The State of HOAs in 2026: Key Statistics and Trends
HOA statistics tell a striking story: what began as a niche form of homeownership is now the default. Roughly 373,000 community associations operate in the United States as of 2025, home to about 78 million people, and nearly two-thirds of new single-family homes are built inside one. This report pulls together the most reliable HOA statistics for 2026, covering how many associations exist, how many Americans live in them, what dues cost, where associations are concentrated, and the financial pressures reshaping the industry.
Figures below are drawn from the Foundation for Community Association Research, the US Census Bureau, and reserve-study industry data. Where sources differ, we note it. Each section links to its source so you can verify and cite the numbers.
At a Glance: Key HOA Statistics for 2026
- About 373,000 community associations in the US as of 2025, up from 10,000 in 1970 (Foundation for Community Association Research).
- Roughly 78 million residents live in community associations - around 35 percent of US housing.
- National median condo or HOA fee: about $135 per month in 2024 (US Census Bureau); single-family HOAs often run $200 to $300.
- Associations collect an estimated $106 billion in assessments per year, with about $26 billion directed to reserves.
- About 65.7 percent of new single-family homes sold in 2024 were in an HOA.
- Industry analyses estimate roughly 74 percent of associations are underfunded.
How Many HOAs Are There?
The number of community associations has grown more than thirtyfold since 1970. According to the Foundation for Community Association Research, there were about 373,000 associations in 2025, and the group projects 3,000 to 4,000 new associations forming in 2026.
| Year | Community associations (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 1970 | 10,000 |
| 1990 | 130,000 |
| 2000 | 222,500 |
| 2010 | 311,600 |
| 2020 | 355,000 |
| 2025 | ~373,000 |
How Many Americans Live in HOAs?
Community associations are now home to roughly 78 million people, or close to one in four US residents, and they account for an estimated 35 percent of the country’s housing stock, per the Foundation for Community Association Research. Surveys the group commissions have consistently found that a large majority of residents rate their community-association experience positively, even as disputes make headlines.
How Much Are HOA Dues?
There is no single national dues figure, because it depends on what is being measured. The US Census Bureau reported a median condo or HOA fee of about $135 per month in 2024, with roughly a quarter of fee-paying households paying under $50 and about three million paying more than $500. Industry figures for single-family HOAs commonly land between $200 and $300 per month. Median fees are highest in states like New York, Hawaii, and Massachusetts, and lowest across much of the South and Midwest. For a fuller breakdown, see our guide to HOA fees.
The States With the Most HOAs
Community associations cluster in the fast-growing Sun Belt and West. California leads with roughly 51,000 associations, followed by Florida at about 50,000 and Texas at roughly 23,000. Measured by share of the population living in an association, Colorado (about 43 percent) and Florida (about 41 percent) top the list, with California, Washington, Illinois, and Arizona close behind. The rules those associations operate under vary widely, which we map in our 50-state guide to HOA laws.
New Construction Is Overwhelmingly HOA
The clearest sign of where housing is headed: about 65.7 percent of new single-family homes sold in 2024 were part of a homeowners association, according to US Census Bureau construction data. In the Mountain West, that figure exceeds 80 percent. For most buyers of new construction, joining an HOA is no longer optional.
The Reserve Funding Crisis
Behind the rising dues is a savings problem. Associations collect an estimated $106 billion in assessments each year and direct roughly $26 billion of it to reserves, yet industry analyses of tens of thousands of reserve studies estimate that about 74 percent of associations remain underfunded relative to their future repair needs. The 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside, Florida accelerated a wave of state reserve-study and funding mandates, and rising insurance and construction costs continue to push assessments upward. See our guide to HOA fees for how this reaches your monthly bill.
Complaints, Disputes, and Foreclosures
There is no reliable national count of HOA disputes, but the state-level signals point the same direction. In South Carolina, verified consumer complaints about associations more than quadrupled between 2018 and 2023. In Colorado, investigations found specialized law firms filing hundreds of HOA foreclosure cases, some over debts of just a few hundred dollars. Industry practitioners commonly estimate that fewer than 5 percent of HOA disputes ever reach a courtroom, with most resolved through hearings or mediation.
Sources and Methodology
This report compiles the most citable figures available as of 2026. Primary sources: the Foundation for Community Association Research Statistical Review and Fact Book (association counts, residents, assessments, reserves); the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (condo and HOA fees); and US Census Bureau Characteristics of New Housing (new-construction share). Reserve-funding estimates come from reserve-study industry analyses, and state and forward-looking figures from the Foundation for Community Association Research industry data. Where the Census median and industry averages differ, both are reported because they measure different populations.
Find an HOA Attorney
Statistics describe the landscape, but every dispute is local. If you are dealing with an association over dues, a lien, or a rule, start with an attorney who handles community-association matters in your state.
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Search Florida HOA Attorneys →Frequently Asked Questions About HOA Statistics
There are roughly 373,000 community associations in the United States as of 2025, according to the Foundation for Community Association Research, up from about 10,000 in 1970. That count includes homeowners associations, condominium associations, and cooperatives.
About 78 million Americans live in a community association, which is roughly one in four residents, and community associations account for an estimated 35 percent of the US housing stock (Foundation for Community Association Research).
The US Census Bureau reported a national median condo or HOA fee of about $135 per month in 2024. Industry figures for single-family HOAs commonly run higher, around $200 to $300 per month, because those communities often maintain more amenities.
California has the most community associations, at roughly 51,000, followed closely by Florida at about 50,000 and Texas at roughly 23,000. By share of population, Colorado and Florida rank at the top, with more than 40 percent of residents living in a community association.
Industry analyses of tens of thousands of reserve studies estimate that roughly three-quarters of associations are underfunded relative to their future repair obligations, which is a major driver of rising dues and special assessments.