ROI Guide
Kitchen vs. Bathroom Remodel ROI in Massachusetts
By Dioclecio Gomes, Founder & Owner6 min readUpdated September 26, 2026
In This Guide
Industry cost recoup data consistently shows minor kitchen updates deliver some of the best returns of any home improvement, with Zonda's 2025 Cost vs Value Report putting a minor kitchen remodel at 112.9% of cost recouped nationally. Full remodels of either room recoup a smaller share. If you are selling soon, prioritize whichever room looks most dated in photos. If you are staying, prioritize the room that bothers you most day to day.
Homeowners planning a remodel often frame it as a choice: kitchen vs bathroom remodel, which one actually pays for itself. The honest answer starts with what independent industry data tracks every year. According to Zonda's 2025 Cost vs Value Report, a minor kitchen remodel recoups 112.9% of its cost at resale nationally, one of the strongest returns of any home improvement project tracked in the report.
We build both kitchens and bathrooms across Central Massachusetts, and the honest framing homeowners need is less about a single percentage and more about which project fits their actual situation.
What Industry ROI Data Actually Shows
Zonda's Cost vs Value Report is the industry's most widely cited annual benchmark for remodeling ROI, tracking real project costs against appraiser-estimated resale value across dozens of US markets. The clearest finding in the 2025 report: a minor kitchen remodel, refacing or replacing cabinet fronts, new countertops, new appliances, without a full gut, recoups 112.9% of its cost, meaning it can add more resale value than it costs outright.
Bathroom remodel ROI is tracked in the same report but varies more by market and scope than the kitchen figure. Rather than lean on a single number that shifts year to year and market to market, the more reliable planning approach is to compare scopes within each room, which is where the real pattern shows up.
Why Minor Updates Outperform Full Remodels
Across both kitchens and bathrooms, the pattern in resale data is consistent: a minor, cosmetic-focused update tends to recoup a higher percentage of its cost than a full, high-end gut remodel. That is not because full remodels are a bad idea, it is because buyers place a ceiling on how much extra they will pay for premium finishes in a given neighborhood, a ceiling that does not move just because the project cost more.
Practically, this means a well-executed refresh or a targeted minor kitchen update is often the financially smarter move if resale value is the primary goal, while a full remodel makes more sense when the room genuinely does not work for how you live.
Selling Soon vs. Staying Long Term
If you plan to list your home within the next year or two, prioritize whichever room is most visibly dated or worn, since both kitchens and bathrooms get heavy scrutiny in listing photos and in-person walkthroughs. A dated kitchen with original 1990s cabinets or a bathroom with a failing tub surround can suppress buyer interest regardless of which room technically has the better average ROI.
If you are staying long term, the resale percentage matters less than how much you will actually use and enjoy the space. A bathroom you use every morning and a kitchen where you cook every night both deliver value that a resale percentage does not capture at all.
Weighing kitchen vs. bathroom for your home?
We walk through both spaces with you and give you real numbers for each before you decide.
Get My Free EstimateCost Context for Massachusetts
To weigh ROI against actual dollars, our own pricing gives a real reference point. Kitchen remodels in Central Massachusetts typically run $25,000 to $60,000 for a full remodel, while bathroom remodels typically run $4,000 to $28,000 depending on scope. See our kitchen cost guide and bathroom cost guide for a full breakdown by scope.
How to Actually Decide
Start with condition, not ROI percentages: whichever room has an actual functional problem, a leaking shower, a failing dishwasher line, outdated wiring, should usually go first regardless of resale math. From there, if both rooms are simply dated but functional, lean toward the lower-cost, higher-recoup option: a minor kitchen update, if your kitchen only needs cosmetic work. If your bathroom is the one that is actually falling apart, fix that first and treat the kitchen as the next project.
The Bottom Line
Minor kitchen updates consistently rank among the best-recouping home improvements industry-wide, but the room with an actual functional problem should come first regardless of ROI data. Use resale percentages to break a tie between two rooms in similar condition, not to override a room that genuinely needs work. Get real numbers for both rooms before deciding. Get a Free Estimate
FAQ
Does a kitchen or bathroom remodel add more resale value?
Industry cost recoup data generally favors minor kitchen updates over full remodels of either room. Zonda's 2025 Cost vs Value Report found a minor kitchen remodel recoups about 112.9% of its cost nationally, one of the highest returns of any home improvement project, while full remodels of either room typically recoup a smaller share of cost.
Should I remodel my kitchen or bathroom first?
If you are selling within a year or two, prioritize whichever room is in worse condition or most visibly dated, since both show up prominently in listing photos and buyer walkthroughs. If you plan to stay long term, prioritize the room you use daily and that bothers you most, since you will get the value of living in it, not just its resale bump.
Is a small kitchen update better ROI than a full remodel?
Generally yes. Industry data consistently shows minor kitchen updates (refacing cabinets, new countertops and appliances) recoup a higher percentage of cost than a full gut remodel, because the incremental value buyers place on premium finishes rarely matches their added cost.