More Than Two-Thirds Of 2023 New Homes Built Have Porches

Porches remain the most prevalent exterior feature on new homes, according to NAHB analysis of the most recent data from the Survey of Construction (SOC, done by the US Census Bureau with partial financing from HUD).

According to SOC data, 67.7% of the approximately 950,000 single-family homes built in 2023 included porches.

This is four full percentage points more than the 63.7% reported for patios, and it is the first time the share of new residences with porches has exceeded two-thirds since the SOC was redesigned in 2005.

Traditionally, porches on new homes have been most frequent in the four states that comprise the East South Central Census.

That was true again in 2023, but by a slight margin. In 2023, 81% of new residences in the East South Central had porches, which was only 1% more than the 80% recorded in the Pacific Division.

The percentage was also greater than 70% in four other divisions: Mountain (77%), South Atlantic (74%), East North Central (73%), and New England (72%).

Once again, the West South Central division had the lowest percentage of poches on new residences (42%).

After some considerable changes between 2021 and 2022, the divisional percentages for 2023 were not much different from those stated for 2022 in last year’s post.

Home Innovation Research Labs’ annual Builder Practices Survey (BPS) provides information on the characteristics of porches on new homes.

Among other things, the 2024 BPS report (based on homes built in 2023) shows that porches remain more common on the front of new single-family homes than on the side or back.

Front porches have an average floor area of 100 square feet, compared to 140 square feet for a side or rear porch and 200 square feet for a screened-in porch.

On a square foot basis, builders continue to use concrete more than any other material in new-home porches—except in New England, where composite (a blend of usually recycled wood fibers and plastic) is most common, and treated wood, PVC or other plastics, cedar, and natural stone are all more popular than concrete.

[Read more about this topic on Eyeonhousing.org]