Earthquake repair cost: what owners paid
The Census Bureau published no national figure for earthquake work. Only Dallas has a published figure: $11,140.
What owners paid
$11,140
The typical (median) job in the one big metro with a published figure. The Census Bureau published no U.S. figure for this work.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, the latest release: work owners did in about 2021–2023. Checked .
What owners paid in each big metro
The typical (median) job in each of the survey's 15 metro areas, highest first. The margin of error is the Census Bureau's 90% range around each median.
No published figure: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Riverside, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC.
What these figures cover: Repairs owners made after earthquake damage, from small fixes to major rebuilding. Seismic upgrades made before a quake are not part of it.
The figures as a table, with margins of error
Scroll the table sideways to see every column on a small screen.
| Metro area | Typical job (median) | Margin of error (90% confidence) |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas | $11,140 | Not published |
| Atlanta | Not published | Not published |
| Boston | Not published | Not published |
| Chicago | Not published | Not published |
| Detroit | Not published | Not published |
| Houston | Not published | Not published |
| Los Angeles | Not published | Not published |
| Miami | Not published | Not published |
| New York City | Not published | Not published |
| Philadelphia | Not published | Not published |
| Phoenix | Not published | Not published |
| Riverside | Not published | Not published |
| San Francisco | Not published | Not published |
| Seattle | Not published | Not published |
| Washington DC | Not published | Not published |
Source: Census Bureau and HUD, 2023 American Housing Survey, Table 16, category “Earthquake” under “Disaster Repairs”. Updated 2026-09-19. The metro values and margins of error use the survey's metropolitan areas, not city limits. A metro with no published figure stays blank; we never fill it in from its neighbors.
Why do cost guides disagree?
They measure different things. An estimate prices one defined job at today's rates; these figures are what owners actually paid, across every size and kind of job in the category. A full job on a large house can sit well above the typical figure, and a small one well below it. Your own quotes, compared line by line, are the price that counts.
Before you compare quotes
Which damage assessment, hidden repairs and temporary protection are included?
Keep the quotes themselves in a budget worksheet.