Tracking trends in household composition helps us understand networks of social support, possible socioeconomic trends, and what resources are needed within a community. Numerous factors can influence whether neighborhoods are able to support families, including the size and cost of housing, access to community amenities, and perceptions of safety.
The American Community Survey (ACS) surveys residents on an annual basis; however, five years of aggregated data are necessary provide numbers at a census tract or neighborhood level. Here we are comparing data from the 2009-2013 and 2014-2018 ACS data sets. Between the two time periods, there were statistically significant increases in the percent of households that were family households in the city overall, but not the CMTL area. Family households are defined as households where the householder and one or more other people are related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. During the same time period there were no significant increases in the percent of households that have youth under 18 living within them; thus, increases in the percent of family households may be indicative of an increased number of married couple households or adult family members (parents/children/siblings) living together.
American Community Survey, 2009-2013 & 2014-2018
A family household is one with one or more individuals related by birth, marriage, or adoption. The householder (person filling out ACS Survey) and all of the people in the household related to him or her are family members.
A non-family household is one where the householder is living alone or with non-relatives only.