<P> About half of Americans now live in what is known as the suburbs . The suburban nuclear family has been identified as part of the "American dream": a married couple with children owning a house in the suburbs . This archetype is reinforced by mass media, religious practices, and government policies and is based on traditions from Anglo - Saxon cultures . One of the biggest differences in suburban living as compared to urban living is the housing occupied by the families . The suburbs are filled with single - family homes separated from retail districts, industrial areas, and sometimes even public schools . However, many American suburbs are incorporating these districts on smaller scales, attracting more people to these communities . </P> <P> Housing in urban areas may include more apartments and semi-attached homes than in the suburbs or small towns . Aside from housing, the major difference from suburban living is the density and diversity of many different subcultures, as well as retail and manufacturing buildings mixed with housing in urban areas . Urban residents are also more likely to travel by mass transit, and children are more likely to walk or cycle rather than being driven by their parents . </P> <P> Couples often meet through religious institutions, work, school, or friends . "Dating services," services that are geared to assist people in finding partners, are popular both on and offline . The trend over the past few decades has been for more and more couples deciding to cohabit before, or instead of, getting married . The 2000 Census reported 9,700,000 opposite - sex partners living together and about 1,300,000 same - sex partners living together . These cohabitation arrangements have not been the subject of many laws regulating them, though some states now have domestic partner statutes and judge - made palimony doctrines that confer some legal support for unmarried couples . </P> <P> Adolescent sex is common; most Americans first have sexual intercourse in their teenage years . The current data suggests that by the time a person turns eighteen years old, slightly more than half of females and nearly two - thirds of males will have had sexual relations . More than half of sexually active teens have had sexual partners they are dating . Risky sexual behaviors that involve "anything intercourse related" are "rampant" among teenagers . Teenage pregnancies in the United States decreased 28% between 1990 - 2000 from 117 pregnancies per every 1,000 teens to 84 per 1,000 . The United States is rated, based on 2002 estimates, 84 out of 170 countries based on teenage fertility rate, according to the World Health Organization . </P>

What are some key cultural aspects in american society