Bigger Is Better
Austin homes are among the largest in the nation
Everything's bigger in Texas, they say, including houses. With a median square footage of 1,837, homes in the Austin-Round Rock region are the ninth-largest in the nation, according to recent study released by the financial website, 24/7 Wall St.
"As in several other areas in Texas, Austin-area residents seem to prefer larger homes compared to most Americans. A typical house in the region contained 1,837 square feet of living space," the report notes. But, no surprise here, prices are above average. "The median price of $207,000, however, was on the high end."
The study says the Austin area is home to some of Texas' wealthiest and most well-educated residents. "A typical household brought in $61,750 last year," well above the national median household income of $52,250.
The report based its findings on median square footage in the 200 largest core-based statistical areas (CBSAs). These are larger than geographical designations by the U.S. Census Bureau and include more than one metro area in several instances.
Two other metropolitan areas help keep the larger-than-life Texas creed alive, too: Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land at No. 2 and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington at No. 10. The median square footage for Houston-area homes is 1,900 and 1,828 in Dallas-Fort Worth.
The housing market in Houston is relatively affordable, the study says. "A typical square foot in the area had an estimated price of just $75, one of the lower figures nationwide." In the Dallas area, "high incomes also likely explain the area’s large homes," the findings show. "A typical area household earned $57,398 last year, versus the national median household income of $52,250."
Coming in at No. 1 for median liveable area is Provo-Orem, Utah, with houses at 1,980 square feet.
Take a look at the rankings for the top 10 areas with the largest houses. You'll see that Texas and Colorado dominate the chart.
- Provo-Orem, Utah: Median square feet, 1,980
- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land: Median square feet, 1,900
- Colorado, Springs, Colorado: Median square feet, 1,899
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia: Median square feet, 1,872
- Raleigh, North Carolina: Median square feet, 1,871
- Boulder, Colorado: Median square feet, 1,865
- Greely, Colorado: Median square feet, 1,854
- Fort Collins, Colorado: Median square feet, 1,851
- Austin-Round Rock: Median square feet, 1,837
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington: Median square feet, 1,828
