Cliff Mesner, Mesner Development, presented on the post-World War II American housing was driven by the housing needs of nuclear families (a married couple with children under the age of 18), the nation’s leading demographic. In 1950, these families represented 43% of our households;

Today, nuclear families account for 20% of America’s households. Unprecedented shifts in demographics and lifestyle have redefined who we are—and how we want to live.  The leading category today is single adults living alone accounting for 28% of all America’s households.  Second leading category today is couples accounting for another 25% of all America’s households.