Suburban Homes In The 1950s

After the war, it became cheaper for people, especially veterans, to live in the suburbs than in metropolises. In 1945, the average apartment rental in cities was $93 per month but it would cost a veteran only $56 a month to own a more spacious house in the suburbs due to special financing options and legislation like the G.I. Bill. As a result, new housing construction increased from 114,000 in 1944 to a record high of 1,692,000 in 1950. The suburbs seemed like they were meant for starting and raising families, perfect for married soldiers arriving home or couples who put off having children until the war ended. Suburban homes began to become standardized in order to save time and money on construction, similar to the assembly line concept used by Henry Ford.

He built Levittown, a standardized development with 17,400 homes that could accommodate up to 82,000 residents. The houses “were mass produced and inexpensive, with a flexible interior design that was easily expandable if the family increased in size.” Even the design of the house was family oriented. The kitchens were located adjacent to the front entrance, so housewives were able to watch their children out the window as they cooked and cleaned. Living room windows faced the backyard, providing another perspective for parents to look after children. The houses were ranches for a couple reasons, one being to eliminate the dangers of stairs for young children. Common appliances were included in every home. About fifty percent of the people who purchased homes in 1949 and 1950 were Caucasian World War II veterans in their mid-thirties with young children. Most of the homeowners of Levittown fit that description—young, working or middle class