By 2030, 1 in 5 people in the United States — or 20 percent of the nation's population — will be age 65 or older. By 2034, people age 65 or over will outnumber children age 17 or younger. These and other population statistics and projections are why AARP has a Livable Communities initiative.
The nation's population is rapidly aging — but the nation's housing stock isn't suitable for what's coming. Only about 10 percent of all homes in the United States are aging-ready.
In the decades following World War II, the typical U.S. household consisted of a married couple with children. Fast-forward to today, when adults living alone is a growing phenomenon across all ages and incomes. Shifts in demographics are redefining the housing we now need.
Filled with infographics, ideas, solutions, photographs and floor plans from a National Building Museum exhibition of the same name, Making Room: Housing for a Changing America is a rallying cry for a wider menu of housing options.
SURVEYS AND STATISTICS
Visit the AARP Livable Communities A-Z Archive for links to reports, articles and more about demographics and community needs and preferences.
