According to Tom Vanderbilt: "U.S. Census Bureau data tell us that as American house sizes have grown (despite shrinking family sizes), the size of lots has actually shrunk."

A drive around the suburban fringe of any metropolitan area, or the countryside within an hour or so of any substantial jobs, ought to make one very suspicious of that statement. America is a land of far-flung houses where people live quasi-suburban lifestyles. These houses have proliferated in recent years. There are two problems with the Census Bureau's industry figures. The first is that they don't count large lot houses. The second problem is that the Bureau doesn't count custom houses or manufactured housing.

So you can see the problem. The people who build a custom house or plunk down a manufactured house far out in the countryside or those who are buying McMansions on two-acre lots don't count in the Census Bureau's industry survey.

To get a sense of THAT, you have to look at the American Communities Survey, also taken by the Census Bureau. They don't give average lot sizes, but if you carefully look at the numbers, you can see that the average lot size is more like an acre per house — not the quarter-acre that is reported by the Census Bureau through their industry survey.

The rest of the article is interesting and makes some pretty good points. And house sizes have grown. But don't believe that the average lot sizes are shrinking. This is likely to happen in the future with rising gas prices. But in the last two decades at least, it just ain't so.

NewUrban:

According to Tom Vanderbilt: "U.S. Census Bureau data tell us that as American house sizes have grown (despite shrinking family sizes), the size of lots has actually shrunk."

A drive around the suburban fringe of any metropolitan area, or the countryside within an hour or so of any substantial jobs, ought to make one very suspicious of that statement.

Around here (Wichita, KS), lots *are* getting smaller. One childhoom home I remember had a lot which was a bit more than 1/4 acre. Later lots were smaller, but still approaching that size. As 7 and 8 year olds, we played baseball in our back yards. My first house (built in 1956) was on a lot which was nearly 1/4 acre. That was well within Wichita's city limits. My current house (the lot was platted in the 1930's) sits on a 1/2 acre lot. New homes in my town are sited on lots which are 1/8 acre (including street and utility easements).

Homes in the country have lots which are at least an acre because that is required for septic systems. If builders could squeeze them more closely together, they certainly would.

Mike

You might be right that lots are not getting any smaller. It just seems that way when what used to be a 1600 s.f. house on a quarter acre is now a 4000 s.f. house. Houses are out-sized in proportion to lots these days and it does cause problems....drainage issues, the incredible shrinking lawn, etc.