Americans want more social distance from their neighbors. A new Pew Research Center study finds a shift in home preferences since the pandemic with more consumers saying they want a larger home, even if it means local amenities are further away.

Six in 10 U.S. adults surveyed say they would prefer to live in a community with larger homes that had a greater distance to retail stores and schools. That is up 7 percentage points since 2019. On the other hand, 39% of consumers surveyed say they prefer a community with smaller houses that are closer together and near amenities, down 8 points since 2019.

Source: “Americans now say They Prefer a Community With Big Houses, Even if Local Amenities are Farther Away,” Pew Research Center (Aug. 26, 2021)