Priced in Gold
The Dow, a new house, a barrel of oil and a year's income, measured in ounces of gold every year since 1971 and at the latest prices.
The Dow since 1971
- The Dow
- 884.87
- Gold, an ounce
- $40.80
- The Dow
- 52,361.5826 Oct 2026
- Gold, an ounce
- $4,074.6027 Oct 2026
- Price in dollars
- ×59.2
- Price of gold
- ×99.9
- Price in ounces
- −41%
Cheapest and most expensive years in gold
- 19801.47
- 19812.03
- 19822.35
- 19792.75
- 19832.82
- 200038.5
- 200137.7
- 199937.6
- 200229.7
- 199829.3
From 1971 to 2025, the Dow rose 50.1 times in dollars (884.87 to 44,301.54) while gold rose 84.4 times ($40.80 to $3,441.51), on annual averages.
Every year since 1971
| Year | Dow | Gold | Ounces |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 44,301.54 | $3,441.51 | 12.9 |
| 2024 | 40,323.13 | $2,387.70 | 16.9 |
| 2023 | 34,121.54 | $1,942.67 | 17.6 |
| 2022 | 32,897.35 | $1,800.60 | 18.3 |
| 2021 | 34,055.29 | $1,799.63 | 18.9 |
| 2020 | 26,890.67 | $1,770.25 | 15.2 |
| 2019 | 26,380.54 | $1,392.50 | 18.9 |
| 2018 | 25,053.95 | $1,269.23 | 19.7 |
| 2017 | 21,750.20 | $1,257.56 | 17.3 |
| 2016 | 17,927.11 | $1,248.99 | 14.4 |
| 2015 | 17,587.03 | $1,160.66 | 15.2 |
| 2014 | 16,777.69 | $1,265.58 | 13.3 |
| 2013 | 15,009.52 | $1,411.46 | 10.6 |
| 2012 | 12,965.31 | $1,669.52 | 7.77 |
| 2011 | 11,957.57 | $1,569.21 | 7.62 |
| 2010 | 10,668.59 | $1,224.66 | 8.71 |
| 2009 | 8,886.09 | $972.97 | 9.13 |
| 2008 | 11,243.75 | $871.71 | 12.9 |
| 2007 | 13,178.26 | $696.72 | 18.9 |
| 2006 | 11,409.52 | $604.34 | 18.9 |
| 2005 | 10,546.20 | $444.84 | 23.7 |
| 2004 | 10,315.49 | $409.21 | 25.2 |
| 2003 | 9,006.50 | $363.51 | 24.8 |
| 2002 | 9,213.42 | $309.97 | 29.7 |
| 2001 | 10,208.75 | $270.99 | 37.7 |
| 2000 | 10,729.34 | $279.03 | 38.5 |
| 1999 | 10,481.21 | $278.77 | 37.6 |
| 1998 | 8,630.74 | $294.16 | 29.3 |
| 1997 | 7,447.03 | $331.10 | 22.5 |
| 1996 | 5,739.63 | $387.70 | 14.8 |
| 1995 | 4,494.28 | $384.16 | 11.7 |
| 1994 | 3,794.22 | $384.01 | 9.88 |
| 1993 | 3,524.92 | $359.77 | 9.80 |
| 1992 | 3,284.08 | $343.73 | 9.55 |
| 1991 | 2,929.04 | $362.18 | 8.09 |
| 1990 | 2,679.45 | $383.47 | 6.99 |
| 1989 | 2,510.34 | $381.43 | 6.58 |
| 1988 | 2,061.48 | $437.05 | 4.72 |
| 1987 | 2,277.53 | $446.47 | 5.10 |
| 1986 | 1,793.10 | $367.69 | 4.88 |
| 1985 | 1,327.99 | $317.91 | 4.18 |
| 1984 | 1,178.55 | $360.48 | 3.27 |
| 1983 | 1,190.78 | $422.53 | 2.82 |
| 1982 | 884.53 | $375.80 | 2.35 |
| 1981 | 932.95 | $459.75 | 2.03 |
| 1980 | 891.12 | $607.86 | 1.47 |
| 1979 | 844.40 | $306.67 | 2.75 |
| 1978 | 821.13 | $193.24 | 4.25 |
| 1977 | 894.33 | $147.72 | 6.05 |
| 1976 | 975.20 | $124.82 | 7.81 |
| 1975 | 802.89 | $161.03 | 4.99 |
| 1974 | 759.13 | $159.25 | 4.77 |
| 1973 | 924.07 | $97.33 | 9.49 |
| 1972 | 950.12 | $58.16 | 16.3 |
| 1971 | 884.87 | $40.80 | 21.7 |
Questions readers ask
What is the Dow to gold ratio today?
12.9. The Dow closed at 52,361.58 on 26 Oct 2026 and COMEX gold traded at $4,074.60 an ounce on 27 Oct 2026. On annual averages since 1971, the ratio ranged from 1.47 in 1980 to 38.5 in 2000. In 1971 it was 21.7.
How many ounces of gold does a house cost?
96.5 ounces for the median new house sold in the US, which went for $393,300 in the third quarter of 2026, at $4,074.60 an ounce. That is fewer ounces than in any year since 1971. On annual averages the cheapest year was 1980, at 106.5 ounces, and the most expensive 2001, at 638.8. In 1971 the median new house cost 618.3 ounces.
How many barrels of oil does an ounce of gold buy?
37.8 barrels of WTI crude, with oil at $107.89 on 20 Oct 2026 and gold at $4,074.60 on 27 Oct 2026. On annual averages since 1971, an ounce bought as few as 7.9 barrels in 2005 and as many as 52.6 in 2025. In 1971 it bought 11.5.
What is median household income in ounces of gold?
Median household income was $87,460 in 2025, or 25.4 ounces at that year's average gold price of $3,441.51, and 21.5 ounces at $4,074.60 on 27 Oct 2026. In 1971 the median, $9,028, came to 221.3 ounces.
Why measure prices in gold?
A dollar price moves when the thing itself changes and when the dollar does. Measuring in gold takes the dollar out of the comparison. From 1971 to 2025, the median new house rose 16.5 times in dollars and the Dow 50.1 times, while gold rose 84.4 times, on annual averages. Gold has its own swings, so a single year in ounces says as much about gold as about the thing measured.
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