Average Household Size

A household is defined in the American Community Survey as all the people who occupy a housing unit, which can be a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or any other space that is occupied as separate living quarters. Since households can be occupied by single or multiple families, groups of unrelated people, or single persons, it is important to specify the type of living arrangement that characterizes them. 

Household size is important to measure to aid in understanding the living conditions and quality of life of the inhabitants of a neighborhood. This, in turn, can help identify problems such as overcrowding, rent burden, and shortages in housing supply; informing the design of interventions to address them.

Children in Single-Parent Households / Families with Children

The Census Bureau defines a related child in a household as “any child under 18 years old who is related to the householder by
birth, marriage, or adoption. Related children of the householder include ever-married as well as never-married children. Children, by definition, exclude persons under 18 years who maintain households or are spouses or unmarried partners of
householders.”

The defining factor of a single-parent household for a child is that only one of their parents are present, regardless of if there are other, unrelated inhabitants in the household. Understanding both the share of the neighborhood that is made up of families with children as well as  the percentage of children living in single parent households helps assess the living conditions of children in a neighborhood, as well as their residential arrangements. It further helps to understand the familial relationships common in a given area. Knowledge about residential arrangements and the living circumstances of children are essential for understanding the needs of a community and the provision of resources like daycare, education, and social services.