When it comes to real estate, we all know it’s about location. Living near one of America’s iconic landmarks can seriously impact what you’ll pay for a home. Sometimes in unexpected ways – whether it’s a premium price tag or a surprising discount – where you live shapes not only your property value but also your lifestyle.
In our latest data study, we dug into home prices near 50 of the most famous landmarks in the U.S. to see how they compare to the surrounding city averages. The results show just how much it costs to live close to the action—a perfect fit for anyone who loves being at the center of it all.
Key Findings
- Living near a landmark in the U.S. comes at a premium, with homes costing 14% more on average than the surrounding city’s median home value.
- The Hollywood Sign tops the list as the most expensive landmark to live near, with a median home value of $1.7 million in the surrounding area.
- On the other end of the spectrum, Niagara Falls is the most affordable landmark to live near, with nearby homes valued at a median of just $103,431.
- Proximity to Detroit’s Renaissance Center drives home prices up by an impressive $249,024, a 336.96% increase over the city average—making it the highest real estate markup for living near a landmark.
By contrast, homes near Yankee Stadium in New York City see a dramatic drop, with a $450,083 decrease in value, or a 59.41% decline compared to the city average, making it the steepest discount for living near a landmark.
The Landmarks That Define Real Estate Costs
Where you live doesn’t just shape your daily view—it plays a big role in your wallet, too. Some of America’s most famous landmarks come with sky-high home values, while others make living near the action surprisingly affordable. To analyze how these landmarks influence real estate prices, we examined the median home values in ZIP codes surrounding 50 iconic landmarks and compared them to the average home prices in their broader cities. Here’s a closer look at the most and least expensive landmarks to live by and what proximity to these landmarks could cost you.
The Most Expensive Landmarks to Live By
- Hollywood Sign: $1,694,038
- Empire State Building & Madison Square Garden: $1,619,601
- Central Park: $1,417,332
- Golden Gate Bridge: $1,352,726
- Brooklyn Bridge: $1,235,807
- Alcatraz Island: $1,197,804
- Statue of Liberty: $1,172,929
- Radio City Music Hall: $1,144,030
- Rockefeller Center: $1,023,808
- Times Square: $979,197
The Least Expensive Landmarks to Live By
- Niagara Falls: $103,431
- Gateway Arch: $146,609
- Graceland: $157,017
- Daytona International Speedway: $194,475
- The White House: $250,519
- Cloud Gate (The Bean): $250,831
- Willis (Sears) Tower: $266,591
- Welcome to Las Vegas Sign: $280,401
- Wrigley Field: $288,829
- French Quarter: $289,908
Let’s dig deeper into how these values stack up against their city averages.
Cities Where Landmark Proximity Boosts Home Prices
In some cities, living near a landmark comes with a significant boost to property values. Proximity to these iconic locations can add six figures to home prices, with certain landmarks more than doubling the typical home value in their cities.
Detroit’s Renaissance Center leads the pack, driving up home prices by $249,024—a staggering 337% increase over the city average. San Antonio’s The Alamo follows with a $395,041 increase (155%), and Orlando’s Disney World sees nearby home values rise by $394,921 (103%).
New York claims five of the top 10 spots, with homes near Central Park increasing by $659,792 (87%), the Empire State Building & Madison Square Garden by $862,062 (114%), and the Brooklyn Bridge by $478,268 (63%). Properties near the Statue of Liberty gain $415,389 (55%), while those near Radio City Music Hall jump by $386,491 (51%).
Where Landmark Proximity Comes with a Discount
While many landmarks boost nearby property prices, not all proximity pays off. In some cities, living close to an iconic location can actually result in significantly lower home values compared to the city average.
Topping the list is Yankee Stadium in New York, where homes near the landmark see a dramatic $450,083 decrease—a 59% drop in value. Similarly, living near The White House in Washington results in a $351,400 decrease (58%), highlighting that even proximity to historic and cultural sites doesn’t always mean higher real estate prices.
Other notable declines include Niagara Falls, where nearby homes lose $55,622 (35%), and the Welcome to Las Vegas Sign, which results in a $144,798 decrease (34%). Even Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Memorial impacts nearby home values negatively, with a $229,534 drop (29%).
Closing Thoughts
Landmarks have a unique impact on the real estate market, with some dramatically increasing home values and others creating surprising discounts. Whether it’s the high premium near Detroit’s Renaissance Center or the unexpected drop in property value around Yankee Stadium, these insights highlight how location shapes property values in ways that go beyond the surface.
For those who enjoy being close to the action—whether it’s near an iconic landmark or the heart of entertainment—location is always key. But with BetMGM, you can take the party with you on the go and play legal online casino games and online slots via your desktop, tablet, or mobile phone. To top off your entertainment experience, be sure to use the casino welcome bonus code, for new players only.
Methodology
To assess the cost of buying a home near America’s most iconic landmarks, we compiled a list of 50 renowned landmarks. For each landmark, we identified its ZIP code or the closest one available and used that to determine the average home value in the surrounding area. We then compared these values to the average home prices in the broader city where each landmark is located, calculating the price difference to highlight how proximity to these landmarks affects real estate costs.
