33% of U.S. Adults Under 35 Live With Parents by 2025 as Housing Costs Bite
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 8
33% of U.S. Adults Under 35 Live With Parents by 2025 as Housing Costs Bite
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 8
Summary
By 2025, 33% of U.S. adults under 35 were living with their parents, up from roughly 31% to 32% in 2022 and nearly back to the 34% pandemic peak in 2020.
Realtor.com said the rise reflects housing affordability more than labor-market weakness: rents and homebuying remain out of reach as inflation, lagging wages and limited supply squeeze young adults.
Most of those living at home are still working, and a growing share are college educated, underscoring that employment has stayed relatively stable even as co-residence increased.
The pattern fits broader affordability strain: a Federal Reserve report said 49% of adults under 30 lived with a parent last year, with rents up 30% in five years and median home prices at $429,300.
As multi-generational living surges, are we facing a financial crisis or the revival of the family household?
Is the American Dream now just a wealth transfer from young renters to older homeowners?
If living with parents becomes the norm, how must our cities and homes be fundamentally redesigned?
64% of Gen Z Adults Still Rely on Parental Support: How Housing Costs and Economic Pressures Are Reshaping Independence in 2026
Overview
Young adults today are experiencing a historic shift in how they live, with many relying more on their parents for financial help and housing than ever before. As of 2026, most parents with Gen Z children aged 18 to 28 report that their adult kids still depend on them, and over half say this support strains their own finances. This growing dependence challenges traditional ideas of independence and is driven by tough economic conditions since the pandemic. As a result, young people are finding it harder to achieve financial stability and move out on their own.