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.