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Nearly half of the households in the District and Alexandria are made up of single people living alone, according to this story by the Washington Post. The findings are based on data released today from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006-2008 American Community Survey Data, which show that 26.7 percent of all households in the District are single females living alone, while 20.8 percent are single men living alone, adding up to over 47 percent of the city. That's the same percentage of single households in Alexandria, with Arlington County trailing not far off at 45 percent. By contrast, only 26 percent of households in Fairfax County were single people for the same time period.
So what's the deal? The Post's article focuses more on recent development changes in the nearby suburbs, quoting a couple of demographers saying those areas are more appealing to young people these days. I'll buy that, but it's sort of missing the point: who are all these unmarried people who can afford to live alone inside the city itself? Is there a secret cache of affordable 1-bedrooms I just couldn't find when last I went apartment hunting? Or is it possible that this survey managed to miscount the number of singles who are living with roommates?
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Lot of studio apartments in DC, Sommer. Not everyone lives the rowhouse life in Shaw.
You kidding me Sommer? They are probably giving them away down by the stadium.
I used to live down by the stadium. Definitely not the place for a single woman if she values her safety.
Sommer, I think you need a higher paying job. One that can afford you North Face jackets.
Unfortunately this is true, not only is getting mugged for a jacket that was out of "mugging style" five years ago a great feeling, but I know many single people who own condos all over town (I think Col Heights is the greatest concentration of single young professionals on the planet now- is anyone in Col Heights not under 35 and unmarried?) Lots of people under can swing a small place on 1 income (some even a big place) and many bought a while ago when prices were even higher- so don't fight the stats, just ask for a raise.
I would be interested to see how they asked their questions. I am single, but have a roommate. When I am asked about my "household", sometimes my response includes the roommate, sometimes it doesn't. We don't share income, but we do share the rent...I wouldn't be surprised if this confusion showed up in the survey - although the Census Bureau has been giving surveys for quite some time now, so one would hope their questions would not be confusing.
I do wonder if most people who live in group-houses put down "head of household" on their taxes even if there are 15 other people in the house? And we certainly have a lot of group housing in town? That would explain some of it. Technically being "single" is not the same as living alone, and I bet a lot of people say they live alone even if they have roommates- on a tax and census form that is. Especially if the rental is illegal, like so many seem to be.
>>I am single, but have a roommate.
So, Jen, you like Italian food?
The survey isn't based on data from tax returns, it's a survey. You can look at it here.
The question, which is the 2nd question (right after "what's your name and phone number") is pretty clear:
"How many people are living or staying at this address?"
I can't think of any reason not to believe the answer, unless people deliberately lied because they feared the info going to their landlord or something.
The author assumes that single people are also young people on early-career incomes. There are plenty of single people who are well-established in their careers and earn enough to live alone.
I live alone. I live in Columbia Heights. It isn't a luxury apartment by any means, but its mine. I chose to give up things like expensive entertainment in exchange so that I can have a space of my own.
There's also a fair number of elderly folks living alone after the death of a spouse. Off the top of my head, I can think of about 12 on my block of twenty or so rowhouses in Hill East.
This makes more sense. I'd buy that older people who are widowed, divorced or never married is a big part of this picture.
Huh, that's not at all where I thought you were going. I view living alone as a personal preference, not an economic necessity. Sure, you can have more total space if you share it with other people, but even on a GS-7 salary you can live alone.
Exactly. I've lived alone in some of the most expensive cities in the US. It just depends on where you put your priorities.
You can, but a lot of us want to save money to put a down payment on a house someday, so we suck it up and live with roommates.
I know there are some people who are willing to blow their entire incomes on rent, but I had the same reaction Sommer did to these statistics.
You are right, of course. I was always one of the irresponsible ones who couldn't resist the lure of my own bachelor pad.
Definitely a matter of priorities. Of my 13 years in this city, nearly half were spent living alone, and for most of the time I spent living alone, my income was shit pay as low man on the totem pole for a financially struggling performing arts non-profit. Granted, I was blessed with a few great apartment deals over that time, and never even had to do the studio thing, but I was still sometimes paying almost half my income to rent. Fiscally bad idea? Absolutely, but I liked living alone, and I'd honestly probably make the same questionable decision even with the benefit of hindsight.
This stat doesn't really surprise me...I feel like I've always known lots of people in the same boat I was in, not making much at multiple jobs just to have a space to ourselves.
DC sleeps alone tonight?
it seems so out of context, in that gaudy apartment complex.
But most *people* live with others: If the other 52% of household have an average of 3 or 4 people each, then only about 20 - 25% of residents live alone. Does that seem unusual to anyone?
I live by myself in a tiny (but awesome) studio apartment... when I was looking for a place, my #1 criteria was neighborhood and between places in the same area, I found that having a roommate or two would only save me a small amount on the rent check each month... especially since roommates like to spring for things I don't want (cable television) or can handle myself (cleaning service)... so why not live alone?
Not only does half the District live alone, half the District will end up dying alone. Unless you have a cat. Or two. Or nine. In which case, after you die, they will eat your face. But I mean that in a good way.
Yes, revise that headline to read "Close to Half of the District Will Cry Themselves to Sleep Tonight Facing Years of Desperate Solitude"
LOL that's exactly my first thought.
Closely followed by: Damn, I wish I could escape the wife and kids for a minute!
The headline should read "Half of city thanks God every day that they live alone".
Hear, hear!!
I am in the half of the district that lives alone. I also have a studio that I love. And part of why I think half of DC lives alone is that they met the other half on craigslist, lived together for a while, then decided they couldn't take it any more and would rather eat ramen everyday than deal with the crazy/alcoholic/loud/otherwise obnoxious roommates they find online.
amen to that
Lordy lord is DC an awful place to live. So glad I'm not in that hell hole anymore with all you hideous looking, plain, metro riding, career driven types. Get a hobby - other than kickball, Tom Seitsma and real estate.
Gotta admit it though, I miss it like a pain in the ass girlfriend...wouldn't mind going back for a quickie.
I love reading DCist to remind me of why i left.
I know, good riddance me.
hungeegirl is part of the 26.7! I live alone in foggy bottom - and it's cheaper than living with a roommate based on most listings i've seen on craigslist and the like.
...and some of us were smart enough to buy back in the mid 90's when rents and mortgages for one bedroom apartments and condos were about the same amount. Not all singles are 20-somethings with entry level jobs. Then again, I was a 20-something when I bought my place...and I still live alone...not even a cat...and it ROCKS!!
DC has a pretty large population of gay people compared to other cities. That could count for a portion of this "single" population. Plus anyone unmarried (or unable to get married) is considered single but that doesn't neccassarily define their situation fully.
EBK, the census doesn't care if you're gay or not, they just ask if you're the only one residing at your address. Two dudes living together, in a relationship or not, are not part of the ~50% of Washingtonians who live alone.
I live in a studio alone...
Is it ridiculously priced as compared to living in the burbs or with roommates? Perhaps.
Do I have to deal with their bullshit?
NO.
And for me, that's priceless.
The thing that pisses me off about it, though, is while most companies have raise/bonus freezes, the cost of housing keeps on going up and up and up.
I work in the District and am looking for a place for "afternoon delight" and someone to share in such delight. Do you think the "U.S. Census Bureau's 2006-2008 American Community Survey Data" lists these single women by name? Having a cute roommate willing to share in said delight is a bonus.
I was wondering how long it would take for you to weigh in. This thread has been lobbing you softballs.
I didn't want to disappoint.
Trivia: Did you know the song "Afternoon Delight" was inspired by the name of a lunch special at Clydes? That, Fugazi and Chuck Brown are DC's greatest contributions to music.
Lisa, honey, if you really want to preserve his memory, I recommend getting a tattoo. It preserves the things you love.
[pulls up sleeve]
"Starland Vocal Band"?! They suck!
Don't forget Me'shell Ndegeocello, Eva Cassidy, Danny Gatton, and Blelvis.
Blelvis, I just met that dude the other night.
And one good thing with the housing boom (and for me): taking the building condo=good deals like way below market price for purchasing your unit. 1 bedroom for $210,000 baby
Gee I dunno, could it be the kitchens the size of a closet? The lack of storage for anything larger than a box of Wheaties? I love DC, but neighborhoods safe for single women don't offer much for 2 on a budget who value any kind of privacy.
My SO & I lived 14 years out of state, moved here, and it ended shortly thereafter. I don't completely blame the 595 sq. ft moneypit condo but it sure didn't help!
There are a significant number of attorneys (firm & Feds) here who can swing solo rent in decent areas. This stat does not surprise me at all.