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.

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.

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.

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 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.

United States Homeownership Rate: Annual data was reported at 63.900 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 63.400 % for 2016. United States Homeownership Rate: Annual data is updated yearly, averaging 64.700 % from Dec 1965 (Median) to 2017, with 53 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 69.000 % in 2004 and a record low of 63.000 % in 1965. United States Homeownership Rate: Annual data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.EB008: Housing Vacancy and Home Ownership Rate.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate for Washington (WAHOWN) from 1984 to 2024 about homeownership, WA, housing, rate, and USA.

United States Home Ownership Rate: West data was reported at 60.200 % in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 59.700 % for Jun 2018. United States Home Ownership Rate: West data is updated quarterly, averaging 59.900 % from Mar 1964 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 219 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 65.300 % in Sep 2006 and a record low of 57.200 % in Dec 1983. United States Home Ownership Rate: West 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.EB008: Housing Vacancy and Home Ownership Rate.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate for Georgia (GAHOWN) from 1984 to 2024 about homeownership, GA, housing, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Household Estimates (TTLHHM156N) from Apr 1955 to Mar 2025 about households 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.

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.

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.

United States - Total Households was 132216.00000 Thous. in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Total Households reached a record high of 132216.00000 in January of 2024 and a record low of 34949.00000 in January of 1940. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Total Households - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

United States Homeownership Rate: 35 to 39 Years data was reported at 56.400 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 55.300 % for 2016. United States Homeownership Rate: 35 to 39 Years data is updated yearly, averaging 63.500 % from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2017, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 67.600 % in 1982 and a record low of 55.300 % in 2016. United States Homeownership Rate: 35 to 39 Years 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.EB008: Housing Vacancy and Home Ownership Rate.

Graph and download economic data for New One Family Houses Sold: United States (HSN1FNSA) from Jan 1963 to May 2025 about new, sales, housing, and USA.

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...