A decade after the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Obergefell versus Hodges legalising same-sex marriage across the US, recent data shows regular growth within the variety of American households led by same-sex couples – each married and cohabiting.
According to recent figures released by the US Census Bureau, the variety of households headed by married same-sex couples increased from 425,357 in 2015, to 774,553 in 2023.
Similarly, households led by same-sex partners who are usually not married rose from 433,539 to 536,894 over the identical period.
Despite these gains, same-sex couples still make up a comparatively small portion of all households.
Married same-sex couples represent just 1.3% of all married households, while same-sex cohabiting make up 5.6% of the overall cohabiting population.
These figures are complemented by data from the American Community Survey and a recent Pew Research Center survey conducted in January 2025 on a sample of 1,154 LGBTQ adults either married or cohabiting with a same-sex partner, which sheds light on how LGBTQ adults view their relationships and the motivations behind getting married or moving in together.
While love and companionship remain central reasons, a majority of married LGBTQ adults (64%) cited legal rights and advantages as a key think about their decision to marry. Among those over 50, that figure climbs to 74%.
The evaluation also reveals patterns within the social and economic characteristics of same-sex couples.
Same-sex married households, especially those made up of two men, usually tend to have higher educational attainment.
Forty per cent of male same-sex married couples have each partners holding a bachelor’s degree, in comparison with 32% of heterosexual couples.
Income levels reflect similar disparities: male same-sex couples reported a median household income of $172,689, significantly higher than the $121,900 for female same-sex couples and $121,000 for heterosexual couples.
Employment rates also differ. About three quarters of male same-sex married couples reported that each partners are employed, in comparison with 68% of female same-sex couples and 66% of different-sex couples.
Even amongst households without children, same-sex couples, especially men, usually tend to have dual earners.
However, family dynamics vary notably.
Slightly greater than half of heterosexual married couples are raising children under 18, in comparison with 31% of female same-sex couples and only 10% of male same-sex couples.
Remarriage rates are also highest amongst women in same-sex marriages, with 34% of those households including no less than one partner who has previously been married.
Regional differences emerge as well.
Same-sex couples are inclined to reside more incessantly within the West (29% in comparison with 23%) and the Northeast (19% versus 17%) than their different-sex counterparts, who’re more concentrated within the South (39% in comparison with 35%) and Midwest (21% in comparison with 17%).
This distribution may reflect each social acceptance and policy environments that differ across regions.
The Pew survey also explored relationship satisfaction.
A powerful majority of respondents (92%) said their relationship was “going no less than fairly well,” with 63% describing it as “thoroughly.”
Among married same-sex couples, 69% reported high satisfaction, in comparison with 54% of those that are cohabiting.
These rates moderately exceed those reported by heterosexual couples in an analogous Pew survey conducted in 2019.
That said, lower than half of same-sex couples expressed strong satisfaction with certain elements of each day life.
Only 45% were very satisfied with the division of household chores, 43% with communication, 43% with work-life balance, and just 33% with their sex life.
On household responsibilities and financial contributions, most respondents said tasks were either shared equally or they personally did more no matter gender or marital status.
When it involves the explanations couples moved in together, romantic connection again topped the list.
Love and companionship were cited as major reasons by 76% and 74% of respondents, respectively.
But convenience (37%), funds (36%), and testing the connection (13%) also played roles for a lot of.
Only 6% said the need to boost children was a key think about cohabiting.
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