Together, Alone
Societal trends are pulling people closer—and further apart.
Multiple trends are reshaping how people live, but in two opposing directions.
On one side, economic pressure and loneliness are driving more people into shared living situations.
In cities where affordability is scarce, creative solutions are emerging.
Former prisons are being transformed into apartment complexes. Co-living spaces pair people from different generations, forming unconventional households that meet financial and emotional needs. The desire for connection and the necessity of cost-sharing are making shared housing less of an alternative and more of a default.
Conversely, the decline of marriage and shifting social norms are leading more people to live alone, prioritizing solitude over traditional family or communal structures. Even amid a social fitness crisis, solitude is becoming aspirational.
Marriage rates continue to drop, particularly for younger men facing economic hardship. The dream of the nuclear family is fading, replaced by a growing preference for individualism, digital socialization, and the flexibility of living alone—even if it means making financial trade-offs.
These contrasting trends reveal a deeper tension in modern life: a world that is simultaneously more connected and more isolating.
In turn, this is changing our relationship with housing, highlighting how it is not just about where we live but also how we define independence, stability, and belonging.
The future of living may not be about choosing between community or solitude—but navigating a world where both are in a constant push and pull flux.
