US Single-Family Home Size Increases in Q4

According to the US Census Bureau’s latest Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design report, with analysis provided by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the median single-family square floor area was 2,205 square feet in Q4, the highest reading since mid-2023. The average (mean) square footage for new single-family homes registered at 2,417 square feet.

The average size of a new single-family home, on a one-year moving average basis, trended higher to 2,373 square feet in 2024, while the median size was 2,162 square feet.

NAHB notes that home size increased from 2009–15 as entry-level new construction lost market share. Home size declined between 2016–20 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.