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
Housing Affordability
Nov 07, 2025
NAHB Leaders Discuss Obstacles to Home Building at U.S. Chamber Housing SummitIn partnership with NAHB, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 6 hosted a daylong housing summit that included several panel discussions featuring members of Congress, industry leaders, and state and local officials that focused on how to resolve the housing affordability crisis and boost the housing supply.
Membership Recruitment and Retention
Nov 07, 2025
How NAHB is Thanking Top RecruitersNAHB's Fall Recruitment Competition and IBS perks are among the ways all recruiters are being appreciated for their efforts.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Nov 07, 2025
Which Local Markets Track National Trends the Most: 2024 Multifamily MAIFollowing the release of the 2024 single-family MAI last week, the National Association of Home Builders developed the Multifamily Market Association Index (MAI) to measure how closely multifamily building permits in metro areas follow national patterns.
Economics
Nov 06, 2025
Multifamily Developer Confidence Increases in Third Quarter, But Still in Negative TerritoryThe Multifamily Production Index (MPI) had a reading of 46, up six points year-over-year, while the Multifamily Occupancy Index (MOI) had a reading of 74, down one point year-over-year.
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.