U.S. homeowners are initiating home improvement projects with increased frequency, according to the Hearth Home Improvement Index. The index examines the number of applications for home improvement loans on the gethearth.com platform. 2021 data highlights an increased rate of projects related to bedrooms and bathrooms, home offices and kitchens.

Wyoming, Texas and Florida top the 20-state ranking, and Generation X (ages 41-56) and millennials (ages 23-38) are the demographic groups leading the charge.

Hearth Home Improvement Index
(Ranked by per-capita applications for interior-design-related home improvement loans.)
1. Wyoming
2. Texas
3. Florida
4. Arkansas
5. Georgia
6. Louisiana
7. Colorado
8. Mississippi
9. Alabama
10. West Virginia
11. South Carolina
12. Indiana
13. Tennessee
14. Oklahoma
15. New Hampshire
16. Nebraska
17. North Carolina
18. Delaware
19. Connecticut
20. Arizona

The Hearth Tradesmen Index indicates sharp growth for 11 home-improvement industries. House painters top the list with a 142.75% increase in demand from 2019 to 2021. Door installers have seen a 74.06% increase in demand during the same period.

Hearth Tradesmen Index
(% Increase in Demand—2019 to 2021) 
1. House Painters – 142.75% 
2. Plumbers – 139.18% 
3. HVAC Techs – 108.44% 
4. Electricians – 104.36% 
5. Solar Installers – 97.91% 
6. Pool Service – 89.12% 
7. Roofers – 82.52% 
8. Door Installers – 74.06% 
9. Pest Control – 64.63% 
10. Landscapers – 45.72% 
11. General Contractors – 7.30%