How Single-Family Home Sizes Have Shifted
According to first quarter 2022 data from the Census Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design and NAHB analysis, median single-family square floor area inched down to 2,310 square feet. Average (mean) square footage for new single-family homes decreased to 2,512.
An expected impact of the virus crisis is a need for more residential space, as people use homes for more purposes, including work.
Since the Great Recession lows (and on a one-year moving average basis), the average size of new single-family homes is now 6.3% higher at 2,537 square feet, while the median size is 10% higher at 2,318 square feet.
NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz provides a forecast for changes in home sizes in this Eye on Housing post.
Latest from NAHBNow
Education at IBS | Economics
Nov 05, 2025
5 Economic Forecasts to Help Plan for 2026Every year, NAHB and other industry experts and economists bring their latest insights to the NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS). Register today and make sure to check out these sessions for the latest economic forecasts to help your business in 2026.
Workforce Development
Nov 04, 2025
California Homebuilding Foundation Advances Education, Workforce and Industry LeadershipAs California faces a growing need for skilled trades workers and affordable housing, the California Homebuilding Foundation is helping students find careers in the industry.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Nov 05, 2025
Bedrooms in New Single-Family Homes in 2024Three-bedroom single-family homes reached their largest share of starts since 2011 and remained the most prevalent number of bedrooms among new homes.
Economics
Nov 04, 2025
The International Builders’ Show: The Leading Economic Forecast Event of the YearEvery year, NAHB and other industry experts and economists bring their latest insights to the NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS). For 2026, IBS offers an unparalleled lineup of IBS Education sessions that cover every sector of the housing industry: single-family, multifamily, remodeling, design trends, and building materials.
Economics
Nov 03, 2025
Laundry Room Locations in New Homes and Apartments, 2024In 2024, most new single-family homes included laundry connections on the first floor (70%), according to the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction. The first floor is also where most customers prefer to have the laundry, as shown in Chapter 2 of What Home Buyers Really Want.