Advancing a Collaborative Agenda in Southeast LA
Advancing a Collaborative Agenda in Southeast LA In 2022, the California Community Foundation (CCF) launched the Regional Recovery Hub to strengthen place-based coordination in Los Angeles County
Learn More
Average Household Size
Metadata
Variable Definitions:
Average Household Size for all Units: The average number of people living in a household
Average Household Size for Owner Units: The average number of people living in an owner-occupied household
Average Household Size for Renter Units: The average number of people living in an renter-occupied household
Source:
American Community Survey, 5-year estimates, Table B25010
Years Available:*
2011 – 2023
*Note: Each year of available data shown above is a 5-year estimate, or an average of data collected over a five year period. 5-year estimates are used to increase the reliability of the data at small geographies like neighborhoods and census tracts. The years shown on the NDSC map represent the final year of the five year average (e.g. “2010” represents 2006-2010 data, “2011” represents 2007-2011 data, and so on). For the most impactful comparison of data over time, the ACS recommends comparing non-overlapping years (e.g. 2010-14 with 2015-19).
Why are these variables important to measure?
Average household size measures the average number of people living in a housing unit in a given area. Given the different responsibilities, financial situations, and lifestyles of renters versus homeowners, it can be helpful to differentiate data about households based on who is occupying the unit. This provides a clearer understanding of the living conditions, decision-making, and housing availability/affordability in different communities.
Measuring average household size gives a glimpse into how people in a city are living, as it relates to housing density and the square footage per person in the household (Freidlander, 2014). At face value, it may indicate what type of housing is needed based on current population preferences and zoning. However, looking forward, a worsening affordability crisis in large metro areas such as LA may push residents further into shared living with roommates, parents, or extended family to lessen cost burdens, especially in Los Angeles (Anderson, 2025). As home prices continue to grow and fewer people are able to afford living on their own, the demand for shared housing units is increasing more than there are available units being built (HUD User, 2021). Thus, issues with housing affordability can lessen demand for single living and result in a subsequent change in the average number of people living in a single housing unit.
Changes in household size can paint a full picture of pressures residents face in the housing market, which impacts broader social and economic outcomes. Doubling up, and thus increased household size, may indicate unmet housing demand and housing precarity. Important life decisions, such as having children, are more likely to be delayed for adults as financial burdens and cost of living grows (Sharma, 2020), as adults wish to find their ideal living situation before expanding the family. Average household size can serve as a small look into a big picture of Los Angeles’ housing crisis.
See also: Household Types, Overcrowding
Written by Justin Culetu and Cameron Yap
Citations:
Anderson, M., (2025, January 28). Cities whose residents are most likely to live with roommates. Porch. Link
Friedlander, D., (2014, February 18). Why Household Size Matters. Lifeedited. Link
Office of Policy Development and Research,. (2021, June). Insights into Housing and Community Development Policy. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Link
Sharma, A., (2020, June 23). Are housing costs to blame for California’s plummeting fertility rate?. Cal Matters. Link
Related Data Stories
Every Angeleno Counts: The 2020 Census in Los Angeles
Every ten years, the federal government conducts a “census,” where it counts every person living in the United States. The constitution mandates that all people
Little Tokyo’s Aging Community
Our nation’s population is aging and will continue to grow older over the next several decades. There are currently 49.2 million people ages 65 and
