152, according to the study. The highest premium for a swimming pool was found in Memphis, with a value of 157% higher than homes without one.

Pools are still a relatively rare amenity in markets across the country. Only about 10% of homes in the U.S. have a swimming pool among the 50 largest cities studied.

Warmer climates tend to have the most. For example, in Phoenix, 33% of homes have a swimming pool compared to just 1% in Portland, Ore. Six of the top 10 cities for swimming pools are in the West.

Cities ranked by share of homes with swimming pools


		Based on total value	Based on price per square foot	Median size (sq. ft.)	Median value	Price per sq. ft.	Median size (sq. ft.)	Median value	Price per sq. ft.
Phoenix	32.7%	58.5%	15.6%	2,258	$355,000	$157	1,647	$224,000	$136
Miami	30.6%	62.8%	7.1%	2,316	$459,000	$198	1,524	$282,000	$185
Tampa, Fla.	27.7%	64.4%	14.1%	2,018	$296,000	$147	1,400	$180,000	$129
Orlando, Fla.	25.9%	49.0%	6.8%	2,245	$307,000	$137	1,609	$206,000	$128
Las Vegas	23.8%	48.1%	5.7%	2,368	$357,000	$151	1,690	$241,000	$143
Los Angeles	19.0%	32.4%	-8.7%	2,206	$814,000	$369	1,522	$615,000	$404
Riverside, Calif.	18.3%	38.5%	1.8%	2,166	$450,000	$208	1,592	$325,000	$204
San Diego	17.0%	25.7%	-10.6%	2,334	$729,000	$312	1,660	$580,000	$349
Sacramento, Calif.	14.0%	29.8%	-5.2%	2,173	$488,000	$225	1,587	$376,000	$237
Dallas	13.8%	89.6%	16.9%	2,840	$381,000	$134	1,751	$201,000	$115
San Jose, Calif.	12.6%	45.0%	5.9%	2,250	$1,628,000	$724	1,644	$1,123,000	$683
Jacksonville, Fla.	12.3%	74.6%	24.4%	2,249	$302,000	$134	1,603	$173,000	$108
Houston	9.1%	82.8%	14.1%	2,986	$340,000	$114	1,864	$186,000	$100
San Francisco	9.0%	32.0%	-11.7%	2,364	$1,197,000	$506	1,581	$907,000	$574
Buffalo, N.Y.	8.3%	56.8%	13.7%	1,998	$229,000	$115	1,448	$146,000	$101
Austin, Texas	7.7%	83.6%	12.3%	2,957	$516,000	$175	1,808	$281,000	$155
San Antonio	7.2%	88.0%	15.2%	2,674	$346,000	$129	1,638	$184,000	$112
Memphis, Tenn.	7.1%	156.6%	37.4%	2,909	$290,000	$100	1,558	$113,000	$73
Oklahoma City	6.9%	82.2%	15.2%	2,412	$246,000	$102	1,524	$135,000	$89
Indianapolis	6.9%	24.8%	1.4%	2,012	$161,000	$80	1,635	$129,000	$79
Virginia Beach, Va.	6.6%	80.2%	16.6%	2,591	$400,000	$154	1,676	$222,000	$132
Providence, R.I.	5.9%	-0.9%	-11.1%	1,632	$286,500	$176	1,463	$289,000	$198
Hartford, Conn.	5.8%	17.0%	-2.6%	1,891	$282,000	$149	1,574	$241,000	$153
New Orleans	5.4%	70.8%	13.3%	2,826	$362,000	$128	1,875	$212,000	$113
Washington, D.C.	5.4%	16.1%	-8.4%	2,492	$563,000	$226	1,966	$485,000	$247
Baltimore	5.3%	59.9%	4.2%	2,245	$462,000	$206	1,464	$289,000	$197
Atlanta	4.8%	47.9%	12.8%	2,499	$287,000	$115	1,905	$194,000	$102
Cincinnati	4.7%	40.0%	6.3%	2,088	$231,000	$111	1,586	$165,000	$104
Boston	4.6%	5.7%	-9.4%	2,048	$486,000	$237	1,757	$460,000	$262
New York	4.5%	15.6%	-10.5%	2,170	$490,000	$226	1,681	$424,000	$252
Charlotte, N.C.	4.5%	68.4%	12.7%	2,570	$320,000	$125	1,720	$190,000	$110
Nashville, Tenn	4.0%	82.2%	6.6%	2,894	$419,000	$145	1,693	$230,000	$136
Richmond, Va.	3.9%	20.9%	-7.8%	2,209	$266,000	$120	1,684	$220,000	$131
Birmingham, Ala.	3.9%	75.9%	18.7%	2,230	$241,000	$108	1,505	$137,000	$91
Philadelphia	3.7%	75.6%	16.9%	2,583	$425,000	$165	1,720	$242,000	$141
St. Louis	3.5%	121.1%	20.8%	2,526	$356,000	$141	1,380	$161,000	$117
Cleveland	3.5%	50.7%	11.4%	2,059	$211,000	$103	1,522	$140,000	$92
Detroit	3.3%	111.5%	38.7%	2,022	$294,000	$145	1,326	$139,000	$105
Columbus, Ohio	3.0%	53.3%	10.6%	2,162	$282,000	$130	1,560	$184,000	$118
Chicago	2.4%	-20.0%	-37.0%	1,916	$188,000	$98	1,510	$235,000	$156
Raleigh, N.C.	2.3%	65.9%	9.1%	2,835	$385,000	$136	1,864	$232,000	$124
Salt Lake City	1.8%	53.4%	-4.8%	2,138	$491,000	$230	1,326	$320,000	$ 241
Minneapolis	1.8%	42.6%	-0.2%	1,938	$388,000	$200	1,356	$272,000	$201
Milwaukee	1.8%	61.1%	7.8%	2,068	$282,000	$136	1,383	$175,000	$127
Denver	1.7%	-0.5%	-0.5%	1,682	$411,000	$244	1,682	$413,000	$246
Pittsburgh	1.6%	15.0%	3.3%	1,613	$169,000	$105	1,449	$147,000	$101
Seattle	1.3%	58.3%	16.4%	2,230	$744,000	$334	1,640	$470,000	$287
Kansas City, Mo.	1.2%	103.5%	16.2%	2,492	$346,000	$139	1,423	$170,000	$119
Portland, Ore.	1.0%	49.1%	10.9%	2,151	$574,000	$267	1,600	$385,000	$241

Source: realtor.com ~ Chart: LendingTree.com ~ Image: realtor.com

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