A growing number of young Americans are moving back in with their parents, driven by underemployment and soaring housing costs, according to a new survey conducted with The Harris Poll and published in Business Insider.
Gen Z Sees the Math Differently
The survey found that two-thirds of Gen Z (66%) prefer moving back home because they see the futility in either renting forever or paying a mortgage they can’t afford.
The Numbers Behind the Trend
The scale of the shift is significant.
In 2025, 25.2 million adults under 35 lived with their parents… that’s more than at the peak of the pandemic.
Multigenerational living has quadrupled since the 1970s.
The trend isn’t new, but it has accelerated.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of young adults living at home in the U.S. has climbed 87% over the past two decades.
Today, more than half of 18- to 24-year-olds in America live with their parents.
A Shift in Mindset
Rather than viewing the arrangement as a setback, Gen Z is increasingly framing it as a deliberate, shared strategy with their parents to manage rising costs.
“Leaning on each other isn’t weakness, it’s the whole strategy. A decade ago, moving home meant you’d failed,” says our CSO Libby Rodney. “That narrative has collapsed. This is the paradox brands need to understand: a generation that can’t afford a down payment can absolutely afford experiences. Living at home isn’t just a cost-cutting move. It’s a cost-reallocation move.”
That reframing suggests the boomerang generation isn’t simply cutting back. It’s redirecting its spending elsewhere, even as it opts out of traditional housing costs.
Tips for Making Multigenerational Living Work
If you’re moving back home or welcoming an adult child back into the house, a little planning can turn the arrangement into a win for everyone. Here are a few ways to make it work smoothly:
- Talk about money upfront. Decide together whether the adult child will contribute to rent, groceries, or utilities, and put a number on it. A clear agreement avoids awkward assumptions later.
- Set a savings goal with a deadline. Living at home only pays off financially if the money saved on rent is actually going somewhere, like a down payment fund, an emergency fund, or debt payoff.
- Divide household responsibilities clearly. Chores, groceries, and shared spaces run more smoothly when everyone knows what they’re responsible for instead of assuming someone else will handle it.
- Keep some financial independence. Even while living at home, maintaining a personal budget and separate savings account helps build habits for eventually living on your own again.
- Revisit the plan every few months. Circumstances change fast for young adults right now. Checking in regularly on goals and timelines keeps everyone on the same page and prevents the arrangement from feeling indefinite.
