How Single-Family Home Sizes Have Shifted

Trends
Published

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.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

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

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Awards

Feb 26, 2026

2026 National Housing Center Award Recipients Announced

The National Housing Center Board of Governors has announced the recipients of the 2026 National Housing Center Awards. The induction and award ceremonies will take place during the 2026 Spring Leadership Meeting at the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C.

Advocacy | Codes and Standards

Feb 25, 2026

House Approves NAHB-Supported Energy Codes Bill

The House today approved the Homeowner Energy Freedom Act, NAHB-supported legislation that would repeal burdensome provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act, including a provision that provides states $1 billion to incentivize the adoption of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Feb 25, 2026

Housing’s Share of GDP Declined Further at the End of 2025

Housing’s share of the economy was 16.0% in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the latest estimates of GDP produced by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This share is down from 16.1% in the third quarter and is also lower than 16.3% as registered just one year ago.

Economics

Feb 24, 2026

Young Adult Headship Rates in 2024: Cyclical Slip or New Equilibrium?

Reversing the post-pandemic rebound, the headship rates among young adults (the share of the population heading their own households) declined in 2024, according to NAHB’s analysis of the American Community Survey (ACS) data.

Economics

Feb 23, 2026

A 25-Basis-Point Decline in the Mortgage Rate Prices-In 1.42 Million Households

Housing affordability remains a critical challenge nationwide, and mortgage rates continue to play a central role in shaping homebuying power. Although rates have declined from the recent peak of about 7.6% in 2023 to around 6.01% as of February 19,2026, they remain elevated relative to typical levels in the 2010s.