economy

April 30, 2026

Making America’s Houses Bigger May Have Been a Mistake

Millennials are abandoning the idea of living in a giant home.

Making America’s Houses Bigger May Have Been a Mistake

TL;DR

  • Millennials and Gen Z prefer smaller homes in walkable communities over larger homes in less dense areas.
  • The concept of 'missing middle housing,' such as row houses, is lacking in American construction due to zoning issues like minimum lot sizes, low densities, and high parking requirements.
  • Row houses were once popular across various classes but were later supplanted by detached homes, which became symbols of success.
  • Government policies, cheaper building materials, and viewing homes as financial assets encouraged larger houses over the 20th century.
  • Row houses offer benefits like easier conversion to apartments, reduced heating/cooling costs, and less land use compared to single-family homes.
  • Detached homes offer more sunlight and privacy, but row houses foster a sense of community and access to amenities in dense neighborhoods.

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