In 2016, the average size of a completed single-family home in the United States was 2,422 square feet, according to the United States Census Bureau. The median square footage of single-family homes has bounced back slightly from the Great Recession (2,135 square feet in 2009), but it seems to be decreasing again (down from 2,467 square feet in 2015), according to analysis from Builder. 

How does the median square footage of a single-family home in Chicago compare? Chicago is considered one of the 10 markets with the lowest median home size, according to Builder. The median square footage of Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area homes sold within the first three quarters of last year was 1,877 square feet, according to the report. The median price for a new home in Chicago last year was $369,400.

Other metro areas with the lowest median home size, according to the report, include:

  • Boise City, Idaho: 2,173 square feet
  • St. Louis: 2,000 square feet
  • Detroit: 1,808 square feet
  • Des Moines, Iowa: 1,656 square feet 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, housing markets with the largest median size of homes sold in the first three quarters of last year include: 

While square footage sounds like an objective number, numbers can be deceiving. A recent report by the Chicago Tribune found that square footage is more subjective than you might think. 

The American National Standards Institute offers guidance on calculating square footage, which is generally used for municipal tax purposes, according to the report. But these guidelines focus only on living space, which means a lot of space can get left out of the total. Spaces like garages, porches, and unfinished basements might not make it into that final number you see on a home listing. 

That disparity can be confusing. Plus, a home’s layout has nearly as much to do with how large it feels as does the actual square footage. Low ceilings and narrow hallways can make a home feel smaller than it really is. On the other hand, high ceilings and an open floor plan can do wonders for your perception of size. 

“It has to do with the way the whole floor plan is designed,” designer Suzanne Falk told the Chicago Tribune.

While the median square footage of a single-family home in Chicago may be on the low end, bigger homes are still in high demand. A recent report by Michigan Avenue Magazine pointed out that condos in the 2,400 to 5,000 square foot range are commanding a lot of attention in Chicago’s luxury market. That is more than twice the size of the median multi-family unit built for sale in 2016 (1,706 square feet, according to the United States Census Bureau).