Approximately 63.4% of the 1.1 million single-family homes started in 2021 featured a porch, according to an NAHB analysis of data from the Survey of Construction (SOC). The NAHB says 2021 is the first time the share of single-family homes with porches has fallen below 64% since 2015. The share had been above 65% between 2016 and 2020.
The bottom line is that the share of new homes built with porches has hovered in a relatively narrow band between 63 and 66 percent since 2009.
Traditionally, porches on new homes have been most common in the four states that make up the East South Central division (Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi). That was once again true in 2021, when 87% of single-family homes started in the East South Central had porches, followed at a distance by 74% in the Mountain (Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico), 73% in the East North Central (Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio), and 71% in the Pacific (Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington) divisions .
The 2022 Builder Practices Survey report by Home Innovation Research Labs (based on homes built in 2021) shows that porches continue to be most common on the front of new single-family homes, rather than on the side or rear. When they are present, however, the side and rear porches tend to be larger—about 138 square feet, on average, compared to 102 square feet for front porches. On a square foot basis, builders use concrete more than any other material in new-home porches.
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