Average American Household Size, 1948-2012 [CHART]

Chart - Average American Household Size, 1948-2012

The average size of the American household has diminished by about one person over the past 65 years or so, according to new data from the US Census Bureau. The average population per household now stands at 2.55, down from 3.67 in 1948. Much of that decline is attributable to the growth in 1-person households, which have almost quintupled in number from 1960, and now account for 27% of all households.

Those single person households aren’t the domain of youth, either. In fact, more than half of householders 75 and older live alone as of this year. That compares to less than one-quarter of householders less than 30. (The definition of households excludes those living in group-quarters arrangements such as school dormitories, nursing homes, or military barracks.) Read the rest at MarketingCharts.