Hesperia, Calif. – A new residential development rises against the backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains, a physical manifestation of a long-held American preference for space, even at the cost of convenience. A recent Pew Research Center survey, conducted January 20-26, 2026, reveals that 55% of U.S. Adults still prioritize larger homes set farther apart, even if it means a longer commute to schools, stores and restaurants.
While that figure represents a slight easing from the peak of the pandemic era – when 60% expressed this preference in July 2021 – it underscores a consistent pattern in American housing desires. The survey of 8,512 U.S. Adults, part of the Center’s American Trends Panel, found 44% would opt for smaller, closer-knit communities with walkable access to amenities. The data, detailed on the Pew Research Center website, highlights a continuing trade-off between housing size and community accessibility.
These preferences are not uniform across demographic groups. The survey data reveals significant differences based on race and ethnicity. Nearly seven-in-ten Asian adults (69%) favor more walkable communities with smaller homes, a stark contrast to the 59% of White adults who lean towards larger, more spread-out properties. Black and Hispanic adults are more evenly divided, with roughly equal percentages favoring each type of community.
Age also plays a role. While Americans aged 30 to 64 are the most likely to prefer spread-out communities, only 18- to 29-year-olds show a majority preference for walkable neighborhoods. This suggests a potential shift in priorities as individuals age and family needs evolve. Educational attainment also correlates with preference. 58% of those with some college or less favor spread-out communities, compared to 47% of those with postgraduate degrees.
Partisan divides are particularly pronounced. 71% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents express a preference for larger homes and greater distance from services, while 60% of Democrats and Democratic leaners favor more compact, walkable communities. This gap widens when examining ideological alignment within each party. Three-quarters of conservative Republicans (74%) favor spread-out living, compared to 68% of liberal Democrats who prefer walkable communities.
Community type further illuminates these patterns. A substantial 70% of rural residents prefer larger, more distant homes, a figure that drops to 55% among suburban residents and 61% among those living in urban areas. However, the partisan lens reveals consistent differences even within these community types: 84% of rural Republicans and 51% of rural Democrats favor spread-out living, while 55% of urban Republicans and only 30% of urban Democrats share that preference. The Pew Research Center data illustrates how deeply ingrained these preferences are, even when accounting for geographic location.
The ongoing construction in Hesperia, and similar developments across the country, reflects a market responding to these preferences. As communities continue to evolve, the tension between the desire for spacious living and the convenience of walkable neighborhoods remains a central challenge for urban planners and policymakers.
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