The narrative surrounding the current housing crisis often focuses on skyrocketing prices, leaving a generation feeling locked out of homeownership. Statistics paint a stark picture: young adults are delaying, or forgoing, the dream of owning a home at rates unseen in previous generations. The first-time buyer share is dwindling, and the age of achieving that milestone is steadily climbing.
While increasing housing supply is frequently proposed as the solution, a less discussed factor is quietly reshaping the landscape of affordability: the decline of marriage. It’s not merely a social shift, but a powerful economic force impacting the housing market in profound ways. Today, only 60% of 35-year-old men are married, a dramatic drop from the 90% recorded in 1980.
The simple truth is that two incomes offer a significant advantage when saving for a down payment and managing monthly mortgage payments. This isn’t a new concept; it reflects a traditional ideal of “cornerstone marriage” – a partnership built on shared struggle and mutual advancement. This contrasts sharply with the modern “capstone marriage,” often occurring after financial stability is already achieved.
Beyond the financial benefits of combined income, the rise of single-person households is exacerbating the housing shortage. Fewer couples mean more individuals competing for the same limited number of homes. This isn’t a minor trend; it’s a fundamental demographic shift with significant consequences.
Consider the numbers: the average household size has shrunk from 3.3 people in 1960 to just 2.4 in 2024. Simultaneously, the total number of households has surged, climbing from 117 million in 2010 to 132 million today. This increase outpaces population growth, indicating a clear rise in the number of individual living spaces needed.
The shift is particularly noticeable in single-person households, which grew from 31 million to 38 million between 2010 and 2024. Meanwhile, three-person households barely increased. Even that modest growth may be misleading, as many young adults are delaying independence and remaining in their parents’ homes – a trend virtually unheard of in previous generations.
In 1960, only 11% of men and 7% of women aged 25-34 lived with their parents. By 2022, those numbers had risen to 19% and 12% respectively. This contributes to a growing sense of isolation, as more Americans find themselves living alone, and experiencing a documented rise in loneliness.
Government housing policies, while intended to help, can inadvertently reinforce this trend. Public housing and voucher programs often prioritize individuals with the lowest incomes, frequently single mothers or elderly women without spouses. Consequently, two-adult households with children represent a mere 3% of those receiving assistance.
Ultimately, the connection between marriage and housing affordability is undeniable. Combining incomes eases the financial burden, and reducing the demand for separate households alleviates pressure on the market. It’s a simple equation: two heads are often better than one, and sometimes, one home is enough for two.
