This past November 11, in addition to honoring our veterans, a large number of singletons celebrated Singles Day, which originated in China and was meant to be a “singles holiday” involving shopping. Around the world, more people are eschewing the traditional route of marrying, having children, and buying the house with the white picket fence.
The Washington region is a perfect example of this transformation in lifestyle. As of 2023, 48.6% of DC households consisted of one person. As of 2021, 22.3% of Maryland homes are owned by singletons, as are 22.9% of those in Virginia.
However, the price and availability of housing do not yet accommodate these trends. According to a 2018 DC Policy Center Report, there is a much higher demand for small households than there is supply. Like in many cities, the “singles tax” is a real problem in DC…