Alabama’s Housing Units and Households Increase in 1998

July 26th, 2019

Alabama had an estimated 1,866,000 housing units on July 1, 1998, up from 1,670,000 reported on April 1, 1990. This 11.7 percent increase compares to a 10.0 percent gain for the United States. According to the Census Bureau, the number of households in Alabama grew 10.4 percent, increasing from 1,507,000 on April 1, 1990 to 1,663,000 as of July 1, 1998. Gains nationwide amounted to 9.9 percent. Compared to 1996, the number of households in Alabama was up 39,000 in 1998, or 2.4 percent.

The aging of the baby boom generation boosted the number of Alabama households with a householder aged 45 to 54 by 34.2 percent between April 1, 1990 and July 1, 1998 and those with householders 35 to 44 by 15.6 percent. Alabama households with householders aged 15 to 24 increased 3.3 percent; 55 to 64, 7.4 percent; and 65 and over, 7.8 percent. Only the state’s households headed by 25 to 34 year olds declined (-5.9 percent); the United States saw declines in households for heads aged 15 to 24 and 25 to 34.

With 14.0 percent of 1998 households headed by a 55 to 64 year old and 22.5 percent by a householder 65 and over, Alabama households are more elderly than average—36.5 percent of households are in these two categories, compared to 34.5 percent of U.S. households. Shares of Alabama households by age of householder include ages 15-24, 5.7 percent; 25-34, 17.2 percent; 35-44, 21.8 percent; and 45-54, 18.9 percent.

Persons per household in Alabama were estimated at 2.56 in 1998, compared to 2.61 for the nation. Alabama reported an average of 2.62 persons per household in 1990.

Users may access a table of housing unit and household data for 1990 and 1998 under Populations Estimates and Projections in the Data area of this site.