Years ago, a sociologist wrote a much-discussed book about Americans’ lack of social interactions. It was called, ‘Bowling Alone.’
But it isn’t just when they go out to the local alley, solitude is increasingly the American way of life, according to a Census Bureau study.
That report, just posted by demographer Cheryl Russell over at Demo Memo shows that living alone is now the most common household type.
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There are more people living alone than there are married couples without children at home, making "lone living the most common household type in the United States," Russell writes.
The breakdown shows that 28 percent of Americans live alone, just slightly more than the 27.6 percent who are married couples without children at home (at least children who are younger than 18; apparently they didn't count having your college grad in the basement).
Just about one in five – 20.5 percent – are married couples with children under age 18 at home.
About one in eight – 12.5 percent – are families headed by women.
The others? Census says 6.4 percent of Americans are unrelated people living together and taking up the rear are male-led households: 4.9 percent.
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