Single-Family Home Size: 2Q25 Data

2025-08-22T12:19:51-05:00

An expected impact of the virus crisis was a need for more residential space, as people used homes for more purposes including work. Home size correspondingly increased in 2021 as interest rates reached historic lows. However, as interest rates increased in 2022 and 2023, and housing affordability worsened, the demand for home size has trended lower. According to second quarter 2025 data from the Census Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design and NAHB analysis, median single-family square floor area was 2,125 square feet, a decline from the start of the year. Average (mean) square footage for new single-family homes registered at 2,364 square feet. The average size of a new single-family home, on a one-year moving average basis, was flat at 2,386 square feet, while the median size declined to 2,162 square feet. Home size increased from 2009 to 2015 as entry-level new construction lost market share. Home size declined between 2016 and 2020 as more starter homes were developed. After a brief increase during the post-COVID building boom, home size has trended lower due to declining affordability conditions. Discover more from Eye On Housing Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Single-Family Home Size: 2Q25 Data2025-08-22T12:19:51-05:00

Market Share of 5,000+ Square Foot New Homes Started Declines in 2024

2025-07-25T08:16:37-05:00

In 2024, there were 24,000 homes that exceeded 5,000 square feet, equating to a 2.3% market share of all new homes started. Both the number and market share for 5,000+ square foot homes experienced declines from 2023, according to the annual data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC). The number of homes started in 2024 exceeding 5,000 square feet dropped to 24,000, a decrease from 26,000 in 2023. In 2006, the number of new 5,000+ square foot homes reached a peak of 45,000. This number proceeded to drop during the Great Recession and hit a low of 11,000 in 2009. Since 2013, the number has remained consistently above 20,000, with a recent peak of 33,000 in 2021. Of the total number of new homes started in 2024, 2.3% had 5,000+ square feet or more of finished space, down from 2.8% in 2023.  The decline marks the third consecutive drop in the share of homes this size, down from a recent peak of 2.9% in 2021.  In 2015, the 5,000+ square foot share reached a record high of 3.9%.  Since then, it has fluctuated between 2.3% and 3.1%. Tabulating the major characteristics of 5,000+ square foot homes started in 2024, the data show 83% have a porch, 79% have a finished basement, 71% have a patio, 69% have four or more bathrooms, 66% have a 3-or-more car garage, 54% have five bedrooms or more, and 50% belong to a community association. Discover more from Eye On Housing Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Market Share of 5,000+ Square Foot New Homes Started Declines in 20242025-07-25T08:16:37-05:00

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