Imagine a housing sector so vital it shipped over 125,000 homes in 2022, a 6.1% surge, while directly contributing $5.8 billion to the U.S. GDP and providing an essential, affordable path to homeownership for millions of Americans.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, U.S. manufactured home shipments reached 125,912 units, marking a 6.1% increase from 2021
- Multi-section manufactured homes accounted for 22% of total shipments in 2022, totaling 27,700 units
- Single-section homes comprised 78% of shipments in 2022 with 98,212 units shipped
- The U.S. manufactured housing market was valued at $12.5 billion in 2022
- Manufactured homes contributed $5.8 billion to GDP in 2022 via direct output
- Total economic impact including multipliers was $25.4 billion in 2022
- Average new manufactured home price was $141,200 including setup in 2022
- Single-section homes averaged $98,400 retail price in 2022
- Multi-section averaged $184,300 retail in 2022
- 6.8 million manufactured homeowner households in 2022
- 37% of manufactured homes owner-occupied vs 64% national average
- Median age of owner 58 years, higher than site-built 52 years
- HUD enforced standards since 1976 on 12M+ homes
- Wind zone compliance: 90% of homes rated Zone II/III in 2022
- Energy efficiency standards exceed IECC by 30% in HUD code
The manufactured housing industry grew in 2022, with shipments rising despite a challenging 2023 market.
Affordability and Pricing
- Average new manufactured home price was $141,200 including setup in 2022
- Single-section homes averaged $98,400 retail price in 2022
- Multi-section averaged $184,300 retail in 2022
- Price per sq ft for manufactured homes was $89 in 2022 vs $150 site-built
- 95% of new manufactured homes financed with mortgages in 2022
- Average monthly payment $850 for 20-year chattel loan at 10% in 2022
- Homes under $100k represented 42% of shipments in 2022
- $100k-$150k range: 28% of 2022 sales
- Over $200k: 12% of multi-section sales in 2022
- Setup/installation costs averaged $15,200 per home in 2022
- Land costs excluded, manufactured homes 30% cheaper than site-built
- FHA Title I loans averaged $45,000 for chattel in 2022
- Title II loans for real estate averaged $120,500 in 2022
- Interest rates for chattel loans hit 11.2% average in Q4 2022
- 35% of buyers paid cash or owner-financed in 2022 survey
- Median household income for buyers $52,000 vs national $68k in 2022
- Homes affordable to families earning $40k-$60k: 60% of inventory
- Price inflation for materials up 20% affecting 15% price hike 2021-2022
- Average down payment 10% or $12,600 for financed homes 2022
- Rent-to-own options grew 15% in popularity 2022
- Utility costs 20% lower than site-built per sq ft
- Insurance premiums averaged $1,200/year vs $1,800 site-built 2022
- Maintenance costs $0.50/sq ft annually vs $1.00 site-built
- 55% of U.S. households could afford a $120k manufactured home in 2022
Affordability and Pricing Interpretation
The manufactured housing market presents a stark paradox: while offering a genuinely affordable, energy-efficient product at nearly half the price per square foot of site-built homes, the industry shackles its core lower-income buyers with punishing chattel loan rates that can make the monthly cost of a basic single-section home feel decidedly un-affordable.
Demographics and Ownership
- 6.8 million manufactured homeowner households in 2022
- 37% of manufactured homes owner-occupied vs 64% national average
- Median age of owner 58 years, higher than site-built 52 years
- 52% of residents aged 55+, retirees primary demographic
- Households with children under 18: 25% in manufactured homes
- Hispanic buyers increased to 18% of new purchases in 2022
- Rural residents 40% more likely to own manufactured home
- Median household size 2.3 persons vs 2.5 national
- Female-headed households 28% of owners
- Veterans represent 12% of manufactured homeowners
- First-time buyers 45% of 2022 purchases
- Income under $50k: 48% of buyers in 2022 survey
- 2.1 million manufactured homes built pre-1976 (non-HUD)
- 65% of stock built post-1994 HUD standards
- 43 states have over 100k manufactured homes, TX leads with 1.1M
- Florida 900k units, 8% of state housing stock
- 50% of owners have lived in home 10+ years
- Turnover rate in communities 15% annually vs 8% apartments
- 75% satisfaction rate among owners per 2022 MHI survey
- Multi-generational households 18% vs 12% national average
- Disabled residents 22% higher prevalence than average
- Young adults 25-34: 15% of new buyers up from 10% in 2019
- 85% of new homes 3+ bedrooms for families
- Ownership rate among low-income rural 25% vs 10% urban
Demographics and Ownership Interpretation
The industry is often seen as the graying, fixed-income cousin of American housing, but behind that stereotype lies a fiercely affordable, surprisingly diverse, and stubbornly rooted neighborhood where satisfaction defies expectations and new buyers—from young families to veterans—are quietly building equity where others see only a trailer park.
Market Size and Economic Impact
- The U.S. manufactured housing market was valued at $12.5 billion in 2022
- Manufactured homes contributed $5.8 billion to GDP in 2022 via direct output
- Total economic impact including multipliers was $25.4 billion in 2022
- Industry supported 98,000 jobs including indirect in 2022
- Retail sales of new manufactured homes totaled $8.7 billion in 2022
- Market share of manufactured homes in new housing starts was 9% in 2022
- Projected market growth at 4.2% CAGR to 2027 reaching $15.2 billion
- 22 million Americans live in manufactured homes, representing 6.5% of occupied housing
- Inventory of new homes stood at 15,000 units end of 2022
- Used manufactured home sales market valued at $4.1 billion annually
- Financing originations for manufactured homes reached $18.2 billion in 2022
- Chattel loans comprised 65% of manufactured home financing in 2022
- Industry tax contributions were $2.1 billion federally in 2022
- State/local tax revenue from industry: $1.3 billion in 2022
- Average retail price per new manufactured home rose 12% to $126,000 in 2022
- Multi-section homes averaged $173,000 wholesale price in 2022
- Single-section averaged $82,500 wholesale in 2022
- 75% of new manufactured homes placed in metro areas in 2022
- Rural placement share was 25% in 2022
- Market penetration in Sun Belt states averaged 15% of new homes
- Post-2008 recovery saw market double from 50k to 125k shipments by 2022
- 2023 projected shipments 135,000 units, up 7%
- Community lot rent averaged $450/month in 2022, impacting $2.8B revenue
- 8.5 million manufactured homes in parks/communities
- New home sales absorption rate was 2.5 months inventory in 2022
Market Size and Economic Impact Interpretation
Forget just being a trailer park punchline: with 22 million Americans calling it home, nearly a 10th of new housing starts, and a serious $25.4 billion total economic wallop, the manufactured housing industry has firmly parked itself as a crucial, if understated, pillar of the American dream.
Production and Shipments
- In 2022, U.S. manufactured home shipments reached 125,912 units, marking a 6.1% increase from 2021
- Multi-section manufactured homes accounted for 22% of total shipments in 2022, totaling 27,700 units
- Single-section homes comprised 78% of shipments in 2022 with 98,212 units shipped
- Texas led manufactured home shipments in 2022 with 15,200 units
- Florida ranked second in 2022 shipments with 12,800 units
- January 2023 shipments totaled 9,800 units, down 12% from January 2022
- Q1 2023 shipments were 29,500 units, a 10.5% decline YoY
- There were 165 active manufactured home producers in the U.S. as of 2022
- Champion Homes produced 12,500 units in FY2022
- Skyline Champion shipped 13,200 homes in 2022
- Cavco Industries manufactured 7,800 units in FY2022
- Average production time per home was 15 days in 2022 plants
- Southeast region shipments totaled 45,200 units in 2022 (36%)
- Midwest shipments were 28,900 units in 2022 (23%)
- February 2023 shipments hit 10,100 units, up 2% from Feb 2022
- Q2 2023 shipments reached 32,400 units, flat YoY
- South Central region led with 38% of shipments in 2022
- Pacific region shipments declined 5% to 18,700 units in 2022
- 2021 shipments totaled 118,716 units
- 2020 shipments were 121,761 units despite pandemic
- Manufactured home factories employed 35,000 workers in 2022
- Average home size shipped in 2022 was 1,590 sq ft
- 15% of shipments in 2022 were HUD-code modular homes
- North Carolina shipments totaled 9,500 units in 2022
- Georgia had 8,200 shipments in 2022
- March 2023 shipments were 10,700 units, up 5% YoY
- 2019 shipments peaked at 93,000 single-section and 22,000 multi-section
- Plant closures reduced capacity by 10% from 2019-2022
- Export shipments were minimal at 500 units in 2022
- Q3 2022 shipments totaled 31,800 units
- The industry produced 5,200 multi-section homes in Q4 2022
Production and Shipments Interpretation
While the industry's 2022 rebound with over 125,000 shipments shows a hearty appetite for affordable housing, the subsequent 2023 cooling suggests it's a feast that can't yet escape the famine of economic headwinds and production constraints.
Regulations and Safety
- HUD enforced standards since 1976 on 12M+ homes
- Wind zone compliance: 90% of homes rated Zone II/III in 2022
- Energy efficiency standards exceed IECC by 30% in HUD code
- Fire safety: smoke alarms in 100% post-1976 homes
- Seismic standards for Zone D in CA plants mandatory
- 50-state preemption via HUD code prevents local bans
- Annual state inspections of 165 plants conducted
- Defect rate under 1% per HUD monitoring 2022
- Data plate/labeling required on every HUD home
- Zoning reforms passed in 12 states 2022 to allow more placements
- FHA financing requires permanent foundation per Title II
- Non-primer paint ban since 2018 reduces VOCs 90%
- Accessibility standards for disabled in 20% of new designs 2022
- Flood zone installation standards elevated 36" min
- 2023 HUD updates thermal resistance R-33 ceilings
- Third-party DAPIA oversight for designs mandatory
- Recalls issued for 2,500 homes in 2022 for minor defects
- State laws require 140mph wind certification in FL/TX
- Enhanced tie-downs: 4,000lb capacity per standard
Regulations and Safety Interpretation
While the stereotypical image of a manufactured home may linger, today's industry builds with a rigorous, data-driven focus on safety and performance, boasting wind-tested resilience, fire-smart mandates, and efficiency that often surpasses traditional stick-built houses, all under a federally enforced code that preempts local bias and continuously evolves through strict oversight.
Sources & References
- Reference 1MANUFACTUREDHOUSINGmanufacturedhousing.orgVisit source
- Reference 2CENSUScensus.govVisit source
- Reference 3INVESTORSinvestors.championhomes.comVisit source
- Reference 4SKYLINECHAMPIONskylinechampion.comVisit source
- Reference 5CAVCOcavco.comVisit source
- Reference 6IBISWORLDibisworld.comVisit source
- Reference 7GRANDVIEWRESEARCHgrandviewresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 8MBAmba.orgVisit source
- Reference 9URBANurban.orgVisit source
- Reference 10NAHMAnahma.orgVisit source
- Reference 11HUDhud.govVisit source
- Reference 12FEDERALREGISTERfederalregister.govVisit source