The average American home has changed quite a bit in the past several decades. Not only that but the way people live has changed as well. Here are 19 facts that will help you see how we have evolved over the years.
1. In 1900 75% of urban Americans lived in rented apartments. Over 100 years later 68% of Americans own homes.
2. In 1987 the average size of a home in the U.S. was just about 1,700 square feet. Today the average home size is 2,400 square feet.
3. In 1983 on 18% of houses had 4 bedrooms. By 2012 that number was 41%.
4. In 1973 each house had approx. 1.5 bathrooms. Now the number of homes with at least 1.5 bathrooms is over 93%.
5. In 1973 only 49% of homes had air conditioning. Now that number is 89%. I bet you are glad if you are in the 89%.
6. Even though our houses are getting bigger, the number of people living in them is shrinking. In 1975 2.94 people lived in a house, and in 2004 only 2.57 lived in a house.
7. Not only has the housing boom over the past hundred years increased wealth, but it’s also helped our economy. American real estate creates or supports over 9 million jobs in this country.
8. Unfortunately there’s sometimes a downside to having so many houses. In 2013, approximately 11% of all homes in the U.S. were vacant.
9. Teams that have been to the Super Bowl the most, come from cities with higher real estate prices vs teams that have been to the Super Bowl the least. Bet you didn’t know that one.
10. On average, 14,027 homes are sold in this country every day.
11. If everyone lived like a resident of the United States, we would need the resources of 4.5 planet Earths for sustainable supply.
12. 44% of homeless people in the US actually have jobs but can’t afford housing.
13. Warren Buffett (ranked world’s wealthiest person in 2008) still lives in a 5 bedroom house he bought for $31,500 in 1957.
14. More exotic animals live in American homes than in American zoos. And we’re not talking about hermit crabs. It’s estimated that there are at least 5,000 tigers held captive in private homes. And nobody is licensing or regulating these pet owners.
15. Sears used to sell entire houses in a ‘Do It Yourselves’ kit.
16. On a scale of 1-to-10, with 10 being the best, 3-in-4 homeowners rated their neighborhood an 8 or higher.
17. In 1888, Hollywood was founded by Harvey and Daeida Wilcox, who named the city after their summer home in Chicago.
18. Annually, fires that occur at home kill more Americans than all natural disasters combined.
19. The most deadly fires that occur in the home happen between 6pm and 10pm.
sources: crazyfacts.com, zillow.com, businessinsider.com,
realtor.com, greatfacts.com