New housing development largely follows projected market trends to match what people want and can afford. Most new housing is still single-family detached (60%) or townhomes/similar products (25%), but multifamily, including units in mixed-use buildings, makes up about 15% of new housing. When including existing housing, about 66% is single-family detached in 2050. New single-family homes, on average, are close to 2,500 square feet and are 12% more energy efficient. Housing in this scenario is more affordable because single-family homes and lots are smaller, and more types of housing are available. Private lawns are smaller, leaving more room for public open space, agriculture, and natural areas.
The chart below describes the acres of new land that are developed by housing type:
The chart below shows the energy efficiency of new homes across scenarios. Higher energy efficiency means higher construction costs, but lower monthly utility costs. Lower energy efficiency means lower construction costs, but higher monthly utility costs:
