Larger households, especially families with children, need larger units to avoid overcrowding and enjoy a good quality of life. Statewide, there are an estimated 1.6 million 3+ bedroom units—over half the total homes in the state. Only 38% of these homes are occupied by families with children. Nearly half are occupied by couples or groups of adults and 14% of these “family sized” homes—more than 215,000 homes statewide—are occupied by a single person.
A recent study in the Boston region found that large owner-occupied units, whether single family homes or condos, are more likely than rental units to be occupied by just one or two people, mostly older households without children present. Fully one quarter of all large units in the study area were occupied by an over-55 household comprised of only one or two people.
Statewide, there are 250,000 family sized units occupied by householders over the age of 70. Many of these will be freed up in the coming years as those households downsize, move away, or pass away. Providing affordable and attractive options for those aging householders who would like to downsize might increase the number of large homes available to younger families.
In the Boston region, newer family-sized units are actually more likely than older units to house families: 52% of large units built since 2000 are occupied by a family with a child (compared to 38% of large units built prior to that year).