The Average Size of American Homes

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that from 1978 through 2015 the median size of a single-family home in America increased every year until it peaked at 2,467 square feet in 2016. But does the average family really need such a big house?

Steve Adcock, author of the Get Rich Slowly blog, notes that in reality—it’s largely a big waste of space. A research team affiliated with UCLA studied American families and where they spend most of their time while inside their homes.

The results are quite interesting. As the graphic (source: UCLA) shows, most of the square footage is unused as people tend to gather around the kitchen and television, leaving the dining room, living room, music room and porch mostly or completely ignored. Adcock notes “The findings were not pretty. In fact, they helped prove how little we use our big homes for things other than clutter.”

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