A record 25.2 million adults under 35 lived with their parents in 2025, according to Realtor.com, marking a higher share than during the COVID-19 pandemic. The trend reflects financial pressures, including stagnant wages and soaring living costs, with roughly seven in 10 of the 25- to 34-year-olds in this group currently employed.
Karleigh Gaudreau, a 34-year-old business coach earning $60,000 annually, moved back in with her parents after a breakup left her unable to afford rent on her own. She described the financial strain as unsustainable below $85,000 in income, citing student loans, car payments, and other expenses. Gaudreau plans to move out by November after saving through shared living arrangements.
The shift underscores broader affordability challenges. Fewer than 4 in 10 non-homeowner households can afford a typical starter home, per a LendingTree analysis. Susan Wachter, a real estate professor at the Wharton School, emphasized systemic factors beyond home prices and mortgage rates, stating, “It's affordability across the board.”
While some view the trend as a temporary coping mechanism, others highlight its long-term implications. Proponents argue it allows young adults to save for independence, while critics warn it may delay milestones like homeownership or family formation. The phenomenon spans income levels, with employed individuals citing cost-of-living pressures as the primary driver.