Issue link: http://townofcary.uberflip.com/i/791946
CHAPTER 2: LIVE 18 Growing Ethnic and Racial Diversity Cary has become more racially and ethnically diverse over the last two decades, with the Asian popula on rising from 8.1% in 2000, to 13% in 2010 and 19.8% in 2020. The Hispanic/La no popula on rose from 4.3% to 7.7% to 8.1% during the same period. In total, Asian and Hispanic/La no residents make up almost 30% of Cary's total popula on. Cary's residents that are foreign born are also on the rise from 5% in 1990 increasing to 20% in 2010, and 22.4% in 2020. Changing Household Types and Sizes In 2010, the characteris cs for Cary showed more single-per- son households. This aligns with trends of more couples wai ng longer to marry, more married couples without children, and more households with unrelated roommates. For example, the number of unmarried singles in Cary increased from 23.5% in 2000 to 28.2% in 2010, and the number of people living alone increased from 21% to 23.9%. Between 1990 and 2010, the num- ber of family households decreased from 85% to 70%. However, over the past 10 years, Cary's unmarried singles have decreased to 24.4%, and the number of people living alone has decreased to 22.4%, while family households have increased to 72.3%. Millennials and Generation Z In 2010, 10.9% of Cary's popula on was millennials compared with 13.7% in North Carolina and 13.9% for the en re United States. Based on the 2020 U.S. Census, millennials make up 21.7% of Cary's popula on. This is higher than 18.9% in North Carolina and 19.5% in the United States. Cary's strong job market, housing opportuni es, and recrea on ameni es are all factors that could have contributed to this change. Since the 2010 U.S. Census, the Gen-Z popula on, born between 1997 and 2012, has graduated from high school and college and are entering the workforce. Cary has a smaller Gen-Z popula on at 18.7% when compared with North Carolina at 19.7% and the United States at 19.7%. In addi on to factors contribu ng to millennial popula on growth, Gen-Z preferences include being part of a smart, well-connected community with robust digital services; having access to transit and housing op ons; and being part of a socially connected, environmentally focused community. The U.S. Census defines a family household to be one where a minimum of two people in a household are related by birth, marriage, or adop on. A non-family household is defined by the Census as a household where a person lives alone, or that none of the household members are related by birth, marriage, or adop on. FOREIGN- BORN 5.0% FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS 85.0% NON-FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS 15.0% FOREIGN- BORN 20.0% NON-FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS 30.0% FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS 70.0% FOREIGN- BORN 22.0% NON-FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS 28.0% FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS 72.0% 2020 2010 1990