Dispelling Myths: The Truth About Mid-Century American Family Homes

Did you hear that the average American family dwelling in the 1950s lived in a huge, three-story house? Well, contrary to popular belief, this is not accurate at all. The reality was quite different. In this article, we will delve into the truth behind mid-century American homes and debunk this myth.

Mid-Century Homes Were Not Gigantic

One common misconception is that the average home in the 1950s was a large, three-story villa. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The typical suburban or small-town residence back then was quite modest by today's standards. They generally had a single floor, one-car garage (if any), and a very small kitchen.

For instance, a house built in 1958, similar to my own, usually had just three bedrooms, one bathroom, and one level of living space. It was not uncommon for families to share a single bedroom for all the boys and another for all the girls. The dining room, if it existed, might have been converted into a bedroom for the parents, and a small bathroom was shared by the entire household.

Historical Context: The Smallness of Mid-Century Homes

These homes were much smaller than today’s standards. With an average size of around 1,000 square feet, they were tailored to fit the needs of a family that had fewer belongings and less space requirements. In fact, it was common for houses to be freestanding with minimal steps to the street. Places like Pittsburgh, with their steep hills, often had more steps from the front door to the street than there were from the first to the second floor.

Another popular dwelling type was the rowhouse, now colloquially called a “townhome.” These were linked houses with common walls, making them difficult to sell in the 21st century due to the higher expectations and greater possessions of today’s families.

Common Myths vs. Reality

Much of the myth around mid-century homes stems from the reality of higher expectations and increased material demands in contemporary life. Today, the average 1950s house would feel cramped and inadequate. In stark contrast, the houses now are gigantic compared to them, reflecting changes in lifestyle and family dynamics over the decades.

My family, statistically typical, lived in a small one-story house with two bedrooms. When a third child was born, my parents remodeled the attic to create a third bedroom, a task they completed themselves without hiring a professional. This was a common practice, as one-parent salaries back then could cover modest homeownership without debt, a far cry from today’s college loan burdens.

Here is a picture taken when we were preparing to move to a slightly bigger place in 1960. Our home had a front grape trellis, which was part of our upgrade to a slightly larger space.

In conclusion, the average American family house in the 1950s was not a three-story mansion, but a modest, single-story dwelling with shared spaces and limited square footage. These homes were perfectly suited to the simpler and smaller lifestyle of that era.