American Homes: A Growing Problem of Waste

The Rise of Extra Bedrooms in American Homes

The number of extra bedrooms in the United States has reached a record high, with 31.9 million extra bedrooms in 2023, according to a new report from Realtor.com. This surge in spare bedrooms is attributed to a combination of larger homes and smaller household sizes.

A Growing Trend

The trend towards more bedrooms is not new, but the current level is the highest since the U.S. Census began recording this metric in 1970. In 1980, there were just 7 million extra bedrooms, but this number has quadrupled over the past four decades. The average number of bedrooms per home has also increased, from 2.5 rooms in 1970 to 2.8 rooms in 2023.

Reasons Behind the Trend

Ralph McLaughlin, senior economist at Realtor.com, attributes this trend to two main factors: homes getting bigger and household size getting smaller. "We are seeing more guest rooms for two main reasons: homes getting bigger and household size getting smaller," he said.

Regional Variations

The trend towards extra bedrooms is not uniform across the country. The Mountain West and the South have the highest proportion of excess space, due to larger homes and more land availability. Urban areas, on the other hand, have the opposite dynamic.

Top 10 Markets with the Highest Share of Extra Bedrooms

1. Ogden, Utah (12.2%)
2. Colorado Springs, Colo. (12.1%)
3. Salt Lake City, Utah (12%)
4. Memphis, Tenn. (11.8%)
5. Atlanta (11.6%)
6. Cleveland (11.3%)
7. Wichita, Kan. (11.3%)
8. Columbia, S.C. (10.8%)
9. Charleston, S.C. (10.7%)
10. Jackson, Miss. (10.7%)

Top 10 Markets with the Lowest Share of Extra Bedrooms

1. Miami (5.9%)
2. Sarasota, Fla. (6.4%)
3. New York (6.5%)
4. Los Angeles (6.6%)
5. New Haven, Conn. (6.7%)
6. Worcester, Mass. (6.9%)
7. Stockton, Calif. (6.9%)
8. Bakersfield, Calif. (7%)
9. Honolulu area (7%)
10. Providence, R.I. (7.1%)

Conclusion

The rising trend of extra bedrooms in American homes is a reflection of changing household dynamics and housing market trends. While some regions have more excess space than others, it is clear that this trend is here to stay.

FAQs

Q: Why are there more extra bedrooms in some regions?
A: The trend is driven by larger homes and smaller household sizes in regions like the Mountain West and the South.

Q: What is the average number of bedrooms in a home?
A: The average number of bedrooms per home has increased from 2.5 rooms in 1970 to 2.8 rooms in 2023.

Q: What is the main reason for this trend?
A: The main reason is that homes are getting bigger and household sizes are getting smaller.