Report: The Median Home Size in Every U.S. State

When it comes to home size, some people believe that bigger is better. But as you know, the larger your home, the more money it will likely cost.

Money expert Clark Howard says downsizing has worked out financially for him and his family.

“We used to live in a very large house — way larger than we needed — and so much of that space, we were heating and cooling and maintaining and not using. Now we’re in much smaller square footage.”

You might be curious to know which states have the largest homes and which have the smallest.

A report from Visual Capitalist, a data-driven visual content site, shows the median home size in every state.

The report’s data is derived from the 2022 American Home Size Index and the 474,157 listings of homes and condos for sale on Zillow.com in May 2022.

Which States Have the Largest Homes and Smallest Homes?

Here are some key findings from the report:

• At an average of 2,800 square feet, Utah’s homes are the largest on the list. The state also has the third-youngest home inventory in America.
• Coming in last is Hawaii with a median home size of just 1,164 square feet.
• Hawaii also has the most expensive homes at $743.86 per square foot.

Let’s take a look at the median home sizes in all 50 states.

State	Median Square Footage
Utah	2,800
Colorado	2,464
Idaho	2,311
Wyoming	2,285
Delaware	2,277
Georgia	2,262
Maryland	2,207
Montana	2,200
North Dakota	2,190
Washington	2,185
Texas	2,170
Connecticut	2,158
Tennessee	2,157
North Carolina	2,152
Alabama	2,146
South Carolina	2,123
Virginia	2,105
New Mexico	2,087
Mississippi	2,065
Nevada	2,060
Arizona	2,049
Pennsylvania	2,045
Minnesota	2,026
Kansas	2,020
Nebraska	2,016
Indiana	2,011
Vermont	2,000
Florida	1,960
Louisiana	1,955
Kentucky	1,953
Oregon	1,946
Oklahoma	1,941
New Hampshire	1,934
South Dakota	1,915
Rhode Island	1,913
Alaska	1,910
Arkansas	1,860
California	1,860
Missouri	1,848
Wisconsin	1,822
Ohio	1,803
Massachusetts	1,800
New Jersey	1,753
West Virginia	1,752
Michigan	1,726
Illinois	1,700
Maine	1,680
Iowa	1,623
New York	1,490
Hawaii	1,164

Should You Buy a Big Home?

Clark says home sizes have drastically increased over the past few generations. Now that he’s in a much smaller dwelling, he says he’s been able to save money.

“We utilize a much higher percentage of the dwelling, and our overhead with the property is much, much lower,” he says. “And so it worked for us; it might work for you if you’re looking for a place.”

Instead of wondering how much house you can afford, Clark wants you to focus on the size of the mortgage. When considering a 30-year fixed term, he suggests using the following formula: the amount you’re paying for rent plus the monthly overhead costs you’d add by owning a home.

“Ignore what you’re pre-approved for,” Clark says. “Instead, base what you can really afford on what your current rent is. Remember with that mortgage, you’re going also to have taxes and insurance.”

Want more money-saving tips? Read our in-depth guide on how to buy a home.