Single-Family Home Size Falls to More Than a Decade Low

Construction Statistics
Published

According to second quarter 2023 data from the Census Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design and NAHB analysis, median single-family square floor area declined to 2,191 square feet, the lowest reading since the end of 2010.

Home size increased in 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the need for more residential space, as more people stayed at home and used their residential property for offices, gyms and classrooms. During this period, when mortgage rates reached historic lows, buyers had more purchasing power, which spurred the demand for larger homes.

However, as interest rates increased in 2022 and housing affordability worsened, the demand for home size has trended lower.

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

Subscribe to NAHBNow

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

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Digital Media

Sep 22, 2025

What Do You Predict for the Housing Industry in 2026?

What will 2026 bring for your business? Share your insights and predictions for the coming year by completing Pro Builder’s 2026 Housing Forecast Survey by Oct. 8.

Workforce Development

Sep 22, 2025

9 Strong Associate Job Fields to Consider as a Career Path

With salaries on the rise and plenty of available jobs, now is a great time for students or for anyone looking to make a career changes to pursue a career in construction.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Sep 18, 2025

Women in Construction Reach Highest Share in Two Decades

In 2024, the number of women employed in the construction industry rose to around 1.34 million. Women now represent 11.2% of the construction workforce, the highest share in the past 20 years. This rise aligns with the growing presence of white-collar jobs in the industry.

Economics

Sep 17, 2025

The Fed Cuts and Projects More Easing to Come

After a monetary policy pause that began at the start of 2025, the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee (FOMC) voted to reduce the short-term federal funds rate by 25 basis points at the conclusion of its September meeting. This move decreased the target federal funds rate to an upper rate of 4.25%.

Economics

Sep 17, 2025

Housing Starts Remain Soft Ahead of Fed Meeting

Challenging affordability conditions continue to act as headwinds for the housing industry, but the sector could see lower interest rates in the near future with the Federal Reserve expected to cut short-term interest rates this afternoon.