HOMEOWNERSHIP IS THE SAME, BUT DIFFERENT SINGLE WOMEN BUY HOMES
The core purpose of Family Handyman— to share DIY inspiration and information— is just as vital today as it was 70 years ago. People still feel the same passion to improve their homes. But our homes and how we live have changed dramatically.
BIGGER BUILDS
The average home built in the early 1950s was about 950 sq. ft. By 2017, the average new-home size had almost tripled to 2,700 sq. ft. In recent years, square footage has fallen slightly.
SINGLE HOMEOWNERS
In the 1950s, the vast majority of homes were owned by married couples. Today, almost 40% of homeowners are single. Single buyers made up a tiny fraction of home purchasers in the ‘50s, and most of those were men. Today, a single woman is about twice as likely to buy a home as a single man.
PIPES WEREN’T JUST FOR PLUMBING
Judging from our old photos, smoking a pipe was an essential part of DIY in the ‘50s, at least for men.
DRESSED UP FOR DIY
In our 1950s photos, DIYers were a bit overdressed for the occasion: Men wear ties for yardwork; women wear dresses to hang wallpaper.
MORE MORTGAGES
In 1950, about 60% of homes were owned outright and only 40% carried mortgages. Today that ratio is reversed.
DIY IS COOL NOW
Early editor’s letters sometimes aimed to justify DIY; hiring and buying home improvements carried higher status. Today, celebrities (and the rest of us) show off our DIY projects on social media.
ONE TV PER PERSON NOW
When Family Handyman was launched, only one in five homes had a TV. The average number of TVs per home today—2.5—is about the same as the average number of people per household.