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Nearly 30 percent of American households comprise a single person, a record high.
Scholars say living alone is not a trend so much as a transformation: Across much of the world, large numbers of people are living alone for the first time in recorded history.
“It’s just a stunning social change,” said Eric Klinenberg, a sociologist at New York University and author of the book “Going Solo.” “I came to see it as the biggest demographic change in the last century that we failed to recognize and take seriously.”
Homo sapiens is a social animal. Historians tapped ancient census rolls to show that our species has lived in groups for as long as such records have existed, stretching back at least to 1600.
The U.S. Census shows that “solitaries” made up 8 percent of all households in 1940. The share of solo households doubled to 18 percent in 1970 and more than tripled, to an estimated 29 percent, by 2022.
The solo-living movement intersects with several other societal trends. Americans are marrying later, if at all. The nation is aging. The national birthrate is falling. People are living longer — or they were, until the pandemic arrived.
Scholars say living alone is not a trend so much as a transformation: Across much of the world, large numbers of people are living alone for the first time in recorded history.
“It’s just a stunning social change,” said Eric Klinenberg, a sociologist at New York University and author of the book “Going Solo.” “I came to see it as the biggest demographic change in the last century that we failed to recognize and take seriously.”
Homo sapiens is a social animal. Historians tapped ancient census rolls to show that our species has lived in groups for as long as such records have existed, stretching back at least to 1600.
The U.S. Census shows that “solitaries” made up 8 percent of all households in 1940. The share of solo households doubled to 18 percent in 1970 and more than tripled, to an estimated 29 percent, by 2022.
The solo-living movement intersects with several other societal trends. Americans are marrying later, if at all. The nation is aging. The national birthrate is falling. People are living longer — or they were, until the pandemic arrived.
A record share of Americans is living alone
Posted from thehill.com
Family
Living
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Sociology
Edited 10 mo ago
Posted 10 mo ago
Responses: 4
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CSM Chuck Stafford
Lt Col Charlie Brown - Work from home, order food online, Amazon prime your shopping needs, etc etc --- with no worries of facing the 'harsh' realities of life
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Lt Col Charlie Brown My daughter says she doesn't live alone...she has three cats! Seriously, she has tried the roommate thing and prefers to be alone.
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
Some places are better suited to roommates than others. My sister in law has a roommate and they've been roomies and BFFs for about 20 years now after being in the same apartment complex but separate apartments for several years.
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I keep hearing about the staggering costs of housing. I also keep hearing about the "unsolvable" problem of housing shortage.
It seems to me that if that 30% were to get a roommate (or two!), both problems would be solved.
Obviously, it won't be possible in all situations, like studio apartments. But even a 1 bedroom with a living room can have a couch bed. Or the 20-something college dropout can go back to mom and dad, or crash with older siblings.
Another large part of the problem is that people are getting married older. "Back in my day" a lady lived with her parents until she was married - preferably before her 20th birthday. Nowadays it is perfectly OK for a woman to be single and on her own at the downright spinsterly age of 25. Shack up with a guy already!!!
It seems to me that if that 30% were to get a roommate (or two!), both problems would be solved.
Obviously, it won't be possible in all situations, like studio apartments. But even a 1 bedroom with a living room can have a couch bed. Or the 20-something college dropout can go back to mom and dad, or crash with older siblings.
Another large part of the problem is that people are getting married older. "Back in my day" a lady lived with her parents until she was married - preferably before her 20th birthday. Nowadays it is perfectly OK for a woman to be single and on her own at the downright spinsterly age of 25. Shack up with a guy already!!!
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LTC (Join to see)
The issue is economic. The people who live alone can afford to. Inflation and bad zoning laws have reduced the supply of housing.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
LTC (Join to see) That may be true. I have done no research on the topic, but I know I am inundated with articles decrying the inability of single income households to pay housing costs. Every "cost of living" analysis I read assumes a single income when calculating hiusing costs. From that, I extrapolate (possibly wrongly) that there are a large number of singles who are NOT looking for roommates, and that our policy makers assume this to be right, proper, and the expected standard. Don't get me wrong, I think this should be the GOAL, but I disagree with it being the EXPECTATION, especially for entry-level workers who are just starting out in life.
Again, I will re-state I have done no research on the topic. I am talking purely based on personal experiences and personal opinion. I readily admit I may be way off base.
Again, I will re-state I have done no research on the topic. I am talking purely based on personal experiences and personal opinion. I readily admit I may be way off base.
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