Why suburbs are in trouble?

This could be why suburbs and low density SFR zones are in trouble.  They are basically family places.  USC has a post about Smart Growth being Anti-Child - maybe the majority of people don't value family life.  Or think that suburbs are not needed or consequential to families with, and without children.   But more people still move to low-density suburbs than higher density cities demonstrating a preference among the public for the lifestyle.

But no one should jump to the conclusion that national statistics apply directly to Lake Oswego.  The objective for including this report in the blog is to show where Smart Growth, high density, and disappearing suburbs thinking comes from - a population that no longer values what we have and treasure.  (Or maybe they are jealous?).

From the US Census:

• Sixty-six percent of households in 2012 were family households, down from 81 percent in 1970.
• Between 1970 and 2012, the share of households that were married couples with children under 18 halved from 40 percent to 20 percent.
• The proportion of one-person households increased by 10 percentage points between 1970 and 2012, from 17 percent to 27 percent.
• Between 1970 and 2012, the average number of people per household declined from 3.1 to 2.6. 
• Nearly three-quarters(72per- cent) of men aged 65 and over lived with their spouse compared with less than half (45 percent) of women.
• Married couples made up most (63 percent) of the family groups with children under the age of 18.
• Partners in married opposite- sex couples were less likely (4 percent) to be different races than partners in either unmarried opposite-sex couples (9 percent) or same-sex couples (12 percent).5
• Black children (55 percent) and Hispanic children (31 percent) were more likely to live with one parent than non-Hispanic White children (21 percent) or Asian children (13 percent).6
• During the latest recession, the percentage of stay-at-home mothers declined and did not -quarters (72per- cent) of men aged 65 and over lived with their spouse compared with less than half (45 percent) of women.
• Married couples made up most (63 percent) of the family groups with children under the age of 18.
• Partners in a married opposite- sex couples were less likely (4 percent) to be different races than partners in either unmarried opposite-sex couples (9 percent) or same-sex couples (12 percent).5
• Black children(55percent)and Hispanic children (31 percent) were more likely to live with one parent than non-Hispanic White children (21 percent) or Asian children (13 percent).6
• During the latest recession, the percentage of stay-at-home mothers declined and did not return to its prerecession level until 2012.
• During the latest recession, homeownership among house- holds with their own children under the age of 18 fell by 15 percent. These households saw a 33 percent increase in parental unemployment.