November 6, 2009

By Selma Lewis, Research Economist

• According to the Population statistics released recently by the Census Bureau, based on samples taken from 2006 to 2008, living alone is becoming a norm. Increase in single person households reflect national trends that have accelerated since the 2000 census.
• The national average of single family households is 28 percent.
• The map below shows percent change in single person households since 2000.
• In most counties across the country, there are about 1.8% more single person households now than there were in 2000.
• Largest increases in single person households are observed in the Mid Atlantic region.
• Experts attribute the trend to widowed baby boomers who are staying in place. Also, there's less stigma attached to living alone today than there was in the generations before.