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Demographic Trends Census Brief:
- Average household size in San Jose has experienced ups and downs over the last thirty years, but exhibited relative stability in more recent years. In 1970, the number of persons per household (pph) was 3.35. Then, during the 1970’s, average household size declined substantially to 2.96 pph by 1980. From there, average household size rose modestly but steadily throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s, to 3.08 pph in 1990 and 3.20 pph in 2000. By comparison, the average household size in Santa Clara County as a whole was somewhat smaller in 2000, at 2.92 pph.
- The number of very large households (7 or more persons) in San Jose grew at a rapid pace during the last twenty years, rising over 150% from 6,473 households in 1980 to 16,968 households in 2000. Meanwhile, the number of persons living alone increased at approximately the same rate of growth as the City's overall increase in households (about 30%), from 39,097 households in 1980 to 50,938 households in 2000.
- Substantial differences exist in household size figures and trends among the City's major race/ethnic groups. Non-Hispanic White households are relatively small, at 2.42 pph in 2000, and have been shrinking slowly since 1980 (1980= 2.72 pph; 1990= 2.56 pph). On the other hand, Hispanic households are larger, at 4.61 pph in 2000, and have been growing over the past two decades (1980= 3.66 pph; 1990= 4.22 pph). San Jose's Asian households exhibit a blend of these characteristics (1990= 4.03 pph; 2000= 3.68 pph).
- Variation in the average size of San Jose households based on housing tenure (i.e., owner-occupied versus renter-occupied) was negligible in 2000. Interestingly, this is in sharp contrast with household size data from 1970, indicating that at that time the average size of owner-occupied households was nearly one person larger than renter-occupied households. Similarity in household size by tenure in 2000 is the result of a decline in the size of owner-occupied households (from 3.70 pph in 1970 to 3.22 pph in 2000) coupled with an increase in the size of renter-occupied households (from 2.74 pph in 1970 to 3.16 pph in 2000).
- The incidence of overcrowding (defined as occupied housing units with more than one person per room) in San Jose has increased dramatically over the 1970-2000 time period. In 1970, the proportion of total occupied housing units that were overcrowded was just 7.6%, which rose slightly to 8.9% in 1980. Thereafter, overcrowding grew at a far more rapid pace, jumping to 14.2% in 1990 and to 18.3% in 2000. Thus, the rate of overcrowding more than doubled during the last two decades. Renter-occupied units constituted the majority (61.2%) of overcrowded housing in 2000.
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