Texas’ housing crisis exposed in new study

DALLAS (KDAF) — A new study from Cinch Home Services has revealed where in the U.S. people are squeezing into homes the most, and Texas and California dominate the list.

Kaufman County, Texas claims the title of the most crowded county in America, with households averaging 3.48 people under one roof. That’s around one more person than the national average, making it harder for families to find homes that truly fit their needs.

Top 10 U.S. Counties by Average Household Size

Rank	County, State	Average Household Size
1.	Kaufman County, TX	3.48
2.	Imperial County, CA	3.45
2.	Starr County, TX	3.45
3.	San Benito County, CA	3.35
4.	Madera County, CA	3.34
5.	Tooele County, UT	3.29
6.	Utah County, UT	3.28
7.	Merced County, CA	3.27
8.	Tulare County, CA	3.26
9.	Hidalgo County, TX	3.22
10.	Webb County, TX	3.21

Tied for second place are Imperial County, California and Starr County, Texas, each with an average of 3.45 people per household.

San Benito County, California lands in third place nationally with 3.35 people per home, reflecting how families on the outskirts of the Bay Area are dealing with tight living spaces and high housing prices.

Madera County, tucked inland in California, lands in fourth place with an average of 3.34 people per household, a clear sign that the state’s housing pressure isn’t limited to the popular coast.

Utah also shows a trend toward larger households. Tooele County ranks fifth with 3.29 people per home, while nearby Utah County follows close behind in sixth with 3.28.

Merced County and Tulare County in California also take seventh and eighth place with 3.27 and 3.26 people per household.

Hidalgo County, Texas ranks ninth (3.22 people per home), and Webb County, Texas rounds out the top 10 with 3.21, driven by cultural and economic factors that encourage multigenerational or extended family living.

St. Louis City, Missouri has the smallest household size in the country, averaging just 1.80 people per home. That’s a dramatic contrast to Kaufman County and reveals just how differently Americans live across regions.