That's 2.5% of existing U.S. inventory as of 2022, according to figures that Hines, a global real estate developer and investment company, shared with Axios.
Why it matters: There aren't enough homes to keep up with the increase in households.
Other estimates also put the size of the country's housing shortage in the millions.
What they're saying: "We're not going to overcome this deficit anytime soon just building single-family housing," Hines managing director Ryan McCullough tells Axios.
Of note: Hines compared the stock of existing homes, either to rent or buy, with what they calculated is the population's housing demand.
The analysis includes all housing units as defined by the census, which excludes dorms, skilled nursing facilities or other group quarters arrangements.
Zoom out: Greater New York and Los Angelessaw the biggest housing deficits among the 55 major markets Hines analyzed, nearly all of which came up short.
The exceptions: New Orleans, Austin and Nashville showed slight surpluses that McCullough says put them closer to equilibrium.