‘Missing Middle’ Housing Production Disappoints in 2021

Economics
Published

Residential projects that are neither single-family homes nor large apartment developments are often referred to as the missing middle of the construction sector. This includes medium-density housing like townhouses, duplexes and other small multifamily properties.

While townhouse construction has trended higher in recent quarters, the multifamily segment of the missing middle (apartments in 2 to 4 unit properties) has disappointed. For 2021, there were only 12,000 starts of such residences. This is flat from from 2020, during a period of time when most market segments expanded.

NAHB Chief Economist Rob Dietz provides more analysis in this Eye on Housing blog post.

Learn more about missing middle housing.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Resiliency | Codes and Standards

Sep 03, 2025

How Building Codes Can – and Can’t – Help in Floods

Could enhanced building codes help save lives and property in flood-prone areas? Perhaps. But it is important to note there are already enhanced building codes required in flood zones.

Associate Members Committee | Membership

Sep 02, 2025

NAHB Kicks Off Associate Member Appreciation Month 2025

NAHB is celebrating the successes and contributions of its roughly 70,000 Associate members during September for Associate Member Appreciation Month, including a message from NAHB Chairman Buddy Hughes.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Sep 03, 2025

Open Construction Jobs Rise in July

The count of open, unfilled positions in the construction industry increased in July, per the June Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) as the national labor market cooled.

Economics

Sep 03, 2025

House Price Appreciation by State and Metro Area: Second Quarter 2025

House price growth continued to slow in the second quarter of 2025, as the housing market faces mounting pressure from high mortgage rates, elevated inventory, and persistent economic uncertainty.

Economics

Sep 02, 2025

June Private Residential Construction Spending Edges Higher

Private residential construction spending inched up 0.1% in June, registering the first monthly gain after six consecutive declines.