New Home Size Increases as Demand for More Space Continues
The size of new single-family homes increased in the second quarter, as the pandemic has sparked a need for more living space and people continue using their homes for more purposes, particularly teleworking.
The median size of a single-family home increased to 2,297 square feet, according to data from the Census Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design and NAHB analysis. Average square footage increased to 2,540.
The median home size consistently rose each year from 2009 to 2015, as entry-level home construction was constrained. It then declined between 2016 and 2020, as more starter homes were developed. Home sizes are expected to increase again moving forward, given the shift in consumer preferences for more space in the post-COVID-19 environment.
NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz provides more details in this Eye on Housing blog post.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Apr 01, 2026
Builders Respond to Affordability Challenges with Buyer Incentives and Innovative DesignsDuring New Homes Month in April, the home building industry is responding to market conditions by constructing homes that balance price and meet modern home buyer needs. According to U.S. Census Bureau and National Association of Realtors data, newly built homes are typically priced at or below existing homes, offering buyers more options in today’s challenging housing market.
Codes and Standards | Land Development | Housing Affordability | Multifamily
Mar 31, 2026
NAHB Forming Working Group on Building Codes for Missing Middle HousingNAHB is forming a joint working group to foster development of NAHB’s long-term vision for “missing middle” housing and establish positions in the short term on building codes and other issues related to these housing types.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Mar 31, 2026
Soft Construction Labor Market Shows Decline for Open PositionsThe number of open positions in construction in February was down year-over-year, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).
Economics
Mar 30, 2026
NAHB HBGI: Micro Markets Lone Bright Spot for Single-Family Building in Fourth QuarterSingle-family construction declined further in the fourth quarter in all but sparsely populated micro counties, according to the NAHB Home Building Geography Index (HBGI).
Economics
Mar 26, 2026
State/Local Property Tax Revenue Rises Past $210 Billion in the Fourth QuarterProperty tax revenue collected by state and local governments rose for the ninth consecutive quarter according to the Census Bureau’s quarterly summary of state and local tax revenue.