For the first time in 130 years, younger adults are more likely to live with parents

By Kelly Leighton | June 6, 2016 | 2 min. read

Since 1880, the most common living situation for a young adult between ages 18 to 34 was residing with a spouse or partner.

Today, it’s living with Mom and Dad.

Nearly one-third, or 32.1 percent, of adults in that age group reported residing with their parent(s), and 31.6 percent reside with a partner or a spouse in their own housing, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis. Fourteen percent live as head of the household, either alone or with children or roommates, while the rest reside with other family, roommates or group-living situations, like a dorm.

The Pew Center suggests that the increase of young adults living at home is due to millennials delaying marriage to a later age compared to previous generations. Comparatively, in 1960, 62 percent of adults aged 18 to 34 resided with a spouse or partner, while just 20 percent resided with their parents.

On the other hand, the amount of young adults residing with their parents hit its’ peak in 1940, when about 35 percent lived with their parents. However, living with a spouse or partner at that time still exceeded that.

Today, it’s much more common for men aged 18 to 34 to reside with their parent(s). In 2014, 35 percent lived with their parent(s), and 28 percent lived with their spouse or partner in their own home. However, of women aged 18 to 35, 35 percent live with a spouse or a partner, while only 29 percent live with their parent(s). This is most likely attributed to the fact that 16 percent of women aged 18 to 35 percent are household heads without a partner, compared to only 13 percent of men, due to women more likely to being single parents, according to the Pew Center.

Education and race also play a role. Those with a college degree are less likely to live with their parent(s) than those without. Thirty-six percent of both black and Hispanic adults aged 18 to 35 lived with their parent(s), compared to 30 percent of white adults the same age.

Overall, the Pew Center noted that the growing trend among both genders and all races show an increase in living at home with Mom and Dad.

Looking for events?

Pennsylvania Realtors® can access monthly webinars and much more.

Upcoming Events

Did you like this post?

Click on a star to rate this post!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Related Articles

Not a Realtor®? Learn how to become a member.