Shrinking American Households

In 1900, the average American household included 4.9 people. By 1950, that number had dropped to 3.7. In 2000, the typical US household was comprised of 2.6 individuals – half the size of a household 100 years earlier.

Not surprisingly, recent decades have seen a major increase in people living alone. Today, over half of American adults live either by themselves or with one other person.

1 person 2 people 7 or more
1800s 4% 8% 36%
1900s 5% 15% 20%
1950s 10% 29% 5%
2000 26% 33% 1%

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