A Pew Research Center survey conducted July 8-18, 2021 has found that Americans today are more likely than they were in 2019 to express a preference for living in a community where “houses are larger and farther apart, but schools, stores and restaurants are several miles away.”
Not surprisingly, there has been a corresponding drop in the number of American who would prefer to live somewhere with smaller houses that are “closer to each other, but schools, stores and restaurants are within walking distance,” according to the newly released data.
Today, 60 percent of U.S. adults say they would prefer to live in a community with larger homes with greater distances to retail stores and schools, an increase of 7 percentage since 2019. Just 39 percent say they prefer smaller houses that are closer together and within walking distance to schools and stores, down 8 percent from 2019.
While traditionally these figures fell well within political party lines—with Republicans leaning toward the larger, more-distant preference—the new study found nearly half (49 percent) of self-identified Democrats also prefer larger homes with more physical space. In 2019, the Democratic preference for more distance was at 42 percent. Republicans continue to lead with a 73 percent preference.
For more on the new Pew Research, click here.