Census Report Finds More Americans Living Alone - East Idaho News
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Census Report Finds More Americans Living Alone

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Getty 082813 SingleMan?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1377708047999Cavan Images / Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The number of Americans living solo increased significantly, marking a considerable cultural shift in the last 50 years, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

In 2012, more than 27% of American households represented individuals living alone, compared to 17% in 1970.

Despite economic hardships after the recession, which would likely drive people to share costs, more people are looking to have a place of their own.

Researchers’ data support the trends such as Americans waiting longer to marry and technology allowing people to connect online, forging different types of connections in place of the typical shared household.

The findings also shows married couples making up fewer than one in five households. In 1970, 40.3% of households were made up of traditional families.

Another contributing factor is people leading healthier lives — elderly people have been able to live longer, eliminating the need for moving in with family members, said Jonathan Vespam, a co-author of the report.

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