A record 25.2 million Americans younger than 35 lived with their parents in 2025, surpassing the total recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis of federal data.
Realtor.com Economic Research found that 33% of adults younger than 35 lived in a parental home. The share remained slightly below the 33.6% pandemic-era peak in 2020, but the number of people was higher because the young-adult population has grown.
The trend is not explained by unemployment alone. Separate reporting found that about 70% of adults ages 25 to 34 who lived with their parents were employed, underscoring how rent, home prices, interest rates and other living costs can keep working adults from establishing separate households.
Living with family can help young adults reduce expenses, pay debt or save for a home. It can also increase household costs for parents and affect privacy, caregiving arrangements and long-term financial planning.
The pattern has implications for the housing market because delayed household formation can reduce demand for starter homes in the short term while building pent-up demand for affordable housing. The experience also varies by culture, region and family circumstances.
Families considering a shared household may benefit from discussing expenses, responsibilities, privacy and a timeline for future plans before problems arise.
Source: MSN and Realtor.com Economic Research, Aug. 4, 2026.
