Cumulative shortage of new home supply in the U.S. 1968-2023, by home type

Between 1968 and 2023, there had been over six million housing unit completions more than new households formed in the United States. That means that throughout that period the number of homes and apartments completed increased at a faster pace than the number of households, indicating no deficit. However, if only completions of single-family homes were considered, there was a housing deficit. From 1969 to 2023, there were roughly 16 million less single-family homes completed than new households were formed. Those figures do not include the number of housing units demolished, and therefore do not reflect the exact housing shortage, as some of those homes completed might not exist anymore due to demolitions or natural disasters.