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Half-Century of Decline Ends: Household Size is Up

Based on 2010 Census data on 12 states and the District of Columbia, the average household size is creeping up after falling for the past 50 years.

In Florida, the average household size rose to 2.48 persons per household from 2.46 a decade ago. The Sunshine State, along with Tennessee, also recorded the biggest increase in average household size among renters.

Experts attribute household expansion to the economic downturn, with young adults who are unable to find jobs living with their parents and people who lost their homes to foreclosure moving in with family or friends. Ohio State University sociology professor Zhenchao Qian reports a jump in young adults between the ages of 19 and 29 who live with their parents to 34 percent in recent years from 25 percent in 1980.

Brookings Institution demographer William Frey says immigrants living with in-laws and other relatives also has contributed to the larger household size.

Source: "After 50 Years of Decline, Household Size Is Growing," USA Today (05/04/11)

Published Sunday, May 08, 2011 12:26 PM by Blair Webb

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