Alone But Not Lonely: The Trend of Solitary Living

ForRent.com NATION'S LEADN APARTMENT RESOURCE ALONE BUT NOT LONELY The Trend of Solitary Living MORE THAN EVER, AMERICANS ARE OPTING TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN. BUT HOW DRASTIC IS THE CHANGE? Here's a look at the trend of Americans living alone, with insight from Eric Klinenberg, author of GOING SOLO: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone. LIVING ALONE BY THE NUMBERS According to U.S. Census data, in 2010, 31 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS HAD A SINGLE OCCUPANT. " IN 1950, only 9% of households had single occupants. This is 27% of American households. THE PERCENTAGES OF THOSE LIVING ALONE IN SPECIFIC AREAS CAN BE EVEN HIGHER: 2) 48% 46% 45% 43% WASHINGTON, D.C. MANHATTAN ATLANTA MINNEAPOLIS 42% 40% 40% 40% SEATTLE SAN FRANCISCO DENVER CLEVELAND FOR THE FIRST TIME, 48% less than half of American homes had husband-wife occupancy. [] It's possible that about While many young adults have moved back home because of the economy, 5 MILLION AMERICANS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AGES 20 TO 29 WHO LIVE ALONE ACTUALLY ONLY DROPPED FROM ages 18 to 34 live alone. This is 10x more than in 1950. 11.97% (2007) to 10.94% (2011) MIDDLE-AGED AMERICANS: LIVE ALONE MILLION 15 PEOPLE, between ages of 35 AND 64, FOR THE ELDERLY, more are able to live alone due in part to Social Security and private pensions. 100 years ago, ALMOST 70% of elderly widows lived with a child. widows live Today, ONLY 20% of elderly with a child. INSIGHT INTO SOLITARY LIFE WHY ARE MANY AMERICANS SOLITARY? 28 Many are getting married much later in life, 141 About 50% Average age for men getting married for the first time: - ---- of marriages are expected to eventually end. AN INFLUENCE OF GROWING AMERICAN TRENDS: | Increased Life ISpans Communications Women's Urbanization Technology Liberation MANY AMERICANS WANT TO: The idea of the "CULT OF THE INDIVIDUAL." Y Live their lives the way they please. V Build their own futures. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE ECONOMY? [2] IN TERMS OF DISCRETIONARY SPENDING IN 2010 (PER CAPITA): It's estimated that consumption by American singles provides $1.9 TRILLION every year to the economy. Highest-spending families with kids Married people without kids "Singletons" $23,179 $28,017 $34,471 CONCLUSION WHILE IT WAS CONSIDERED MORE UNUSUAL TO LIVE ALONE IN DECADES PAST, IT'S BECOMING MORE OF A POPULAR CHOICE AMONG MANY AMERICANS TODAY. ForRent.com NATION'S LEADING APARTMENT RESOURCE [1] http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-05-02/living- al one/54585114/1 [2] http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/01/25/eric-klinenberg- going-solo/ [3] http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/opinion/sunday/living -alone-means-being-social.htm/?pagewanted=all [4] http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2012/04/16/ 120416crbo_books_heller SOURCES: ForRent.com NATION'S LEADN APARTMENT RESOURCE ALONE BUT NOT LONELY The Trend of Solitary Living MORE THAN EVER, AMERICANS ARE OPTING TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN. BUT HOW DRASTIC IS THE CHANGE? Here's a look at the trend of Americans living alone, with insight from Eric Klinenberg, author of GOING SOLO: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone. LIVING ALONE BY THE NUMBERS According to U.S. Census data, in 2010, 31 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS HAD A SINGLE OCCUPANT. " IN 1950, only 9% of households had single occupants. This is 27% of American households. THE PERCENTAGES OF THOSE LIVING ALONE IN SPECIFIC AREAS CAN BE EVEN HIGHER: 2) 48% 46% 45% 43% WASHINGTON, D.C. MANHATTAN ATLANTA MINNEAPOLIS 42% 40% 40% 40% SEATTLE SAN FRANCISCO DENVER CLEVELAND FOR THE FIRST TIME, 48% less than half of American homes had husband-wife occupancy. [] It's possible that about While many young adults have moved back home because of the economy, 5 MILLION AMERICANS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AGES 20 TO 29 WHO LIVE ALONE ACTUALLY ONLY DROPPED FROM ages 18 to 34 live alone. This is 10x more than in 1950. 11.97% (2007) to 10.94% (2011) MIDDLE-AGED AMERICANS: LIVE ALONE MILLION 15 PEOPLE, between ages of 35 AND 64, FOR THE ELDERLY, more are able to live alone due in part to Social Security and private pensions. 100 years ago, ALMOST 70% of elderly widows lived with a child. widows live Today, ONLY 20% of elderly with a child. INSIGHT INTO SOLITARY LIFE WHY ARE MANY AMERICANS SOLITARY? 28 Many are getting married much later in life, 141 About 50% Average age for men getting married for the first time: - ---- of marriages are expected to eventually end. AN INFLUENCE OF GROWING AMERICAN TRENDS: | Increased Life ISpans Communications Women's Urbanization Technology Liberation MANY AMERICANS WANT TO: The idea of the "CULT OF THE INDIVIDUAL." Y Live their lives the way they please. V Build their own futures. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE ECONOMY? [2] IN TERMS OF DISCRETIONARY SPENDING IN 2010 (PER CAPITA): It's estimated that consumption by American singles provides $1.9 TRILLION every year to the economy. Highest-spending families with kids Married people without kids "Singletons" $23,179 $28,017 $34,471 CONCLUSION WHILE IT WAS CONSIDERED MORE UNUSUAL TO LIVE ALONE IN DECADES PAST, IT'S BECOMING MORE OF A POPULAR CHOICE AMONG MANY AMERICANS TODAY. ForRent.com NATION'S LEADING APARTMENT RESOURCE [1] http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-05-02/living- al one/54585114/1 [2] http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/01/25/eric-klinenberg- going-solo/ [3] http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/opinion/sunday/living -alone-means-being-social.htm/?pagewanted=all [4] http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2012/04/16/ 120416crbo_books_heller SOURCES: