2002 Cost vs. Value Report

In many homes, the bathroom doubles as a sanctuary. Or it can, if homeowners are willing to spend enough. For Stephanie Witt, owner of Kitchens by Stephanie, Grand Rapids, Mich., the question comes down to, "Do you want a payback on your investment or the room of your dreams?"

As it turns out, homeowners can have both. Measured as a national average, the price of turning a worn out bathroom into a new space -- that is, our mid-range bathroom -- is $9,720. That would recoup $8,506, or 88%.

The "room of your dreams" -- a bathroom with all the trimmings -- runs considerably more: $22,639, and recoups 91% of cost, or $20,609.

Project description

Mid-range: Update an existing bathroom that is at least 25 years old. Replace all fixtures to include standard-sized tub with ceramic tile surround; toilet; solid-surface vanity counter with integral double sink; recessed medicine cabinet; ceramic tile floor; vinyl wallpaper.

Mid-range
Market Job Cost Resale Value Cost Recouped
National Average $9,720 $8,506 88%
Atlanta 8,980 8,909 99
Boston 10,887 11,885 109
Buffalo, N.Y. 9,378 6,780 72
Chicago 11,029 12,019 109
Cincinnati 9,767 6,500 67
Cleveland 10,484 7,984 76
Columbus, Ohio 9,753 5,270 54
Dallas 8,464 5,625 66
Denver 9,361 5,645 60
Detroit 10,358 7,863 76
Houston 8,732 6,250 72
Indianapolis 9,510 5,500 58
Kansas City 9,573 6,156 64
Los Angeles metro 10,634 12,892 121
Los Angeles 10,852 16,783 155
Orange Cty, Calif. 10,415 9,000 86
Miami 8,352 6,450 77
Milwaukee 9,992 8,398 84
Minneapolis 10,706 11,840 111
New Orleans 8,190 6,586 80
New York metro 10,544 11,348 108
Passaic, N.J. 10,940 7,750 71
Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y. 10,799 11,960 111
Fairfield-New Haven, Conn. 9,894 14,333 145
Norfolk, Va. 7,569 6,400 85
Orlando, Fla. 8,250 5,688 69
Philadelphia 10,486 12,362 118
Phoenix 8,962 5,333 60
Pittsburgh 10,120 5,500 54
Portland, Ore. 10,235 7,583 74
Providence, R.I. 9,768 7,125 73
Sacramento, Calif. 10,642 8,928 84
Salt Lake City 8,553 7,205 84
St. Louis 10,268 9,083 88
San Antonio 8,665 5,921 68
San Diego 10,314 8,250 80
San Francisco metro 12,193 18,207 149
San Francisco 12,193 18,000 148
Oakland, Calif. 12,193 18,413 151
Seattle 10,551 10,103 96
Tampa, Fla. 7,750 4,500 58
Washington metro 8,535 6,286 74
Washington, D.C. 8,976 8,667 97
Baltimore 8,752 $4,459 51
Richmond, Va. 7,877 $5,733 73

Upscale: Expand an existing 5-by-7-foot bathroom to 9-by-9 feet within existing house footprint. Double the number of windows and replace the tub with a custom dual 4-by-6-foot shower in a tile enclosure and glass block surround. The shower includes top-of-line fittings and full-body wash shower wall. Relocate the toilet into a partitioned area and replace it with one-piece color unit. Add a custom vanity cabinet with twin sinks set in granite tops and a linen/towel storage closet, general and spot lighting, a humidistat-controlled exhaust fan. Tile floor, papered walls, hardwood trim.

Upscale
Market Job Cost Resale Value Cost Recouped
National Average $22,639 $20,609 91%
Atlanta 21,394 25,405 119
Boston 24,784 38,230 154
Buffalo, N.Y. 21,976 15,200 69
Chicago 24,983 24,748 99
Cincinnati 22,274 19,167 86
Cleveland 23,649 14,706 62
Columbus, Ohio 22,367 12,296 55
Dallas 20,667 13,750 67
Denver 21,813 15,867 73
Detroit 23,719 14,750 62
Houston 21,045 15,875 75
Indianapolis 22,179 13,800 62
Kansas City 22,349 13,125 59
Los Angeles metro 24,392 29,544 121
Los Angeles 24,667 40,250 163
Orange Cty, Calif. 24,117 18,838 78
Miami 20,390 15,750 77
Milwaukee 23,225 20,907 90
Minneapolis 24,570 25,000 102
New Orleans 20,025 16,003 80
New York metro 23,989 26,755 112
Passaic, N.J. 24,575 18,000 73
Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y. 24,495 23,599 96
Fairfield-New Haven, Conn. 22,898 38,667 169
Norfolk, Va. 19,044 15,000 79
Orlando, Fla. 20,178 15,245 76
Philadelphia 23,941 24,900 104
Phoenix 21,471 11,917 56
Pittsburgh 23,063 12,125 53
Portland, Ore. 23,343 20,167 86
Providence, R.I. 22,695 17,875 79
Sacramento, Calif. 24,220 20,900 86
Salt Lake City 20,713 14,802 71
St. Louis 23,431 17,973 77
San Antonio 20,825 18,750 90
San Diego 23,730 25,000 105
San Francisco metro 26,684 42,726 160
San Francisco 26,684 44,600 167
Oakland, Calif. 26,684 40,852 153
Seattle 24,204 21,788 90
Tampa, Fla. 19,526 13,333 68
Washington metro 20,756 18,608 90
Washington, D.C. 21,650 28,333 131
Baltimore 20,949 11,825 56
Richmond, Va. 19,670 15,667 80