Difference between "roomer" and "boarder" in 1930 US census? I encountered the following situation in a 1930 census of a household of a family I am researching: In addition to mother (head) and daughter, there is a roomer, and three girls with the same last name (ages 15, 13, and 11) shown as boarders. !enter image description here What are the definitions of the two terms? (My guess is that this was a foster household for the three girls.) What is the definition of the term "lodger" relative to the preceding? Would these terms be used consistently across all censuses?

In general, a roomer meant someone whho rented a room but that did not include meals. A boarder paid for "room and board" (i.e. meals).