Census Bureau Introduces Interactive Housing Data Tool

The Census Bureau recently introduced arnnew on-line interactive graphic which interprets annual data from the Bureau’s Surveyrnof Construction.  The graphic pictures,rnlogically enough, a house, partially cut away to show the interior andrnrevealing components typical of a newly constructed American home.</p

Two categories of data are availablernfrom the graphic – information on newly constructed homes and on newly constructedrnhomes that have sold.  Historical data onrneach goes back to 1999.  In addition torninformation on the country as a whole, breakdowns are provided for the fourrnregions.  </p

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Thernvariety of information available and the combination of conclusions that can bernderived are nearly endless.  By clickingrnon square footage, for example, one can find that of the 589,000 new homesrncompleted in 2013, 13,000 or 8 percent contained less than 1,400 square feet.  One can also learn this is the smallestrnpercentage of homes of that size completed since at least 1999.  At the same time there were 56,000 homes orrn10 percent that were built containing more than 4,000 square feet.  The most popular size chosen by builders wasrn1800 to 2,399 square feet; 154,000 homes or 27 percent of the total were builtrnwithin that footprint and the average sizernof all new homes build was 2,598 square feet.</p

Homes sold were a different matter.  Of the total of 429,000 new homes sold, 9rnpercent were in the mini-mansion category but only 4 percent were under 1,400rnsquare feet.  Seventy-three percent ofrnbuyers opted for houses of 1,800 to 3,999 square feet but these comprised onlyrn66 percent of those built.</p

While only 5 percent of home builtrnnationally had fewer than 2 full baths, there were several regional distinctions.  Only 1 percent of homes in the West had 1-1/2rnor fewer baths but 12 percent of those in the Midwest did.  The South was the most bathroom indulged withrn36 percent of new homes containing three or more.</p

Visitorsrnto the graphic can also find out about the prevalence of air conditioning (518,000rnout of 569,000 homes completed), that 59,000 homes had two or fewer bedroomsrnwhile 251,000 had four or more.  The average sales price of new single-family homes sold wasrn$324,500, or $93.70 per square foot, compared with the average price ofrn$292,200 in 2012.  Information is alsornavailable on HVAC and electrical systems, foundation type, and other constructionrndetails.</p

Available elsewhere on the site isrninformation from the Construction Survey on the 307,000 multi-family unitsrnstarted and the 195,000 units completed in 2013.  For example, of the units started 23,000 werernage-restricted as were 14,000 of those completed.  Of those completed, 79,000 had one bedroom,rn27,000 had three or more, and 91,000 had two or more bathrooms.  The average square footage of units built tornbe rented was 1,082.</p

The interactive graphic andrnhighlights of the Census Bureau Construction Survey can be accessed here.rn

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