Monthly vs 12-month median price change

CALHOUN, Ga. We publish two year-over-year price changes. The monthly change compares one calendar month's median with the same month a year earlier. The 12-month change compares the median of every closing in the last 12 months with the median of every closing in the 12 months before that.

The monthly figure is quick and noisy. A different mix of homes closing in one month can swing it by several points. The 12-month figure is slow and steady. When they disagree, trust the 12-month figure for the trend and treat the monthly one as a question to check.

This month's example

Bartow County is this month's example. Its October median of $330,000 was down 12.5% from $377,000 a year earlier. Its 12-month median of $335,000 was down 1.2% from the prior 12 months.