Although the average family size has contracted by 20% since 1970, the average home size has increased by 50%. Les Christie’s fun article Honey, I stretched the house — again [CNN/Money] provides some insight on what has changed in the average house (hint: its not just square footage).
Here’s a few stats on square footage and amenities that have changed as a reflection of consumer tastes changing:
1973: 40% had less than 2 baths
2005: 5% had less than 2 baths
1988: 11% larger than 3,000 square feet
2005: 23% larger than 3,000 square feet
1950: 90 square foot average kitchen size
2005: 285 square foot average kitchen size
1973: 23% had 4 bedrooms or more
2005: 39% had 4 bedrooms or more
1973: <50% had air conditioning
2005: 89% had air conditioning
1971: 39% had 2-car garages
2005: 84% had 2-car garages
Who says consumer needs don’t change?
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It is interesting these two posts are back to back. One about how municipal workers can’t find affordable housing near their place of work and the other about how much more new houses have in terms of size and amenities. Could the connection (in part) could be more than coincidence?