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Not all demographic change shows up in population growth. Sometimes they show up in how people live.

Over the past decade, one of the most meaningful shifts across the country has been the rise of one-person households. Nationally, the share of households consisting of a single person increased from 27.8% in 2014 to 28.9% in 2024. That represents a 1.1 percentage-point increase over the past decade.

However, in some metros, the change has been significantly larger. Jackson, Michigan, stands out as one of the clearest examples of that change. In 2014, about 28.6% of households in the Jackson metro area were occupied by a single person. By 2024, that share had increased to 38.7%. That is a 10.1 percentage-point increase in just ten years. A decade ago, about one in four households lived alone. Today, it is nearly four in ten.

When we talk about a demographic shift being “structural,” we mean that it changes what is typical. In Jackson, living alone is no longer a niche market segment; it is becoming an increasing trend in the metro’s household composition. This comparison reflects consistent geographic boundaries over time. The metro area did not change, but the households did.

There is no single explanation. Instead, it’s usually a combination of factors.

Aging plays a role, but it is not the only reason. Jackson’s median age rose only slightly over the decade, from 41.2 to 41.8. That modest increase suggests that the rise in one-person households is not simply the result of a rapidly aging or retirement-heavy population. In some Florida or coastal retirement markets, rising solo living can be closely associated with older adults aging in place.

Affordability can also play a role. In extremely high-cost metros, living alone can be financially difficult. But in more affordable markets, single-adult households may be more feasible. Housing markets that remain relatively affordable can allow individuals - whether young professionals, mid-career workers, or older adults - to live independently. And data show that this can happen across many Midwest markets. When looking across the metros with the largest increases in the share of one-person households, a pattern emerges: many are located in Midwestern states such as Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. These are not necessarily the fastest-growing population centers in the country. Instead, they are markets where population growth may be moderate, but household composition is changing. Even if total population changes are modest, the number of housing units needed can increase as average household size declines. Smaller households mean more units per capita. That is observable in Jackson. The metro has not dramatically aged, nor has it experienced a sudden population boom. Yet the share of people living alone has risen significantly, reshaping what a “typical” household looks like in this market.

This matters for housing markets. When more people live alone, demand patterns shift. Smaller homes, condominiums, townhomes, and low-maintenance properties may become more attractive. Aging-in-place design becomes more relevant. Rental demand dynamics can change. Even infrastructure and neighborhood design may also need to adapt to a higher share of single-adult households.

While Jackson stands out for the magnitude of its shift, this is not the only market experiencing this trend. Larger metros such as Chicago, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. have also seen increases in one-person households over the past decade. In those markets, however, the increase has generally been more gradual and closer to the national average. The difference is scale. Nationally, the share rose 1.1 percentage points. In Jackson, it rose more than ten.

Thus, understanding not just how many people live in a place, but how they live, may matter more than ever.