The average American family in 2023 consisted of 3.15 persons. Families in the United States According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a family is a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered as members of one family. As of 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau counted about 84.33 million families in the United States. The average family consisted of 3.15 persons in 2021, down from 3.7 in the 1960s. This is reflected in the decrease of children in family households overall. In 1970, about 56 percent of all family households had children under the age of 18 living in the household. This percentage declined to about 40 percent in 2020. The average size of a family household varies greatly from state to state. The largest average families can be found in Utah, California, and Hawaii, while the smallest families can be found in Wisconsin, Vermont and Maine.

This graph shows the total number of families in the United States from 1960 to 2023. In 2023, 84.33 million families were living in the United States.

The typical American picture of a family with 2.5 kids might not be as relevant as it once was: In 2023, there was an average of 1.94 children under 18 per family in the United States. This is a decrease from 2.33 children under 18 per family in 1960.

Familial structure in the United States

If there’s one thing the United States is known for, it’s diversity. Whether this is diversity in ethnicity, culture, or family structure, there is something for everyone in the U.S. Two-parent households in the U.S. are declining, and the number of families with no children are increasing. The number of families with children has stayed more or less constant since 2000.

Adoptions in the U.S.

Families in the U.S. don’t necessarily consist of parents and their own biological children. In 2021, around 35,940 children were adopted by married couples, and 13,307 children were adopted by single women.

Around *** million families in the United States had three or more children under 18 living in the household in 2023. In that same year, about ***** million households had no children under 18 living in the household.

Graph and download economic data for Total Families with Children under 18 Years Old (TTLFMCU) from 1950 to 2024 about 18 years +, family, child, household survey, and USA.

United States Number of Households: Family data was reported at 83,088.000 Unit th in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 82,827.000 Unit th for 2017. United States Number of Households: Family data is updated yearly, averaging 61,206.000 Unit th from Mar 1947 (Median) to 2018, with 72 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 83,088.000 Unit th in 2018 and a record low of 34,964.000 Unit th in 1947. United States Number of Households: Family data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.H050: Number of Households.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset presents a breakdown of households across various income brackets in United States, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau classifies households into different categories, including total households, family households, and non-family households. Our analysis of U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data for United States reveals how household income distribution varies among these categories. The dataset highlights the variation in number of households with income, offering valuable insights into the distribution of United States households based on income levels.

Key observations

• For Family Households: In United States, the majority of family households, representing 14.18%, earn $75,000 to $99,999, showcasing a substantial share of the community families falling within this income bracket. Conversely, the minority of family households, comprising 2.01%, have incomes falling $150,000 to $199,999, representing a smaller but still significant segment of the community.
• For Non-Family Households: In United States, the majority of non-family households, accounting for 10.55%, have income Less than $10,000, indicating that a substantial portion of non-family households falls within this income bracket. On the other hand, the minority of non-family households, comprising 3.26%, earn $150,000 to $199,999, representing a smaller, yet notable, portion of non-family households in the community.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 5-Year Estimates.

Income Levels:

• Less than $10,000
• $10,000 to $14,999
• $15,000 to $19,999
• $20,000 to $24,999
• $25,000 to $29,999
• $30,000 to $34,999
• $35,000 to $39,999
• $40,000 to $44,999
• $45,000 to $49,999
• $50,000 to $59,999
• $60,000 to $74,999
• $75,000 to $99,999
• $125,000 to $149,999
• $150,000 to $199,999
• $200,000 or more

Variables / Data Columns

• Income Level: The income level represents the income brackets ranging from Less than $10,000 to $200,000 or more in United States (As mentioned above).
• All Households: Count of households for the specified income level
• % All Households: Percentage of households at the specified income level relative to the total households in United States
• Family Households: Count of family households for the specified income level
• % Family Households: Percentage of family households at the specified income level relative to the total family households in United States
• Non-Family Households: Count of non-family households for the specified income level
• % Non-Family Households: Percentage of non-family households at the specified income level relative to the total non-family households in United States

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for United States median household income. You can refer the same here

United States Number of Households: Family: Married Couples data was reported at 61,241.000 Unit th in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 60,804.000 Unit th for 2017. United States Number of Households: Family: Married Couples data is updated yearly, averaging 49,769.000 Unit th from Mar 1947 (Median) to 2018, with 72 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 61,241.000 Unit th in 2018 and a record low of 30,612.000 Unit th in 1947. United States Number of Households: Family: Married Couples data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.H050: Number of Households.

Graph and download economic data for New One Family Homes for Sale in the United States (HNFSEPUSSA) from Jan 1963 to May 2025 about 1-unit structures, family, new, sales, housing, and USA.

In 2024, 34.59 percent of all households in the United States were two person households. In 1970, this figure was at 28.92 percent. Single households Single mother households are usually the most common households with children under 18 years old found in the United States. As of 2021, the District of Columbia and North Dakota had the highest share of single-person households in the United States. Household size in the United States has decreased over the past century, due to customs and traditions changing. Families are typically more nuclear, whereas in the past, multigenerational households were more common. Furthermore, fertility rates have also decreased, meaning that women do not have as many children as they used to. Average households in Utah Out of all states in the U.S., Utah was reported to have the largest average household size. This predominately Mormon state has about three million inhabitants. The Church of the Latter-Day Saints, or Mormonism, plays a large role in Utah, and can contribute to the high birth rate and household size in Utah. The Church of Latter-Day Saints promotes having many children and tight-knit families. Furthermore, Utah has a relatively young population, due to Mormons typically marrying and starting large families younger than those in other states.

United States Number of Households: Family: Female data was reported at 15,423.000 Unit th in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 15,572.000 Unit th for 2017. United States Number of Households: Family: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 9,436.000 Unit th from Mar 1947 (Median) to 2018, with 72 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15,669.000 Unit th in 2012 and a record low of 3,223.000 Unit th in 1947. United States Number of Households: Family: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.H050: Number of Households.

Graph and download economic data for Real Median Family Income in the United States (MEFAINUSA672N) from 1953 to 2023 about family, median, income, real, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for New One Family Houses Sold: United States (HSN1F) from Jan 1963 to May 2025 about 1-unit structures, headline figure, family, new, sales, housing, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Median Sales Price of Existing Single-Family Homes (HSFMEDUSM052N) from May 2024 to May 2025 about 1-unit structures, family, sales, median, housing, price, and USA.

The U.S. housing inventory has declined notably over the past years, despite a slight increase in 2024. In January 2025, the number of single-family homes for sale in the United States stood at about 906,000, higher than the same period in the past two years. The figure reflects the number of active unique single-family home listings available for purchase in that month. This rise in inventory is a result of a sluggish housing market with declining home transactions.

Complete list of all 6758 Family Dollar store POI locations in the USA with name, geo-coded address, city, email, phone number etc for download in CSV format or via the API.

United States Median Home Sale Price: Multi-Family data was reported at 321.000 USD th in Jul 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 305.000 USD th for Jun 2020. United States Median Home Sale Price: Multi-Family data is updated monthly, averaging 238.000 USD th from Feb 2012 (Median) to Jul 2020, with 102 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 321.000 USD th in Jul 2020 and a record low of 142.000 USD th in Feb 2012. United States Median Home Sale Price: Multi-Family data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Redfin. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.EB054: Median Home Sale Price.

Graph and download economic data for New Privately Owned Housing Completions in the United States, Median Square Feet of Floor Area for One-Family Units (COMPSFLAM1FQ) from Q1 1987 to Q1 2025 about floor area, privately owned, 1-unit structures, family, new, median, housing, and USA.

In 2021, the average size of families in Utah was 3.51 people, the largest out of any state. California, Hawaii, Texas, and Alaska rounded out the top five states with the largest average family size in that year. Nationwide, the average family size was 3.15 people.

United States - Median Sales Price of Existing Single-Family Homes was 418000.00000 $ in April of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Median Sales Price of Existing Single-Family Homes reached a record high of 432900.00000 in June of 2024 and a record low of 223100.00000 in March of 2016. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Median Sales Price of Existing Single-Family Homes - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.