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Research · U.S. Census Bureau data

The median new US home is 2,142 sq ft

Half of the new single-family houses completed in the US in 2025 were smaller than 2,142 square feet, and half were larger. The average was 2,378 sq ft. The median is 13% below its 2015 peak of 2,467 sq ft.

Figures published by the U.S. Census Bureau on , checked on · By the Squaremetry team. How to use this report: quote any number with a link to this page and name the U.S. Census Bureau as the source.

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Median new home by region, 2025

Median square feet of new single-family houses completed. Bars start at zero.

  • Northeast 2,459 sq ft
  • Midwest 1,969 sq ft
  • South 2,162 sq ft
  • West 2,090 sq ft

Raw data in the download.

Key numbers

Key numbers

  • Median new home, 2025

    2,142 sq ft

    Half smaller, half larger

  • Average new home, 2025

    2,378 sq ft

    Pulled up by the largest houses

  • Peak median, 2015

    2,467 sq ft

    2025 is 13% smaller

By year

Median size of new homes, 1973 to 2025

New homes grew for four decades, peaked in 2015 and have become smaller since.

Median square feet, new single-family houses completed
  • 1973 1,525
  • 1985 1,605
  • 1995 1,920
  • 2005 2,227
  • 2015 2,467
  • 2025 2,142

Six years shown. All years as a table (1973 to 2025, with the average and the four regions) sit below the chart on the page and in the download.

All years

All years as a table

Median and average square feet, and the median per region, newest first. All 53 years; the table scrolls.

YearMedianAverageNortheastMidwestSouthWest
20252,1422,3782,4591,9692,1622,090
20242,1462,3642,2651,9902,1582,131
20232,2332,4852,4782,1012,2702,126
20222,2992,5092,5232,1572,3192,284
20212,2732,4802,4592,1772,2952,206
20202,2612,4802,2592,1232,2932,242
20192,3012,5092,3642,1602,3352,279
20182,3862,5882,4882,1802,4452,341
20172,4262,6312,4882,2542,4802,398
20162,4222,6402,4692,2972,4502,430
20152,4672,6872,4922,3202,5172,435
20142,4532,6572,3702,4002,4982,453
20132,3842,5982,3372,1772,4692,360
20122,3062,5052,3022,1502,3812,281
20112,2332,4802,3352,0152,3032,199
20102,1692,3922,3362,0012,1842,143
20092,1352,4382,2111,9312,1982,140
20082,2152,5192,3122,0192,2662,216
20072,2772,5212,2812,0642,3252,286
20062,2482,4692,3952,0352,2862,275
20052,2272,4342,3392,0542,2592,236
20042,1402,3492,3611,9932,1642,149
20032,1372,3302,2881,9982,1422,166
20022,1142,3202,3301,9792,1202,127
20012,1032,3242,3051,9652,1282,080
20002,0572,2662,2661,9712,0752,014
19992,0282,2232,1751,9372,0442,001
19982,0002,1902,1001,9452,0001,985
19971,9752,1502,1301,9002,0001,930
19961,9502,1202,1001,9001,9951,890
19951,9202,0952,0951,8501,9451,835
19941,9402,1002,0351,8502,0001,835
19931,9452,0952,0501,8552,0001,845
19921,9202,0952,0001,8701,9451,890
19911,8902,0751,9501,8001,8701,980
19901,9052,0801,9551,8501,8551,985
19891,8502,0351,8701,8001,8151,910
19881,8101,9951,8101,8401,7901,845
19871,7551,9051,8401,7401,7551,730
19861,6601,8251,6951,6851,6551,635
19851,6051,7851,6551,6251,5901,595
19841,6051,7801,6651,6001,5901,610
19831,5651,7251,6501,5151,5651,545
19821,5201,7101,6051,4051,5001,595
19811,5501,7201,6551,4801,5401,580
19801,5951,7401,6601,5201,6151,570
19791,6451,7601,6901,6051,6751,625
19781,6551,7551,6401,6151,6851,630
19771,6101,7201,5401,5401,6601,615
19761,5901,7001,5051,4951,6601,565
19751,5351,6451,4051,4601,6051,510
19741,5601,6951,4651,4901,6401,540
19731,5251,6601,4501,4451,5551,575

Our example plans

Our example plans next to the median

The houses in our gallery are examples we drew, not survey data. Their finished area, measured the ANSI Z765 way:

Method and download

Where the numbers come from

We copied every figure as the Census Bureau published it. Nothing is estimated, rounded by us or filled in.

  • Source: Characteristics of New Housing 2025: Square Feet of Floor Area in New Single-Family Houses Completed, U.S. Census Bureau, published July 1, 2026.
  • Tables: Median and Average Square Feet of Floor Area in New Single-Family Houses Completed; Square Feet of Floor Area in New Single-Family Houses Completed (file squarefeet_cust.xls).
  • Houses completed in the year, including houses built for rent: 1,005,000 in 2025.
  • Before 1999 the Census Bureau rounded the figures to the nearest 5 sq ft. It gives a relative standard error of 2% for the US median.
  • Checked against the source on September 27, 2026.

Download the data

CSV with 53 years: median and average for the US, and the median per region.

Download (CSV) →

Sources

Characteristics of New Housing 2025: Square Feet of Floor Area in New Single-Family Houses Completed, U.S. Census Bureau. www.census.gov/construction/chars/current.html

Questions

Questions

About the size of new US homes. Can’t find your answer? Send us a message.

What is the average size of a new house in the US?

2,378 square feet for new single-family houses completed in 2025. The median was 2,142 sq ft: half were smaller, half larger.

Are new homes getting smaller?

Yes, since 2015. The median new home was 2,467 sq ft then and 2,142 sq ft in 2025, 13% smaller.

Where are new homes the largest?

In the Northeast, with a median of 2,459 sq ft in 2025. The Midwest had the smallest median, 1,969 sq ft.

How do I compare my home with these numbers?

Measure your home room by room and add it up, or draw it in Squaremetry. The Census Bureau uses its own survey definition of floor area, so treat the comparison as a guide.

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