Life in 1950s America, By the Numbers
Elvis was on the radio, The Ed Sullivan Show was on the TV, and scores of people were hightailing it to the suburbs — this was 1950s America. It was a young nation, with 31% of its 151 million residents under age 18, and it was on the brink of change. Birth rates continued to rise at unprecedented levels, giving way to a new generation of “baby boomers.” The “nuclear family” (describing married couples with kids at home) was ingrained in the culture; more than half of all people (68% of men and 66% of women) were married. By the time the ’60s rolled around, many of these cultural norms would be upended, but this generation left a lasting mark on American society. Here is a snapshot of family life in the 1950s, by the numbers.
Around 4 Million Babies Were Born Every Year
Post-World War II America saw a rapid increase in birth rates lasting from 1946 through 1964. It became known as the “baby boom,” and the 1950s were smack dab in the middle of it. During the ’50s, around 4 million babies were born every year in America, a sharp increase from the previous average, around 2.7 million births annually between 1910 and 1945. By the end of the boom, around 77 million babies had been born. This influx of births was due to many positive aspects of the postwar era, including low unemployment rates, a burgeoning economy, low interest rates, and a strengthened middle class.
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Only 29% of Women Participated in the Workforce
In alignment with the nuclear family mindset, most ’50s households consisted of a married couple, and typically only one spouse worked (generally the man). In 1950, only 29% of working-age women living in the U.S. held a job — but nearly half of single working-age women (46.4%) worked. The number decreased dramatically among married working-age women; less than a quarter of them (21.6%) held jobs.
By 1960, the number of working women in America increased from 16.5 million to nearly 22.5 million, a 35% increase (despite only a 14% increase in the population of working-age women). The five most popular jobs for women of this era were secretary (stenographer or typist), salesperson (retail), schoolteacher, bookkeeper, and apparel factory worker.
Mortgage Rates Averaged Around 2.5%
The housing market of the 1950s was booming. An increasing number of Americans were leaving busy urban lifestyles behind in favor of the suburbs. Mortgage rates ranged between 2.1% in 1950 and 2.6% in 1959. For the 16 million World War II veterans living in 1950, the G.I. Bill lowered mortgage rates even more. For many, it was the perfect time to purchase a home.
One of the most recognizable examples of 1950s suburban neighborhoods must be the “Levittowns,” named after real estate developer William Levitt, who built thousands of houses in planned communities around the mid-Atlantic during the late 1940s and early ’50s. The most famous of these communities was in Long Island, New York, where during peak construction, one house was built every 16 minutes.
Over 4 Million Families Had TVs at Home
Around 4.4 million homes had television sets by 1950. This might sound like a lot for the era, but it was only 9% of households. By the end of the decade, the figure spiked to 90% of households, marking a transformational decade for entertainment. Television programming, especially the American sitcom, became a staple of family life. These shows epitomized the stereotypical American family unit, from the Cleavers of Leave It to Beaver to the Warrens of Father Knows Best.
A Movie Theater Ticket Cost Less Than 50 Cents
Although the golden age of Hollywood was nearing its end in the 1950s, cinemas were still as popular as ever, and fortunately for moviegoers, this pastime didn’t cost a fortune. In 1950, one theater ticket cost 46 cents, which was less than the price of a dozen eggs (60 cents). A family of four could go to the movies for the price of around two gallons of milk (one gallon cost 83 cents) — a feat that is not likely accomplished today.
Families flocked to theaters to see Disney’s Cinderella, the top-grossing film of 1950. Released on February 15, the film grossed more than $52 million that year and sold nearly 99 million tickets. Other top-grossing films of 1950 included King Solomon’s Mines, Father of the Bride, and All About Eve.
More Than Half of All Households Had Children at Home
Due to the ongoing baby boom, most American households had young children at home in the 1950s. Census records show that around 52% of households had children under 18 at home in 1950; in 2019, that number was down to 41%. Families were large during the decade: Around 58% of households had between three and five members, 21% had more than six members, 18% had two members, and only 3% had one member. The average family unit size has steadily declined since its peak during the late 1950s and early ’60s. In 2022, the average American family size was 3.13 people.
More Than 30 Million Households Owned a Car
With so many Americans moving to the suburbs in the ’50s, more and more families depended on a car to get around. In 1954, most U.S. households (64%) owned one car. Between 1954 and 1960, the number of one-car families rose from 30.1 million households to 32.4 million. Multicar ownership wasn’t popular — a little more than 8% of households owned two cars in 1954, and only 0.9% had three or more cars. (Owning two cars became slightly more common by the end of the decade.) Just how much did a car set you back during the 1950s? Two popular family cars, the Cadillac DeVille and the Oldsmobile 88 Fiesta, cost around $3,523 and $3,541, respectively, which would be around $37,000 today.
