Household Structure Shift Tracker

How household composition changed across US metro areas from 2019 to 2024. Critical for CPG pack-format strategy and category sizing. Source: 2024 & 2019 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, US Census Bureau.

Change in average number of people per household2019 ACS to 2024 ACS. Metros with 250k+ population.

Top 10 Metros by Change in Avg Household Size (2019–2024)

RankMetro AreaChange (2019–2024)
#1Asheville, NC+0.19 people
#2Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA+0.03 people
#3Stockton-Lodi, CA+0.02 people
#4Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA+0.01 people
#5Reno, NV0 people
#6Springfield, MO0 people
#7Visalia, CA0 people
#8Merced, CA0 people
#9Pittsburgh, PA-0.01 people
#10Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-0.01 people
#11Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA-0.01 people
#12Modesto, CA-0.01 people
#13Youngstown-Warren, OH-0.01 people
#14Spartanburg, SC-0.01 people
#15Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA-0.01 people
#16Duluth, MN-WI-0.01 people
#17Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA-0.02 people
#18York-Hanover, PA-0.02 people
#19Springfield, MA-0.02 people
#20Flint, MI-0.02 people
#21Canton-Massillon, OH-0.02 people
#22Green Bay, WI-0.02 people
#23Fresno, CA-0.03 people
#24Knoxville, TN-0.03 people
#25Huntsville, AL-0.03 people
#26Manchester-Nashua, NH-0.03 people
#27Montgomery, AL-0.03 people
#28Roanoke, VA-0.03 people
#29Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA-0.03 people
#30Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA-0.04 people
#31Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ-0.04 people
#32Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH-0.04 people
#33Chattanooga, TN-GA-0.04 people
#34Clarksville, TN-KY-0.04 people
#35Cedar Rapids, IA-0.04 people
#36Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN-0.05 people
#37Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY-0.05 people
#38Tulsa, OK-0.05 people
#39Bakersfield-Delano, CA-0.05 people
#40Worcester, MA-0.05 people
#41Wichita, KS-0.05 people
#42Toledo, OH-0.05 people
#43Portland-South Portland, ME-0.05 people
#44Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL-0.05 people
#45Reading, PA-0.05 people
#46Rockford, IL-0.05 people
#47Kennewick-Richland, WA-0.05 people
#48Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT-0.05 people
#49Erie, PA-0.05 people
#50Lynchburg, VA-0.05 people

Biggest Increase in Average Household Size (2019–2024)

These metros saw the largest growth in avg. people per household — implications for larger pack formats, multi-serve SKUs, and family-oriented products.

RankMetro AreaChange in Avg HH SizeCurrent Avg HH Size
#1Asheville, NC+0.192.51
#2Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA+0.032.45
#3Stockton-Lodi, CA+0.023.19
#4Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA+0.012.49
#5Reno, NV02.47
#6Springfield, MO02.38
#7Visalia, CA03.3
#8Merced, CA03.32
#9Pittsburgh, PA-0.012.24
#10Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-0.012.63

Biggest Growth in Multigenerational Households (2019–2024)

Multigenerational households drive higher per-household consumption across categories from food to personal care.

RankMetro AreaChange in Multigen HH%Population
#1New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ0pp19,798,537
#2Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA0pp12,974,487
#3Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN0pp9,371,595
#4Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX0pp7,985,590
#5Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX0pp7,442,788
#6Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV0pp6,318,377
#7Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD0pp6,272,014
#8Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA0pp6,256,377
#9Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL0pp6,249,291
#10Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ0pp5,028,754

Deltas calculated from 2019 ACS 5-Year Estimates vs. 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. Figures are estimates with margins of error. Some metros may show data gaps for variables with high suppression rates.