The number of housing units in the United States has grown year-on-year and in 2023, there were approximately 145 million homes. That was an increase of about 1.3 percent from the previous year - the highest annual increase recorded in the past 15 years. Homeownership in the U.S. Most of the housing stock in the U.S. is owner-occupied, meaning that the person who owns the home uses it as a primary residence. Homeownership is an integral part of the American Dream, with about two in three Americans living in an owner-occupied home. For older generations, the homeownership rate is even higher, showing that buying a home is an important milestone in life. Housing transactions slowing down During the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. experienced a housing market boom and witnessed an increase in the number of homes sold. Since 2020, when the market peaked, new homes transactions have slowed down and so have the sales of existing homes. That has affected the development of home prices, with several states across the country experiencing a decline in house prices.

How many households are in the U.S.?

In 2023, there were 131.43 million households in the United States. This is a significant increase from 1960, when there were 52.8 million households in the U.S.

What counts as a household?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a household is considered to be all persons living within one housing unit. This includes apartments, houses, or single rooms, and consists of both related and unrelated people living together. For example, two roommates who share a living space but are not related would be considered a household in the eyes of the Census. It should be noted that group living quarters, such as college dorms, are not counted as households in the Census.

Household changes

While the population of the United States has been increasing, the average size of households in the U.S. has decreased since 1960. In 1960, there was an average of 3.33 people per household, but in 2023, this figure had decreased to 2.51 people per household. Additionally, two person households make up the majority of American households, followed closely by single-person households.

In 2018, there were 142.33 million homes in the United States, and this number is set to reach 241.19 million by 2023.

Housing Starts in the United States increased to 1501 Thousand units in February from 1350 Thousand units in January of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Housing Starts - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The largest share of the housing stock in the United States as of 2021 was built between 1975 and 1979. There were 18.5 million homes built during this period, whereas the homes built between 2016 and 2019 were less than six million.

Graph and download economic data for Housing Inventory Estimate: Occupied Housing Units in the United States (EOCCUSQ176N) from Q2 2000 to Q4 2024 about inventories, housing, and USA.

The majority of the housing stock in the United States is single-family detached houses. Of the total 128.5 million housing units in 2021, about 81.7 million were detached homes and 8.2 million were attached single-family homes. In comparison, roughly 31.8 million units were in multifamily buildings.

Graph and download economic data for Monthly Supply of New Houses in the United States (MSACSR) from Jan 1963 to Feb 2025 about supplies, new, housing, and USA.

The majority of the housing stock in the United States is single-family detached houses. Of the total 133.2 million housing units in 2023, about 85.3 million were detached homes and 8.2 million were attached single-family homes. In comparison, roughly 32.6 million units were in multifamily buildings.

As of the third quarter of 2023, the highest number of conversion projects in the U.S. were office-to-multifamily projects. The total number of conversion projects aimed at generating housing units from outdated office buildings was 264, representing nearly 39 percent of the total conversions. Moreover, a multitude of projects were undertaken to transform offices into life sciences initiatives, totaling 184. Both office-to-hotel and industry conversions contributed more than nine percent, totaling over 18 percent. Finally, office-to-mixed-use and other uses accounted for nearly 16 percent of ongoing or planned conversion projects.

United States Number of Housing Unit: Northeast data was reported at 24,343.000 Unit th in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 24,317.000 Unit th for Jun 2018. United States Number of Housing Unit: Northeast data is updated quarterly, averaging 22,883.000 Unit th from Mar 1992 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 107 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 24,343.000 Unit th in Sep 2018 and a record low of 21,842.000 Unit th in Mar 1992. United States Number of Housing Unit: Northeast data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.EB011: Number of Housing Units.

In 2024, there were roughly 490,000 building permits for multifamily housing units granted in the United States. The number of housing authorized that year was lower than in previous years, given that multifamily housing permits have fallen two years in a row. In contrast, the number of building permits for single-family housing units did not have such a sharp decrease. Multifamily housing projects on the increase Multifamily homes refer to buildings that contain at least two housing units, including apartment buildings and duplexes. In 2022, building work had started on over half a million multifamily housing units in the United States – the highest number recorded in the past decades, but those numbers have fallen significantly in the years after that. However, it is expected that multifamily housing starts will grow again in 2025. What are the trends in size of different properties? One of the noticeable differences between multifamily and single-family housing is the size of the units. In 2023, the median size of a multifamily unit in the United States was over 1,000 square feet. In contrast, the median size of a single-family housing unit that same year was well over twice as large.

The number of home sales in the United States peaked in 2021 at almost seven million after steadily rising since 2018. Nevertheless, the market contracted in the following year, with transaction volumes falling to 4.8 million. Home sales remained muted in 2024, with a mild increase expected in 2025 and 2026. A major factor driving this trend is the unprecedented increase in mortgage interest rates due to high inflation. How have U.S. home prices developed over time? The average sales price of new homes has also been rising since 2011. Buyer confidence seems to have recovered after the property crash, which has increased demand for homes and also the prices sellers are demanding for homes. At the same time, the affordability of U.S. homes has decreased. Both the number of existing and newly built homes sold has declined since the housing market boom during the coronavirus pandemic. Challenges in housing supply The number of housing units in the U.S. rose steadily between 1975 and 2005 but has remained fairly stable since then. Construction increased notably in the 1990s and early 2000s, with the number of construction starts steadily rising, before plummeting amid the infamous housing market crash. Housing starts slowly started to pick up in 2011, mirroring the economic recovery. In 2022, the supply of newly built homes plummeted again, as supply chain challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic and tariffs on essential construction materials such as steel and lumber led to prices soaring.

United States Number of Housing Unit: Vacant: Year Round: For Rent data was reported at 3,343.000 Unit th in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,206.000 Unit th for Jun 2018. United States Number of Housing Unit: Vacant: Year Round: For Rent data is updated quarterly, averaging 2,802.000 Unit th from Mar 1965 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 215 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,588.000 Unit th in Sep 2009 and a record low of 1,120.000 Unit th in Dec 1969. United States Number of Housing Unit: Vacant: Year Round: For Rent data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.EB011: Number of Housing Units. Series Remarks Data for 1979 Q1 to Q4 was revised to reflect changes made in 1980. Data for 1989 Q1 to Q4 was revised to include year-round vacant mobile homes. Data for 1993 Q1 to Q4 was revised based on the 1990 Census. Data for 2002 Q1 to Q4 was revised based on the 2000 Census.

Graph and download economic data for Median Number of Months on Sales Market for Newly Completed Homes (MNMFS) from Jan 1975 to Feb 2025 about sales, median, housing, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Housing Inventory: Median Days on Market in the United States (MEDDAYONMARUS) from Jul 2016 to Feb 2025 about median and USA.

Existing Home Sales in the United States increased to 4260 Thousand in February from 4090 Thousand in January of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Existing Home Sales - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The value of multifamily real estate investment in the United States has declined since 2021 when it peaked at 344 billion U.S. dollars. Some of the main reasons for the decline in investment included the tighter lending conditions, the increase in valuations over the past years, and the soaring construction costs. In 2024, the sector attracted nearly 143 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for more than one third of the total commercial market.

The average single-family house in the United States has overall increased in size since 2000. It reached its peak of 2,467 square feet in 2015 before falling to 2,299 square feet by 2022. Single-family house A single family home is defined as a dwelling designed to house a single family only. This means there are no common walls with other dwellings, the house has been built on its own parcel of land, and that it has its own private entry and exit to a street or thoroughfare. This definition excludes apartments, which are significantly smaller, and have actually been reducing in size over the same time period. Housing in the U.S. In 2022, there were over 85 million owner-occupied and 44 million renter occupied housing units in the United States. Single-family homes are by far the most common type of residential property purchased in the United States.

United States Number of Housing Unit: West data was reported at 30,322.000 Unit th in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 29,991.000 Unit th for Mar 2018. United States Number of Housing Unit: West data is updated quarterly, averaging 26,328.000 Unit th from Mar 1992 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 106 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30,322.000 Unit th in Jun 2018 and a record low of 22,264.000 Unit th in Mar 1992. United States Number of Housing Unit: West data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.EB011: Number of Housing Units.