‘Stranger Things’ Season 4: How Much is the Byers Family House in California Worth?
The newest Stranger Things Season 4 teaser trailer released on Stranger Things Day finally gave fans a glimpse of what life is like now that the Byers have left Hawkins, Indiana, in their rearview. However, the home they live in now is quite the upgrade from their house in Hawkins. This led some fans to wonder how Joyce could afford such a big house. Here’s what we know.
‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 shows the Byers family and Eleven in a much nicer house
In Stranger Things Season 4, the Byers’ new house is in the fictional town of Lenora Hills, California. (However, it’s actually located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.) Recently, the home went up for sale but quickly had an offer pending. Thanks to some internet sleuths, we found the listing on Zillow.
The Zillow description reads, “Don’t miss this fabulous opportunity for a well built, spacious home in NE Heights! Newer roof with transferable warranty new carpet! With some modern updates this home could be stunning! Living space abounds in this unique property! 2+ living areas on the main floor with a fully finished 1100+ sq ft basement w/ a bar! Home is situated on over 1/3 of an acre with beautiful outdoor living space including a LARGE custom fountain with surrounding foliage. Custom stone fireplaces highlight the main living area and the basement, large formal dining room , custom landscaping, balcony off master, mature landscaping and much more await in this amazing Glenwood Hills property!”
Filming for much of Stranger Things is done close to the Atlanta area. The Byers’ home is specifically located in Fayetteville, Georgia. We found the listing for that home on Zillow as well, even though the property isn’t for sale. According to Zillow, the house sits on six acres of property and is around 1,850 square feet. Even if fans didn’t consider the cost of living, the home would be more expensive than the one in Hawkins simply because of its size. The Lenora Hills house comes in at a whopping 4,350 square feet.
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The cost of living in California versus Indiana was much higher even in the ’80s
Even in 1987, the cost of living was significantly more expensive in California than in Indiana. It’s understandable why fans are curious about the Byers’ new home in Stranger Things Season 4. While we couldn’t find a specific price for the Byers’ house in Indiana in the ’80s, it does look like the average cost of a home back then was around $68,700. Today, that number is closer to $200,000.
As for California prices in the ’80s, the cost of a home skyrockets compared to those in Indiana. In this Reddit post, fans can see a graph comparing the prices. It looks like Joyce would have to shell out around $225,000. We doubt her savings from working at Melvald’s all those years would be enough to cover the down payment, let alone the entire cost. Of course, there’s always a chance Joyce has a better-paying job in Stranger Things Season 4.
Some fans think the government gave Joyce hush money in ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4
It seems unlikely that the government wouldn’t offer up some compensation considering everything Joyce knows. Unfortunately, the show never addressed the topic. In the first season, Joyce and Hopper both promise not to talk about anything related to the Upside Down. However, in the Stranger Things Season 1 finale, fans can see several newspaper clippings about the massive coverup. One includes a photo of Will, and the headline reads, “The Boy Who Came Back to Life.”
Hopefully, this detail will get mentioned in Stranger Things Season 4, and the Byers’ new house makes sense with their lifestyle. The upcoming season will release in the summer of 2022.
