10
10
0
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
Home
Sociology
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
7
7
0
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
(3)
(0)
5
5
0
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.
(5)
(0)
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.
(3)
(0)
4
4
0
My oldest son owns a townhouse and lives alone. He has many friends in the area and many from his college days. His job has him on the road, throughout the southeast. He prefers it that way, especially since he has yet to meet that one special lady he wants to spend his life with.
(4)
(0)
Lt Col Charlie Brown
At least he is looking. Our youngest son had roommates (former college buddies) for a time, then went to living alone. Now his special lady lives with him. I keep hoping they will tie the knot soon.
(4)
(0)
Maj Robert Thornton
Lt Col Charlie Brown not sure #1 son will get married. He is one that is very neat, everything in its place. He doesn’t have to check with anyone if he wants to buy something or go somewhere.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google