Trust & transparency
Data sources
Our cost models combine government statistics, industry cost databases, utility rate data, and internal bid validation. Below are the primary references we use to set national baselines and metro-level multipliers for Estimate Home Costs calculators and city guides.
Referenced sources
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Construction labor wages and regional employment cost indexes by metro area.
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U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Residential electricity rates for solar savings and payback calculations.
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NREL / Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Solar photovoltaic installed cost and $/watt benchmarks (Tracking the Sun).
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RSMeans / Gordian construction cost data
National unit costs for roofing, HVAC, flooring, fencing, and remodeling assemblies.
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Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value
Kitchen and bathroom remodel cost benchmarks by project scope.
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NAHB construction cost surveys
Single-family construction and renovation cost trends.
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Municipal & county permit fee schedules
Published building, mechanical, and electrical permit fees for major metros.
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IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit
30% federal investment tax credit for qualifying solar and battery installations.
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Manufacturer & distributor pricing
Wholesale material pricing for asphalt shingles, LVP, HVAC equipment, and fence panels.
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Contractor bid validation (internal)
Anonymized project quotes cross-checked against calculator output in target metros.
Update schedule
National unit costs and metro multipliers are reviewed quarterly. Electricity rates follow EIA published averages. Solar $/watt benchmarks align with the latest NREL Tracking the Sun report. When a metro shows >5% drift from validated bids, multipliers are adjusted in the same review cycle.
How sources feed our models
See the step-by-step process we use to turn raw data into localized estimates.
Read methodology