How Many People Live Alone in Manhattan?

According to studies conducted in 2000 and 2005, almost half of all households in Manhattan are occupied by single people who choose to live alone. The United States Census Bureau reports that New York County has the highest number of single-person households of any county in the U.S. One reason for the number of singles in the Manhattan area is the number of widows and widowers who remain in homes that they once shared with their spouses. Other factors include younger people delaying marriage or establishing domestic partnerships as well as higher incomes that allow people to rent or own residences without needing roommates to cover the expense.

More facts about living alone:

• Singles in Manhattan and other places often can function well with studio apartments or one-bedroom apartments, giving them more options when it comes to finding affordable places to live.


• Living alone allows people to develop quirks that might not emerge when living with others. This includes things such as never closing the bathroom door to experimenting with sleep schedules.


• Singles who also work at home might choose to work longer hours on some days of the week so that they can enjoy more leisure time on other days.