Following a period of stagnation over most of the 2010s, the number of owner occupied housing units in the United States started to grow in 2017. In 2023, there were over 86 million owner-occupied homes. Owner-occupied housing is where the person who owns a property – either outright or through a mortgage – also resides in the property. Excluded are therefore rental properties, employer-provided housing and social housing. Homeownership sentiment in the U.S. Though homeownership is still a cornerstone of the American dream, an increasing share of people see themselves as lifelong renters. Millennials have been notoriously late to enter the housing market, with one in four reporting that they would probably continue to always rent in the future, a 2022 survey found. In 2017, just five years before that, this share stood at about 13 percent. How many renter households are there? Renter households are roughly half as few as owner-occupied households in the U.S. In 2023, the number of renter occupied housing units amounted to almost 45 million. Climbing on the property ladder for renters is not always easy, as it requires prospective homebuyers to save up for a down payment and qualify for a mortgage. In many metros, the median household income is insufficient to qualify for the median-priced home.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate in the United States (RHORUSQ156N) from Q1 1965 to Q1 2025 about homeownership, housing, rate, and USA.

The homeownership rate was the highest among Americans in their early 70s and the lowest among people in their early 20s in 2023. In that year, approximately ** percent of individuals aged 70 to 75 resided in a residence they owned, compared to approximately **** percent among individuals under the age of 25. On average, **** percent of Americans lived in an owner-occupied home. The homeownership rate was the highest in 2004 but has since declined.

Home Ownership Rate in the United States decreased to 65.10 percent in the first quarter of 2025 from 65.70 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Home Ownership Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

How many households are in the U.S.?

In 2023, there were 131.43 million households in the United States. This is a significant increase from 1960, when there were 52.8 million households in the U.S.

What counts as a household?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a household is considered to be all persons living within one housing unit. This includes apartments, houses, or single rooms, and consists of both related and unrelated people living together. For example, two roommates who share a living space but are not related would be considered a household in the eyes of the Census. It should be noted that group living quarters, such as college dorms, are not counted as households in the Census.

Household changes

While the population of the United States has been increasing, the average size of households in the U.S. has decreased since 1960. In 1960, there was an average of 3.33 people per household, but in 2023, this figure had decreased to 2.51 people per household. Additionally, two person households make up the majority of American households, followed closely by single-person households.

In 2023, the rate of homeownership among White people living in the United States was 74.3 percent. Comparatively, 45.7 percent of Black people owned a home in the same year.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Unit Characteristics: Percent Homeowner by Age: from Age 25 to 34 (CXUHOMEOWNLB0403M) from 1990 to 2023 about consumer unit, age, homeownership, 25 years +, percent, and USA.

In 2019, approximately 42.7 million homeowners in the United States were 65 years or older. Many seniors opt to live in nursing homes, though almost 13 percent lived in independent living in 2020.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate (5-year estimate) for Austin County, TX (HOWNRATEACS048015) from 2009 to 2023 about Austin County, TX; Houston; homeownership; TX; housing; 5-year; rate; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Median Number of Months on Sales Market for Newly Completed Homes (MNMFS) from Jan 1975 to May 2025 about sales, median, housing, and USA.

The average American household consisted of 2.51 people in 2023.

Households in the U.S.

As shown in the statistic, the number of people per household has decreased over the past decades.

The U.S. Census Bureau defines a household as follows: “a household includes all the persons who occupy a housing unit as their usual place of residence. A housing unit is a house, an apartment, a mobile home, a group of rooms, or a single room that is occupied (or if vacant, is intended for occupancy) as separate living quarters. Separate living quarters are those in which the occupants live and eat separately from any other persons in the building and which have direct access from outside the building or through a common hall. The occupants may be a single family, one person living alone, two or more families living together, or any other group of related or unrelated persons who share living arrangements. (People not living in households are classified as living in group quarters.).”

The population of the United States has been growing steadily for decades. Since 1960, the number of households more than doubled from 53 million to over 131 million households in 2023.

Most of these households, about 34 percent, are two-person households. The distribution of U.S. households has changed over the years though. The percentage of single-person households has been on the rise since 1970 and made up the second largest proportion of households in the U.S. in 2022, at 28.88 percent.

In concordance with the rise of single-person households, the percentage of family households with own children living in the household has declined since 1970 from 56 percent to 40.26 percent in 2022.

Knowing who your consumers are is essential for businesses, marketers, and researchers. This detailed demographic file offers an in-depth look at American consumers, packed with insights about personal details, household information, financial status, and lifestyle choices. Let's take a closer look at the data:

Personal Identifiers and Basic Demographics At the heart of this dataset are the key details that make up a consumer profile:

Unique IDs (PID, HHID) for individuals and households Full names (First, Middle, Last) and suffixes Gender and age Date of birth Complete location details (address, city, state, ZIP) These identifiers are critical for accurate marketing and form the base for deeper analysis.

Geospatial Intelligence This file goes beyond just listing addresses by including rich geospatial data like:

Latitude and longitude Census tract and block details Codes for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) and Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSA) County size codes Geocoding accuracy This allows for precise geographic segmentation and localized marketing.

Housing and Property Data The dataset covers a lot of ground when it comes to housing, providing valuable insights for real estate professionals, lenders, and home service providers:

Homeownership status Dwelling type (single-family, multi-family, etc.) Property values (market, assessed, and appraised) Year built and square footage Room count, amenities like fireplaces or pools, and building quality This data is crucial for targeting homeowners with products and services like refinancing or home improvement offers.

Wealth and Financial Data For a deeper dive into consumer wealth, the file includes:

Estimated household income Wealth scores Credit card usage Mortgage info (loan amounts, rates, terms) Home equity estimates and investment property ownership These indicators are invaluable for financial services, luxury brands, and fundraising organizations looking to reach affluent individuals.

Lifestyle and Interests One of the most useful features of the dataset is its extensive lifestyle segmentation:

Hobbies and interests (e.g., gardening, travel, sports) Book preferences, magazine subscriptions Outdoor activities (camping, fishing, hunting) Pet ownership, tech usage, political views, and religious affiliations This data is perfect for crafting personalized marketing campaigns and developing products that align with specific consumer preferences.

Consumer Behavior and Purchase Habits The file also sheds light on how consumers behave and shop:

Online and catalog shopping preferences Gift-giving tendencies, presence of children, vehicle ownership Media consumption (TV, radio, internet) Retailers and e-commerce businesses will find this behavioral data especially useful for tailoring their outreach.

Demographic Clusters and Segmentation Pre-built segments like:

Household, neighborhood, family, and digital clusters Generational and lifestage groups make it easier to quickly target specific demographics, streamlining the process for market analysis and campaign planning.

Ethnicity and Language Preferences In today's multicultural market, knowing your audience's cultural background is key. The file includes:

Ethnicity codes and language preferences Flags for Hispanic/Spanish-speaking households This helps ensure culturally relevant and sensitive communication.

Education and Occupation Data The dataset also tracks education and career info:

Education level and occupation codes Home-based business indicators This data is essential for B2B marketers, recruitment agencies, and education-focused campaigns.

Digital and Social Media Habits With everyone online, digital behavior insights are a must:

Internet, TV, radio, and magazine usage Social media platform engagement (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) Streaming subscriptions (Netflix, Hulu) This data helps marketers, app developers, and social media managers connect with their audience in the digital space.

Political and Charitable Tendencies For political campaigns or non-profits, this dataset offers:

Political affiliations and outlook Charitable donation history Volunteer activities These insights are perfect for cause-related marketing and targeted political outreach.

Neighborhood Characteristics By incorporating census data, the file provides a bigger picture of the consumer's environment:

Population density, racial composition, and age distribution Housing occupancy and ownership rates This offers important context for understanding the demographic landscape.

Predictive Consumer Indexes The dataset includes forward-looking indicators in categories like:

Fashion, automotive, and beauty products Health, home decor, pet products, sports, and travel These predictive insights help businesses anticipate consumer trends and needs.

Contact Information Finally, the file includes ke...

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate (5-year estimate) for Boise County, ID (HOWNRATEACS016015) from 2009 to 2023 about Boise County, ID; Boise City; ID; homeownership; housing; 5-year; rate; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate (5-year estimate) for Shelby County, TN (HOWNRATEACS047157) from 2009 to 2023 about Shelby County, TN; Memphis; homeownership; TN; housing; 5-year; rate; and USA.

The number of baby boomer headed households is expected to peak at ***** million households in 2028, according to data from Harvard University. Generation X is projected to become the fastest growing generation of homeowners in the United States.

The number of home sales in the United States peaked in 2021 at almost seven million after steadily rising since 2018. Nevertheless, the market contracted in the following year, with transaction volumes falling to 4.8 million. Home sales remained muted in 2024, with a mild increase expected in 2025 and 2026. A major factor driving this trend is the unprecedented increase in mortgage interest rates due to high inflation. How have U.S. home prices developed over time? The average sales price of new homes has also been rising since 2011. Buyer confidence seems to have recovered after the property crash, which has increased demand for homes and also the prices sellers are demanding for homes. At the same time, the affordability of U.S. homes has decreased. Both the number of existing and newly built homes sold has declined since the housing market boom during the coronavirus pandemic. Challenges in housing supply The number of housing units in the U.S. rose steadily between 1975 and 2005 but has remained fairly stable since then. Construction increased notably in the 1990s and early 2000s, with the number of construction starts steadily rising, before plummeting amid the infamous housing market crash. Housing starts slowly started to pick up in 2011, mirroring the economic recovery. In 2022, the supply of newly built homes plummeted again, as supply chain challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic and tariffs on essential construction materials such as steel and lumber led to prices soaring.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Unit Characteristics: Percent Homeowner without Mortgage by Number of Earners: Consumer Units of Two or More People, Three or More Earners (CXU980240LB0707M) from 1984 to 2023 about consumer unit, homeownership, mortgage, percent, consumer, persons, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Unit Characteristics: Percent Homeowner with Mortgage by Number of Earners: Consumer Units of Two or More People, No Earners (CXU980230LB0704M) from 1984 to 2023 about consumer unit, homeownership, mortgage, percent, consumer, persons, and USA.

United States Number of Households: Total data was reported at 127,586.000 Unit th in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 126,224.000 Unit th for 2017. United States Number of Households: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 83,722.500 Unit th from Mar 1947 (Median) to 2018, with 72 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 127,586.000 Unit th in 2018 and a record low of 39,107.000 Unit th in 1947. United States Number of Households: Total 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.

The number of single-family homes listed for sale in the 50 largest metros in the United States in January 2025 ranged between 1,000 and 26,000. Dallas, TX, which is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country, had the most active listings that month, totaling ******. New York, NY — the biggest metro in the country — had ****** active listings. Additionally, it was one of the few metros where inventory declined between January 2024 and January 2025.