How roommates replaced spouses in the 20th century

In 1968, just six percent of young people –between 18 and 31 — lived with platonic roommates, according to Pew Research. The vast majority (85 percent!) of Americans who had moved on from their homes and college dorms shacked up with spouses.

In the last half-century, home life for young people has undergone an amazing shift. Friends and Craigslist strangers have essentially replaced spouses as the de facto first living-partners for American 20-somethings. Here’s my graph, drawn with Current Population Survey numbers (via Pew Research)…