In the five years since the pandemic began, the housing habits of Seattle residents ages 18 to 34 have changed noticeably. In 2019, about 70,600 people in this age group, or 28%, lived with roommates, making it the most common arrangement. About 47,200 young residents, or 19%, lived alone. By 2024, the figures had nearly reversed: roughly 69,800 people, or 27%, lived on their own, while 46,100, or 18%, shared housing with roommates. This is especially notable in Seattle, one of the most expensive rental markets in the United States, where the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is now about $1,948 per month.
The Census does not establish the exact reasons for the change, but the pandemic likely played an important role. The spread of remote work increased the value of personal space, while living in cramped apartments with roommates during lockdowns may have persuaded those who could afford it to pay more for separate housing. A similar trend occurred across nearly the entire country: from 2019 to 2024, the share of young people living alone increased in 45 of the 50 largest U.S. cities, while the share living with roommates declined in 43. In Seattle, the eight-percentage-point increase in solo living was the fourth-largest, while the 10-point decline in the share living with roommates was second only to San Francisco.
In 2024, Seattle ranked second among the largest U.S. cities for the share of young people living alone, behind only Washington, D.C. At the same time, the city led in the share of young adults living with an unmarried partner: 22%, or approximately 56,300 people — nearly 10,000 more than in 2019. Only 9% of Seattle’s young residents lived with their parents, the lowest rate among the 50 largest cities and a figure that had barely changed from 2019. The statistics include only people living in traditional households and exclude college dormitories and other forms of group living.
Based on: Roommates out, living alone in, among Seattle young adults