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<br /> Page 7
<br />Everett 2044 Housing Element Appendix
<br />Category 2: Sensitfve informatfon
<br />Shifting Household Structures and Living Arrangements
<br />Everett’s growth over the past decade hasn’t just been about numbers—it’s also been about how people
<br />live together. From aging adults living alone to multfgeneratfonal families sharing space, Everett’s
<br />households are diversifying in both size and form.
<br />Since 2010, the total number of households in Everett has grown from 40,882 to 44,255 in 2023—an
<br />8.3% increase. Single-person households remain the most common household type in the city, with
<br />more than 14,500 individuals living alone in 2023. Many of these residents are older adults, a reflectfon
<br />of Everett’s aging populatfon and the increasing number of seniors aging in place.
<br />Family households have grown from 22,970 to 24,650—a gain of 7.3%. At the same tfme, non-family
<br />households, such as roommates or unrelated adults living together, grew by 9.5%, rising from 17,912 to
<br />19,605. These non-family households now make up 44% of all housing units in the city. As housing costs
<br />contfnue to rise, more Everett residents are living in shared arrangements out of necessity or practfcality,
<br />especially young adults and lower-income workers.
<br />The share of households with children under 18 has declined, dropping from 58% in 2010 to just over
<br />50% in 2023. This is not only a functfon of an aging populatfon but may also reflect economic realitfes for
<br />young families that may struggle to find affordable housing within the city. The overall average
<br />household size has remained stable—around 2.43 people per household. Owner-occupied households
<br />tend to be slightly larger, averaging 2.55 people, while renter households are smaller at 2.31. The data
<br />shows a signal of strain from increasing overcrowding. The number of households with more than 1.5
<br />people per room—an indicator of severe overcrowding—has nearly quadrupled from 245 in 2010 to 928
<br />households in 2023. In total, more than 2,500 households in Everett now live in some degree of crowded
<br />conditfons, oflen concentrated among larger families, renters, and low-income communitfes.
<br />Age distributfon within households also highlights growing pressures. Households headed by residents
<br />under age 35 declined slightly, falling from 11,610 to 10,688. In contrast, households led by residents
<br />aged 65 to 84 increased dramatfcally, from 5,641 to 8,779—a 55% jump. These trends speak to both
<br />affordability and changing life stages: younger adults are forming households more slowly or staying in
<br />shared housing longer, while older adults are staying in their homes longer, oflen living alone or as
<br />couples.
<br />Housing Underproduction and Changing Unit Types
<br />For a city that has steadily grown in populatfon and diversity, Everett’s housing productfon over the past
<br />two decades has not kept pace. While the number of housing units has increased, the rate of
<br />constructfon slowed compared to previous decades and the mismatch between housing needs and
<br />housing types is becoming increasingly clear. Between 2010 and 2023, Everett added approximately
<br />3,565 new housing units, bringing the city’s total to 47,499. That translates to an average of just 274 new
<br />units per year—below what’s needed to meet demand and growth targets.
<br />The city’s share of Snohomish County’s housing stock has declined amid rapid growth in previously less-
<br />developed parts of the county. In 2000, Everett accounted for 16.3% of the county’s housing units. By
<br />2023, that share had declined to 14.6%. The type of housing being built has also skewed toward a
<br />narrower range of optfons. In 2023, nearly 45% of Everett’s housing units were single-family detached
<br />homes. Although there has been some growth in attached units, townhomes, and small apartment
<br />buildings, these increases have been incremental. For instance, the number of duplexes and triplexes—
<br />two to four unit structures—rose from 4,843 units in 2010 to 5,436 in 2023. Larger apartment buildings
<br />with 20 or more units increased modestly, from 7,514 to 8,682 units over the same period.
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