Definition in Detail
A household refers to one or more individuals who live together in a single housing unit as their primary place of residence. This term encompasses families, roommates, and single individuals sharing a home. Unlike group quarters, which include places like dormitories, correctional facilities, and nursing homes, households represent private living arrangements. Various forms of households include:
- Single-person household: An individual living alone.
- Family household: Includes relatives living together, such as married couples, couples with children, or extended families.
- Non-family household: Individuals or a group of non-related people sharing a housing unit, such as roommates.
Examples
Example 1: The United States had a population estimated at 331 million in July 2021, residing in approximately 128 million occupied households. The average household size was about 2.51 persons.
Example 2: In the 2021 Canadian census, there were approximately 14 million households, with an average size of around 2.43 persons per household.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between a household and family? A household comprises all people occupying a housing unit, which can include families or groups of unrelated individuals. In contrast, a family consists of two or more individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption living together.
2. Can a household have more than one family? Yes, a household can include multiple families, known as an extended family household.
3. Do roommates count as a household? Yes, roommates living together in a housing unit constitute a household regardless of their relationship to each other.
4. What signifies a principal residence? A principal residence is the main location where an individual or a household lives for the majority of the year and conducts daily living activities.
5. How does household size affect real estate market trends? Household size can influence housing demand, with larger households often seeking bigger homes and smaller households preferring compact living spaces.
Related Terms with Definitions
- Principal Residence: The main dwelling where a person or family lives.
- Housing Unit: A single unit of residence that provides permanent or semi-permanent living quarters.
- Group Quarters: Living arrangements for individuals in institutional settings or group living situations like dormitories or military barracks.
- Census Data: Statistical data collected through the national census, detailing population characteristics including household sizes and compositions.
- Occupancy Rate: The percentage of occupied housing units in a given area.
- Household Income: Cumulative income of all members of a household combined, often used in economic and market analysis.
Online Resources
- U.S. Census Bureau
- Statistical Atlas
- National Household Travel Survey
- United Nations Statistics Division
References
- U.S. Census Bureau. (2021). “Population and Housing Unit Estimates.”
- Statistics Canada. (2021). “Census Profiles, 2021 Census of Population.”
Suggested Books for Further Studies
- “The American Census: A Social History” by Margo J. Anderson
- “Understanding the Census: A Guide to Using Data and Evaluating Federal Statistics” by David J. Mladenoff
- “Housing Economics and Public Policy” edited by Anthony O’Sullivan and Kenneth Gibb
- “The Oxford Handbook of Urban Economics and Planning” edited by Nancy Brooks, Kieran Donaghy, and Gerrit Knaap
