Same-Sex Couple Households in U.S. Surpass One Million

There were about 1.2 million same-sex couple households in the United States in 2021, according to recently released Census Bureau data.

Kiss GIF

Kiss GIF

Around 710,000 of the same-sex couple households were married and about 500,000 were unmarried.

Pride Pride Flag GIF

Pride Pride Flag GIF

These and many other estimates can be found in the Census Bureau’s recently released package of tables and graphics about the characteristics of same-sex couple households, which are based on American Community Survey (ACS) data.

Kissing Long Kiss GIF

Kissing Long Kiss GIF

The average age of householders in same-sex married couples (48.9 years) was lower than in opposite-sex married couples (52.8 years). But the average age of householders in same-sex unmarried couples (42.0 years) was higher than in opposite-sex unmarried couples (39.9 years)

Cuddle Gay Couple GIF

Cuddle Gay Couple GIF

– The share of female-female and male-male couples with both partners employed did not differ significantly, though median household income in female same-sex couple households ($92,470) was lower than in male same-sex couple households ($116,800).

Holding Your Hand Gene GIF

Holding Your Hand Gene GIF

– Both partners had at least a bachelor’s degree in a larger share of same-sex (29.6%) than opposite-sex (18.1%) unmarried couples.

Jylan Jackson GIF

Jylan Jackson GIF

– A larger share of same-sex (31.6%) than opposite-sex (18.4%) married couples were interracial. – The District of Columbia (2.5%) had the highest percentage of same-sex couple households of any state or state equivalent.

Rainbow Pride GIF

Rainbow Pride GIF

– A larger share of same-sex (31.6%) than opposite-sex (18.4%) married couples were interracial. – The District of Columbia (2.5%) had the highest percentage of same-sex couple households of any state or state equivalent.

Rainbow Pride GIF

Rainbow Pride GIF

This is the second time the Census Bureau has released ACS estimates of same-sex couple households since revising the survey’s relationship to householder question to more accurately capture same-sex relationships.

Lgbt Couple Dan Levy GIF

Lgbt Couple Dan Levy GIF

The ACS does not identify all couples living together since it only collects information about each household member’s relationship to the householder, rather than about the relationships among all household members.