Different Styles of Homes Across America

America boasts an incredibly diverse range of house styles, from charming Cape Cod houses to mid-century modern bungalows to modern multi-family dwellings. Whether you’re house hunting or just interested in architecture, having some knowledge about different types of homes will help you identify the styles and features that appeal to you.

Traditional American House Styles

America’s most recognizable home styles reflect the country’s architectural evolution and regional influences.

Colonial-Era Inspired Houses

One of the most enduring types of home styles in America is the Colonial-inspired house, which features a balanced, symmetrical design in a rectangular shape, a centered front door, and evenly spaced rows of multi-pane windows. These house types are popular throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Colonial styles have several regional variations, including Georgian, Federal, and Dutch-influenced designs.

Cape Cod Houses

Much loved among American home types are Cape Cod houses, which are so named because they were originally developed to withstand New England’s harsh winter weather. These charming houses feature a steep roof that sheds snow quickly, a central chimney and compact design for efficient heating, and small windows, including dormer windows, to bring light into the upper levels of the home. They often have wood siding for added insulation. Cape Cod is one of the types of house styles you can find across the country.

Tudor Houses

Tutor style is one of the different types of houses that harkens back to America’s English roots. They have a storybook appearance with distinctive half-timber exterior detailing, decorative gables, leaded glass windows, and arched doorways. They are often built with a mix of stone, brick, and stucco. These house types can be found in older suburbs across the Midwest and Northeast.

Ranch and Modern House Types

After World War II, home design shifted to meet the needs of a growing population looking for more simplicity, greater functionality, and additional interior space.

Ranch Houses

Ranch-style houses dominated suburban construction from the 1950s to the 1970s. They are usually single-story designs with long, low profiles and open floor plans. With their large windows and attached garages, they created a connection with the outdoors and popularized indoor-outdoor living. Timelessly popular, you can still find ranch-style bungalows across the country. In fact, the resurgence of the mid-century modern style has made ranch-type houses highly desirable.

Split-Level Houses

Popular in 1960s and 1970s suburban developments, split-level homes have half sets of stairs between floors instead of full sets. This design creates separation of living spaces within limited square footage, making them popular with growing families.

Contemporary and Modern House Types

Contemporary and modern types of homes feature clean lines, large windows, and open floor plans. Like ranch-style homes, they emphasize integration with outdoor spaces and the home’s landscaping but with a further focus on natural materials and energy efficiency. These house types are very popular in urban and upscale suburban markets.

Regional House Types

Many regions across America feature house types that reflect the local climate and culture. In the South, for example, you’ll find homes with wide porches, tall windows, and raised foundations, which improve airflow and offer shelter from the heat. In older Southern cities like New Orleans, narrow, side-oriented homes maximize space on small lots while capturing cross breezes.

In the West, homes often draw on Spanish and Indigenous influences. Adobe-style homes, with their thick walls and Mission Revival homes, which have curved archways, stucco walls, and red-tile roofs, are two such house styles. Also, in the West, California bungalows often have wide front porches and a strong connection between interior and exterior living. Mid-century modern homes are a variation of ranch house styles and are another favorite in that region. MCM house styles focus on simplicity, clean lines, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

In the Midwest, you can find prairie-style homes popularized by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who emphasized horizontal lines and harmony with the land. Other common styles include American Foursquares, known for their boxy appearance and square floor plan, and Craftsman homes, which are exquisitely detailed with hand-crafted elements like built-in bookcases and heavy trim in rich wood tones.

Different Types of Housing by Structure

In addition to architectural periods, house types can be categorized by their basic structure:

Single-Family Detached

Single-family detached homes are stand-alone houses on individual lots. These homes provide maximum privacy and usually include yard space and parking. Despite their name, they can contain more than one living unit.

Townhouses

These homes are attached to at least one neighboring unit. Although they share sidewalls, they have separate entrances and often include private yards or patios, usually separated by fencing.

Apartments and Condominiums

Apartment and condominium home types are individual units inside larger buildings or complexes. They feature shared common areas and amenities that the residents pay for as part of their HOA fees. The HOA also handles exterior maintenance and services like snow shoveling and landscaping.

Different Types of Housing by Size and Layout

Home buyers in America have many different sizes and configurations of home types to choose from.

Tiny Houses

Increasingly popular with young homeowners and single people, tiny houses are typically under 600 square feet. Their design emphasizes efficiency and a minimalist lifestyle. Tiny houses can be built on permanent foundations, or they can be mobile units. With a growing emphasis on sustainability and affordability, tiny houses aren’t going anywhere (unless they’re on wheels, which they sometimes are!)

Starter Homes

Starter house types are typically smaller, usually 1000 to 1500 square feet. These home styles are often thought of as affordable options for first-time home buyers but are perfectly suitable for people who don’t have expansive space requirements. Often built with basic amenities, starter homes have great potential for upgrades and expansion if the lot size allows it.

Upscale Subdivision Homes

Also known as executive housing, this category of home types is typically over 3000 square feet. These larger homes became extremely popular in suburban developments in the 1990s and 2000s. They are often built on smaller lots but still have outdoor space.

Luxury Homes

These home types are over 5,000 square feet. They feature high-end finishes, custom designs, and unique architectural features, as well as luxury amenities such as pools, home theatres, and wine cellars. Newer homes in this category showcase the latest home technology. Luxury homes are typically found in urban settings as well as on expansive rural properties

Whether you’re drawn to the historical charm of Cape Cod style, the minimalist vibe of a ranch house, or the modern conveniences of new construction, America’s many different types of housing offers something for absolutely everyone. The variety is one of the best features of American living!