Boston and Seattle are playing for a trophy, and a home value boost might follow for the winner

Rhea-AI Summary

Zillow (Z) analysis finds the metro that wins the professional football championship has outpaced U.S. home value growth 13 of the past 20 years. On average, a typical home in the winning metro gained $4,437 more than the U.S. market in the subsequent year.

Largest outperformance examples: Tampa (2021) +$25,262 vs national average, Denver (2016) +$21,459, Boston (2017) +$15,565. Some winners underperformed, including New York (2008) -$15,741 versus the national change.

News Market Reaction – ZG

-4.94%

1 alert

-4.94% News Effect

On the day this news was published, ZG declined 4.94%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Zillow data shows championship markets usually beat national home value growth in the year after winning football's biggest game

• In 13 of the past 20 years, the metro area that won the professional football championship saw home values grow faster than the U.S. average in the year that followed, according to the Zillow Home Value Index.
• On average, the typical home in a championship market gained $4,437 more than the typical U.S. home in the year after the win.

SEATTLE, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Football fans in Seattle and Boston know that winning the season's biggest game this weekend comes with bragging rights, a parade and gaudy championship rings. A new Zillow® analysis finds that homeowners in the winning metro area may also get an unexpected bonus: stronger home value growth in the year that follows.

Over the past 20 years, home values in the metro area that wins the professional football championship have grown an average of $4,437 more than the national market in the year after the confetti falls. Over that span, the winning city's housing market has beaten the U.S. average 13 times — Philadelphia's lead seems safe with about a month to go, but then again, so did 28-3 with about a quarter to go.

"While this is a fun trend, it's highly unlikely that a championship football team is the driving force causing home values to grow. A win on the field brings bragging rights, but unfortunately won't boost your Zestimate," said Zillow Senior Economist Kara Ng. "Regardless of the outcome, the good news is that we are trending toward a healthier market nationwide, with more homes for sale and buyers better able to afford them."

Some markets really ran up the score. Homeowners in the Tampa metro area saw especially strong gains after their team's championship in February 2021, with home values rising $25,262 more than the national average in the year that followed. Denver followed its 2016 title with home values that outpaced the country by $21,459, while Boston homeowners saw an additional $15,565 in growth after the 2017 win.

Not every champion followed up its trophy win with a real estate boom. In the New York metro area, the typical home value fell $15,741 more than the national average in the year after the 2008 championship — the title won by the team named after a baseball club now playing in San Francisco, not the one named after airplanes. Los Angeles home values did rise following its 2022 win, but by $8,763 less than the typical U.S. home — that title belonged to the team that recently relocated from St. Louis, not the other one that recently moved from San Diego.

For home buyers looking for data and tools they can actually count on, the BuyAbility^SM tool from Zillow Home Loans gives buyers a personalized, real-time estimate of the home price and monthly payment that fit within their budget.

Metro Area	Year of Championship Game Win	Typical Home Value Growth in Year Following Championship	Difference Compared to National Average
Pittsburgh, PA	2006	$2,514	-$5,003
Indianapolis, IN	2007	$125	$6,959
New York, NY	2008	-$35,478	-$15,741
Pittsburgh, PA	2009	$3,574	$13,240
New Orleans, LA	2010	-$4,673	$2,260
Green Bay, WI	2011	-$6,563	$60
New York, NY	2012	$3,972	-$3,004
Baltimore, MD	2013	$12,373	-$550
Seattle, WA	2014	$22,546	$13,667
Boston, MA	2015	$27,069	$14,832
Denver, CO	2016	$32,168	$21,459
Boston, MA	2017	$28,962	$15,565
Philadelphia, PA	2018	$8,362	-$4,083
Boston, MA	2019	$14,363	$2,224
Kansas City, MO	2020	$25,320	-$1,991
Tampa, FL	2021	$69,867	$25,262
Los Angeles, CA	2022	$10,083	-$8,763
Kansas City, MO	2023	$14,712	$2,514
Kansas City, MO	2024	$10,759	$1,765
Philadelphia, PA*	2025	$9,392	$8,067

*As of January 2026

About Zillow Group
Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people.

As the most visited real estate app and website in the United States, Zillow connects hundreds of millions of consumers with innovative technology, trusted agents and loan officers, and seamless digital solutions. With industry-leading tools and resources, Zillow supercharges real estate professionals so they can grow their businesses and deliver exceptional client experiences. For renters and housing providers, Zillow offers not only a robust marketplace but a set of end-to-end products and services to streamline applications, leases, payments and more.

Zillow's ecosystem spans the entire home journey — from dreaming and shopping to renting, buying, selling and financing.

Zillow Group's affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow^®, Zillow Premier Agent^®, Zillow Home Loans^®, Zillow Rentals^®, Zillow^® New Construction, Trulia^®, StreetEasy^®, Out East^®, HotPads^®, Follow Up Boss^®, ShowingTime^®, dotloop^® and Zillow^® Closing.

All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2026 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boston-and-seattle-are-playing-for-a-trophy-and-a-home-value-boost-might-follow-for-the-winner-302677324.html

SOURCE Zillow

FAQ

How often did the championship-winning metro beat U.S. home value growth according to Zillow for 2006–2025?

The winning metro outpaced the U.S. average in 13 of 20 seasons. According to Zillow, that pattern held in 13 post-championship years between 2006 and 2025, indicating a recurring but not guaranteed local boost in home value gains.

What was the average extra home value gain in the winning metro the year after the championship, per Zillow?

On average, winning metros gained $4,437 more than the U.S. typical home. According to Zillow, that figure is the mean difference in typical home value growth across the 20-year sample after each championship.

Which cities showed the largest Zillow-measured post-championship home value outperformance and by how much?

Tampa (2021) led with a $25,262 advantage versus the national average. According to Zillow, Denver (2016) outpaced by $21,459 and Boston (2017) by $15,565 in the year following their titles.

Did any championship metros see home values fall relative to the U.S. average after their win?

Yes; some winners underperformed the national change. According to Zillow, New York (2008) declined $15,741 more than the U.S. typical home, and Los Angeles (2022) rose $8,763 less than the national average.

Does Zillow claim the team win causes home value growth in the winning metro?

No; Zillow cautions that the correlation is likely not causal. According to Zillow, the pattern is described as a fun trend and the company says a championship win is unlikely to be the driving force behind home value changes.