Key Findings
Quick Summary
- Most Expensive: Hawaii (132), California (128), New York (125)
- Least Expensive: Mississippi (82), Arkansas (84), Oklahoma (86)
- National Average: 100 (baseline for comparison)
- Spread: 50+ points between highest and lowest
What Drives State-by-State Differences?
Higher Cost Factors:- High cost of living and wages
- Strong union presence
- Strict building codes
- Limited contractor availability
- Transportation/logistics costs
- Lower overall cost of living
- Right-to-work states (lower wages)
- Abundant contractor supply
- Fewer regulatory requirements
- Lower material transport costs
Most & Least Expensive States
10 Most Expensive States for Home Repairs
| Rank | State | Cost Index | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 132 | +32% |
| 2 | California | 128 | +28% |
| 3 | New York | 125 | +25% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 122 | +22% |
| 5 | Connecticut | 120 | +20% |
| 6 | New Jersey | 118 | +18% |
| 7 | Washington | 115 | +15% |
| 8 | Alaska | 114 | +14% |
| 9 | Maryland | 112 | +12% |
| 10 | Oregon | 110 | +10% |
10 Least Expensive States for Home Repairs
| Rank | State | Cost Index | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Kansas | 90 | -10% |
| 42 | Nebraska | 89 | -11% |
| 43 | Kentucky | 88 | -12% |
| 44 | South Dakota | 88 | -12% |
| 45 | Iowa | 87 | -13% |
| 46 | Alabama | 86 | -14% |
| 47 | Oklahoma | 86 | -14% |
| 48 | West Virginia | 85 | -15% |
| 49 | Arkansas | 84 | -16% |
| 50 | Mississippi | 82 | -18% |
Regional Analysis
Cost Indexes by Region
| Region | Avg Index | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 115 | NY (125) | PA (102) |
| West | 112 | HI (132) | NM (92) |
| Midwest | 93 | IL (104) | SD (88) |
| South | 94 | FL (105) | MS (82) |
Regional Insights
Northeast:- Highest regional average
- Strong unions drive labor costs
- Older housing stock requires more specialized work
- Harsh winters affect scheduling
- Wide variation (Hawaii vs. New Mexico)
- Coastal states much more expensive
- Growing population straining contractor availability
- California regulations add costs
- Most affordable region overall
- Lower cost of living = lower wages
- Strong contractor availability
- Less regulatory burden
- Generally affordable with exceptions (FL)
- Rapid growth affecting some markets
- Climate impacts (hurricanes, humidity)
- Many right-to-work states
Cost Examples by Project
How $10,000 Projects Vary by State
| State | Roof | HVAC | Kitchen |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $12,800 | $12,800 | $35,000 |
| Texas | $9,400 | $9,400 | $24,000 |
| Florida | $10,500 | $10,500 | $27,000 |
| New York | $12,500 | $12,500 | $34,000 |
| Ohio | $9,800 | $9,800 | $25,000 |
| Mississippi | $8,200 | $8,200 | $21,000 |
Savings Opportunities
Moving from high-cost to low-cost state:- $10,000 project in CA = $6,400 in MS
- Potential savings: $3,600 (36%)
- Urban vs. rural: 10-20% difference
- Major metro vs. suburb: 5-15% difference
- Timing (peak vs. off-season): 10-20% difference
Methodology
How We Calculate Cost Indexes
Our cost indexes are composite scores based on:
Data Sources:- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional wage data
- National Association of Home Builders cost surveys
- Contractor pricing surveys (10,000+ data points)
- Material cost tracking by region
- Historical project cost data
- National average = 100
- Each state weighted by:
- Major update: Annually
- Minor adjustments: Quarterly
- Individual city data: Monthly
Limitations
- State averages mask city-by-city variation
- Some rural areas may differ significantly from state average
- Specialty trades may have different patterns
- Market conditions change—always get local quotes
Use This Data
Key Takeaways
- Location matters—same project can cost 50% more in expensive states
- Regional differences are consistent across project types
- Within states, urban/suburban/rural differences of 10-20%
- Timing and contractor choice still matter regardless of location
Interactive Data
Explore our complete state comparison data:- All 50 States Ranked
- Individual State Pages (example: California)