U.S. community associations pass 373,000 as 78.1 million Americans live in them

By AI, Created 9:59 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – New 2025 data from the Foundation for Community Association Research shows community associations have become a major U.S. housing model, with nearly 1 in 4 Americans living in HOA, condo or co-op communities. The report highlights their $13.1 trillion in home values, $447.7 billion economic impact and growing role in new-home sales.

Why it matters: - Community associations now shape a large share of U.S. housing, affecting neighborhood rules, maintenance costs, amenities and property values for 78.1 million residents. - The model also carries major economic weight, with $13.1 trillion in combined home value and $447.7 billion in contribution to the U.S. economy in 2025. - The scale matters for homeowners, builders, local governments and lenders because association fees and infrastructure spending influence affordability and public budgets.

What happened: - The Foundation for Community Association Research released its 2025 Statistical Review on April 1, 2026. - The report says the U.S. now has 373,000 community associations, including homeowners associations, condominium communities and housing cooperatives. - Those communities house 78.1 million Americans across 29.6 million housing units. - Nearly 1 in 4 Americans live in a community association, and association residents account for 35.2% of all U.S. homes.

The details: - Homeowners paid $124.2 billion in assessments in 2025. - Of that total, $31.1 billion was reserved for long-term infrastructure and capital improvements. - The report says those costs might otherwise have fallen on local governments. - Community associations accounted for 65.7% of newly completed homes in 2025. - They also accounted for 81.0% of homes sold in 2025. - California led the country with 51,700 associations serving 14.5 million residents. - Florida ranked second with 50,600 associations and 10.9 million residents. - Texas had 23,500 associations serving 6.4 million residents. - Illinois, North Carolina, New York, Colorado, Massachusetts, Georgia and Washington rounded out the top 10 states. - The full 2025 Statistical Review is available here.

Between the lines: - The data points to a housing model that has moved from niche to mainstream, especially in fast-growing Sun Belt states. - Strong new-home and resale shares suggest builders and buyers continue to favor association-governed communities. - The report frames community associations as a tool for stable neighborhoods and shared upkeep, but the scale also means more households are exposed to dues, rules and board governance.

What’s next: - The Foundation for Community Association Research says the full report includes state-by-state breakdowns, historical trend data and methodology. - Continued growth in association housing will likely keep the sector central to debates over affordability, local services and long-term infrastructure funding. - Builders, policymakers and homeowners will watch whether the association share of new housing keeps rising from current levels.

The bottom line: - Community associations are no longer a sidecar to U.S. housing. They are now a dominant ownership model with outsized influence on where Americans live and how neighborhoods are run.