What Are the Most Common Exterior Materials for New Homes?
Stucco was the most common principal exterior material on new single-family homes started in 2020 (28%), followed by vinyl siding (26%), according to the data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC).
Fiber cement siding (such as Hardiplank or Hardiboard) and brick or brick veneer were also relatively popular at 21% and 19%, respectively. Less popular as the principal exterior wall material were wood or wood products (4%) and stone, rock or other stone materials (1%).
Such preferences significantly differ between the nine census divisions, however. Stucco remains the most popular in the Pacific (63%), Mountain (50%) and South Atlantic (39%), while vinyl is the top product in the Middle Atlantic (76%), New England (72%), East North Central (68%), West North Central (53%) and East South Central (45%). More than half (64%) of homes in West South Central were made with brick.
NAHB Senior Economist Ashok Chaluvadi provides more analysis in this Eye on Housing post.
Latest from NAHBNow
May 09, 2025
How CertainTeed One Precision Assemblies Accelerates Construction with Factory-Built PrecisionWith the demand for housing in today’s fast-paced construction environment, time is money — and quality is everything. That’s why more developers, general contractors, and home builders are turning to offsite construction solutions like CertainTeed One Precision Assemblies.
May 08, 2025
How an NAHB Student Chapter Alumnus Found His Residential Construction PassionLawrence Thompson III's eye for design and architecture led him to NAHB's Student Competition. Now the project manager is working a full-time job that fits his skills and passions.
Latest Economic News
May 09, 2025
Consumer Credit Slows in the First Quarter of 2025Consumer credit continued to rise in early 2025, but the pace of growth has slowed. Student loan balances rose year-over-year as borrowers resumed payments following the end of pandemic-era relief. However, growth remains modest.
May 08, 2025
Multifamily Developer Confidence Falls in the First QuarterMultifamily developers are starting the year in a cautious state, according to Q1 2025 results from the Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) released today by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The MMS produces two separate indices.
May 07, 2025
Fed Remains on Pause with Rising UncertaintyThe Federal Reserve remained on pause with respect to rate cuts at the conclusion of its May meeting, maintaining the federal funds rate in the 4.25% to 4.5% range. Characterizing current market conditions, the central bank noted that the “unemployment rate has stabilized at a low level in recent months, and labor market conditions remain solid.” However, the Fed noted that “inflation remains somewhat elevated.”