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
Advocacy
Nov 20, 2025
New WOTUS Rule Brings Clarity to Permitting ProcessIn a move championed by NAHB, the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have announced a proposed updated definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS).
Economics
Nov 20, 2025
Remodeling Growth Drives Uptick in Residential Construction SpendingPrivate residential construction spending inched up 0.8% in August, continuing steady growth since June 2025, primarily driven by more spending on multifamily construction and home remodeling.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Nov 19, 2025
Affordability Impacts: Young Adults Are Once Again Moving Back HomeThe share of young adults living with parents increased in 2024, interrupting the post-pandemic trend of moving out of parental homes.
Economics
Nov 18, 2025
Location, Location, Location: How Place and Neighborhood Shape Home ValuesThe value of a single-family home depends not only on its physical features but also on its location and neighborhood context.
Economics
Nov 18, 2025
Builder Sentiment Relatively Flat in November as Market Headwinds PersistMarket uncertainty exacerbated by the government shutdown along with economic uncertainty stemming from tariffs and rising construction costs kept builder confidence firmly in negative territory in November.