Average Home Size Continues to Shrink as Inventory Adds Entry-level Homes: NAHB
By Robert Dietz
Continuing a multiyear trend, new single-family home size decreased during the final quarter of 2018.
According to fourth quarter 2018 data from the Census Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design and NAHB analysis, median single-family square floor area ticked down to 2,316 square feet. Average (mean) square footage for new single-family homes increased to 2,567 square feet.
On a less volatile one-year moving average, the recent trend of declines in new home size can be seen on the graph above, although current readings remain elevated. Since cycle lows (and on a one-year moving average basis), the average size of new single-family homes is 8% higher at 2,563 square feet, while the median size is 12% higher at 2,355 square feet.