Maine has the smallest average family size in the nation, a distinction it shares with West Virginia. Both states' average family size is 2.9. In Maine, that is down from 3.03 a decade ago.
The Census Bureau defines a family as two or more persons related by blood or marriage living in the same household.
There is not a single factor that determines a state's average family size. One of the most influential factors is the age of the population. Maine has the third oldest median age in the country, right behind Florida which also has a small average family size.
Utah has the largest average family size at 3.75. It also has by far the lowest median age: 27.1.
The ethnic makeup of a state may also affect family size. Nationally, Hispanics have larger families than non-Hispanics whites. Because Maine's population is overwhelmingly white and non-Hispanic, this may be a major factor.
Another may be that people are delaying marriage, living together without being married or keeping separate residences after marriage.
| Small-family states and family sizes |
| Small-family states |
Average family size |
Median age |
| Maine |
2.90 |
38.6 |
| West Virginia |
2.90 |
38.9 |
| Vermont |
2.96 |
37.7 |
| Kentucky |
2.97 |
35.9 |
| North Carolina |
2.98 |
35.3 |
| Florida |
2.98 |
38.7 |
| Arkansas |
2.99 |
36.0 |
| Montana |
2.99 |
37.5 |
| Tennessee |
2.99 |
35.9 |
| United States |
3.14 |
35.3 |
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