Americans want more social distance from their neighbors. A new Pew Research Center study finds a shift in home preferences since the pandemic with more consumers saying they want a larger home, even if it means local amenities are further away.
That marks a shift from 2019 when more Americans were desiring smaller houses that were “closer to each other, but schools, stores, and restaurants are within walking distance,” according to the Pew Research study.
Six in 10 U.S. adults surveyed say they would prefer to live in a community with larger homes that had a greater distance to retail stores and schools. That is up 7 percentage points since 2019. On the other hand, 39% of consumers surveyed say they prefer a community with smaller houses that are closer together and near amenities, down 8 points since 2019.
Source: “Americans now say They Prefer a Community With Big Houses, Even if Local Amenities are Farther Away,” Pew Research Center (Aug. 26, 2021)
