The State of America's HOAs.The Numbers That Matter.
A data-driven review of how HOAs operate, how quickly the sector is expanding, and what today's numbers mean for community governance, elections, and management.
HOAs have become one of the most influential forces in American housing. More than a third of all U.S. housing sits inside a community association.
HOAs have become one of the most influential forces in American housing. More than a third of all U.S. housing (35.2%) sits inside a community association, and the systems that support these communities affect tens of millions of residents and trillions of dollars in real estate value. This report consolidates the most important data from the Foundation for Community Association Research, the U.S. Census, and TrueHOA's own analysis so HOA managers, portfolio managers, and board leaders can understand the realities shaping modern community governance. Every figure is listed with its source at the end of the report.
The Scale of HOAs
HOAs have quietly become one of the largest decentralized governance systems in the country. Their operational quality directly affects millions of households every day and requires governance processes that match the scale.
Rapid Growth and Expanding Workloads
The HOA model is expanding faster than the systems used to manage it. This growth increases the volume of elections, decisions, and governance responsibilities for managers and boards.
The Financial Weight of HOAs
Communities managing millions to billions of dollars annually require governance processes that are auditable, clear, and easy to communicate. Every decision a board makes interacts with homeowner money.
Who Governs HOAs
Most board members are volunteers with limited administrative training. Governance systems must support them with clarity, simplicity, and reliable processes for key responsibilities like elections and approvals.
The Geography of HOA Intensity
- Two states, California and Florida, hold more than a quarter of all U.S. associations (102,300 of 373,000)
- Seven states have fewer than 1,000 associations each: Alaska, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming
- Densely populated, high-fee states see more governance scrutiny, questions, and demands
State law shapes how these communities vote. TrueHOA's HOA state directory summarizes the election and electronic-voting rules for all 50 states.
Where HOAs are common, expectations for governance quality are higher. Boards and managers experience more oversight, more questions, and more demand for transparency.
Homeowner Sentiment and Trust
- One in ten HOA residents is considering selling for HOA-related reasons (Rocket Mortgage survey of 1,001 HOA homeowners)
- One in three homeowners has had an HOA experience that made them want to leave their neighborhood (Frontdoor, September 2024)
- Views on fees diverge by survey: Rocket Mortgage found nearly 70% call their dues reasonable and 20% unreasonable
The tension within HOAs rarely comes from structure alone. It comes from trust. Clear elections, transparent decision-making, and visible governance processes reduce friction inside communities.
Rules, Violations, and Everyday Conflict
- Just over one in six HOA homeowners has ever been fined, most often for landscaping or vehicle rules (Frontdoor survey of more than 1,000 U.S. homeowners, January 2025)
- Lawn-appearance rules, then parking regulations and pet restrictions, are the rules residents resent most (insurancequotes.com survey of 649 homeowners, 2018)
- Generations complain about different things: in that survey, boomers were most likely to report pet waste, millennials loud music and smoking, and Gen X the look of neighbors' landscaping
- No national body publishes violation counts by category; these are the only named surveys on the record
Community conflict is rarely about major issues. It is usually about perception, fairness, and communication. Predictable governance processes help reduce time spent mediating disputes.
Rising Costs and Higher Expectations
Rising dues lead to increased owner scrutiny and more governance questions.
Higher fees raise homeowner expectations. Boards and managers must demonstrate clear, transparent processes when making financial and operational decisions.
The Cost of Disputes
A contested election typically drains $30,000 to $70,000 from association reserves in legal fees before any court filing, and no national body tracks the total. TrueHOA's reference on HOA election disputes documents the causes, the costs, and the state procedures that decide them.
Disputes are the most expensive line item nobody budgets for. The cheapest dispute is the one the record settles before a lawyer is called.
Elections as the Center of Legitimacy
Elections determine who sets budgets, approves projects, interprets CC&Rs, and handles disputes. When election processes are manual, confusing, or hard to verify, every subsequent decision becomes more sensitive. Legislatures are responding. CAI's January 2024 compilation lists 27 states with electronic voting statutes for community associations, and Minnesota's 2026 community association law (2026 Minn. Laws ch. 82, S.F. 1750) was signed May 12, 2026, with most provisions taking effect January 1, 2027. TrueHOA's Verified Governance® standard exists so that any election can prove itself when it is questioned.
Fair, well-run elections create community stability. They reduce disputes, clarify authority, and help boards act with confidence and legitimacy.
Governance as an Industry Priority
As HOAs expand in size, financial impact, and resident expectations, the systems used to manage elections, approvals, and decision-making must evolve. Boards, managers, and operators increasingly prioritize tools that offer transparency, auditability, and reliability.
The future of HOA governance is proactive, data-driven, and transparent. Communities that adopt modern processes reduce conflict, enhance trust, and operate more efficiently.
About TrueHOA
TrueHOA develops modern governance tools under the Verified Governance® framework for homeowner community associations. TrueHOA focuses on transparent, verifiable, and easy-to-run elections. Our mission is to support boards and managers with systems that improve decision quality, reduce disputes, and strengthen trust, value, and harmony in the communities they serve.
- Foundation for Community Association Research, 2025 U.S. National and State Statistical Review, Community Association Fact Book 2025 (published March 2026): foundation.caionline.org. Associations, residents, housing units, home value, assessments, reserves, managers, board and committee members, volunteer hours, new-home share, growth since 1970, and state counts. The Foundation counts community associations: HOAs (about 58–63%), condominium communities (35–40%), and cooperatives (2–4%).
- Foundation for Community Association Research, 2026 Outlook: Community Associations Poised for Continued Growth (December 22, 2025): globenewswire.com. 2026 growth projection.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Condo or Homeowners Association Fees Topped $500 Monthly for About 3 Million Households, America Counts (September 11, 2025), 2024 American Community Survey 1-year estimates, tables B25142 and B25143: census.gov. Households paying fees, median fee, households paying more than $500.
- Foundation for Community Association Research, 2026 Homeowner Satisfaction Survey (Zogby Analytics, 3,000 residents, February 26 to March 14, 2026): foundation.caionline.org. Experience and board-trust figures.
- Rocket Mortgage, Assessing the Association: Homeowners Weigh In on the HOA (survey of 1,001 HOA homeowners; published 2022, updated 2024): rocketmortgage.com. Considering selling; dues reasonable or not.
- Frontdoor, Pros and Cons of HOA: What Homeowners Really Think (survey of 1,005 U.S. homeowners, September 2024): 2-10.com. Fees too high; wanting to leave the neighborhood.
- Frontdoor survey of more than 1,000 U.S. homeowners (January 2025), as reported by WTOP, HOAs can be a homeowner turnoff, but many still don't get involved (January 27, 2025): wtop.com. Share ever fined and the most common reasons.
- insurancequotes.com, The Truth About HOAs (649 U.S. homeowners, 2018): insurancequotes.com, with percentages reported by AARP, Who's More Likely to Love or Hate Their HOA? (October 26, 2018): aarp.org. Most-resented rules and the generational split.
- Foundation for Community Association Research, Rising Costs in Community Associations, snap survey (March 2023, 1,058 responses): foundation.caionline.org. Unexpected cost increases, assessment plans, budget increases.
- Foundation for Community Association Research, Insurance Coverage Trends in Community Associations, snap survey (April 2025, 509 respondents): foundation.caionline.org. Premium increases.
- TrueHOA, TrueHOA Finds Americans Spend an Estimated $10 Billion a Year Fighting Their HOAs (March 25, 2026): globenewswire.com, and HOA Election Disputes: Causes, Costs, and How to Prevent Them. Dispute-cost figures are TrueHOA estimates; no federal or state body tracks the total.
- Community Associations Institute, Electronic Voting Statutes (updated January 2024): caionline.org.
- Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, 2026 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 82 (S.F. 1750): revisor.mn.gov.
Scope & CoverageThis report covers HOAs, condominium associations, and housing cooperatives operating in the United States. Figures reflect national aggregates across all 50 states and are the most recent published data as of the update date. Survey figures carry their sample size and year in the text.
Published ByTrueHOA, Inc. · January 10, 2026, updated September 8, 2026. Published for informational purposes and to support media, policy, and industry coverage of HOA governance. Media inquiries: [email protected]