More American Households Have Pets Than Children

April 13, 2024

Did you know there more American households with pets than with children? 70% of Americans own a pet, while only 40% of households have children under 18.

More American Households Have Pets Than Children

Did you know there are currently more households with pets than with children? According to the U.S. Census, the share of families with children living in their homes under the age of 18 has continued to decline. The share with children in 2022 stands at 40%, down from 48% in 2002. This is likely for two reasons: birthrates overall have been declining (outside of the increase in the last year), and there is a large share of Baby Boomer households whose children may have left the nest already.

Share of Americans With Children in the Home

Pet Ownership On The Rise

While children in U.S. households have declined in the last 20 years, pet ownership has steadily risen. According to the American Pet Products Association,(link is external) 70% of American households own a pet. This is up from 56% in 1988. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans adopted pets for companionship and entertainment. The American Pet Product Association reports that dogs and cats are the most common household pets.

Share of Americans With Pets in the Home

Investing Time and Financial Resources Toward Animals

Americans are investing a significant amount of time and financial resources towards their animals. According to the BLS American Time Use Survey(link is external) the share of Americans who are spending time on their pets and the amount of time spent have both increased. In 2003, 13.2% of Americans spent time with their pets daily. In 2021, that share has grown to 19.7% and 22.8% of women. The amount of time spent on pets has increased from .62 hours in 2003 to .77 hours in 2021. Furthermore, not only is additional time being spent with pets, but financial resources as well. According to the American Pet Products Association(link is external), total U.S. pet industry expenditures has grown from $53.3 Billion in 2012 to $123.6 Billion in 2021.

Share of Americans Who Spend Time Daily on Their Pets

Pets An Important Factor In Home Buying Decisions

Given the increased share of pets in households and the increased time and resources spent on pets, it is no surprise some home buyers consider their pets the most important factor when making home buying decisions. Factors such as proximity to the vet and outdoor space for pets is important for buyers with pets. Among all unmarried couples, nearly one-third of buyers considered their pet when deciding their neighborhood to purchase in compared to 14% of married couples. One-quarter of single women considered factored their pet into their neighborhood choice in comparison to 16% of single men. This trend is similar to the BLS Time Use Survey which found women are more likely to spend time with pets on a daily basis.  

Share of Recent Home Buyers Who Factored Their Pets Into Their Neighborhood Choice

Among those who considered their pet to be very important to their neighborhood choice, they were also more likely to factor in a pet for other neighborhood features than those who did not. Pet lovers also purchased a home in an area with availability of larger lots or acreage and were more interested in convenience to parks and recreation areas and in walkability. This is not a surprise as it is likely not just the human who desires these neighborhood features but the pet themselves who need room to run and play.

Buyers' Neighborhood Factors Most Important Among Those Who Considered Their Pet

For more trends on home buyers and recent activity of buyers, check out the full Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report.

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This article was written by Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Research at the National Association of REALTORS®. The original article can be found here.

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