The U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Characteristics of New Housing compiles housing data ranging from median and average square footage to construction method, number of bathrooms, and type of heating system. Last year’s statistics show new single-family homes, though smaller than they were at the height of the housing boom, are still large by historical standards. The average size of a newly built single-family home in 2010 was 2,392 square feet. By comparison, the average new home in 1980 was 1,740 square feet. Eighty-eight percent of all single-family homes built last year had air conditioning and 52 percent of them had three bedrooms. The average sales price of a new home sold in 2010 was $272,900, down from $313,600 in 2007. More here and here.
