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.

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.

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

In 2021, about 13.43 million households were counted in the federal state of California, the most out of any state. Texas, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania rounded out the top five states with the most number of households in that year.

Graph and download economic data for Households; Total Assets, Level (BOGZ1FL192000005A) from 1987 to 2024 about assets, households, 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.

Graph and download economic data for Households; Net Worth, Level (BOGZ1FL192090005Q) from Q4 1987 to Q1 2025 about net worth, Net, households, and USA.

In 2021, there were about 83.91 million family households counted in the United States. Of those households, approximately 12.62 million had a female householder with children.

Graph and download economic data for Households; Total Liabilities, Level (BOGZ1FL194190005Q) from Q4 1987 to Q1 2025 about liabilities, households, and USA.

The total financial assets of households and nonprofit organizations in the United States grew steadily since 2000, except for a drop in 2018. The value of household financial assets increased from around 34.46 trillion U.S. dollars in 2000, up to around 118.34 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023.

Graph and download economic data for Households; Total Liabilities, Level (BOGZ1FL194190005A) from 1987 to 2024 about liabilities, households, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Total Credit to Households and Non-Profit Institutions Serving Households, Adjusted for Breaks, for United States (QUSHAM770A) from Q4 1947 to Q4 2024 about adjusted, credits, households, and USA.

In 2022, 111 million households in the United States used connected TVs at least once per month. The forecast suggests that CTV consumption will further increase in the years to come, with 121 million U.S. households having CTVs, such as smart TVs, streaming devices, or gaming consoles, by 2027.

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

The number of housing units in the United States has grown year-on-year and in 2024, there were approximately *** million homes. That was an increase of about one percent from the previous year. Homeownership in the U.S. Most of the housing stock in the U.S. is owner-occupied, meaning that the person who owns the home uses it as a primary residence. Homeownership is an integral part of the American Dream, with about *** in ***** Americans living in an owner-occupied home. For older generations, the homeownership rate is even higher, showing that buying a home is an important milestone in life. Housing transactions slowing down During the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. experienced a housing market boom and witnessed an increase in the number of homes sold. Since 2020, when the market peaked, new homes transactions have slowed down and so have the sales of existing homes. That has affected the development of home prices, with several states across the country experiencing a decline in house prices.

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.

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 - Households; Total U.S. Government Securities and Municipal Securities; Asset, Transactions was -605213.00000 Mil. of $ in January of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Households; Total U.S. Government Securities and Municipal Securities; Asset, Transactions reached a record high of 3140514.00000 in October of 2022 and a record low of -2335696.00000 in January of 2021. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Households; Total U.S. Government Securities and Municipal Securities; Asset, Transactions - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Households and Nonprofit Organizations; Total Liabilities, Level (HNOTOLA027N) from 1945 to 2024 about IMA, nonprofit organizations, liabilities, households, and USA.