More young adults living at home in US than during pandemic

A growing number of adult children under 35 are returning to live with their parents in the United States, a trend that has now surpassed levels seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Realtor.com data from 2025 indicates that 25.2 million adults in this age group lived at home, signaling a significant shift in living arrangements driven by economic pressures.

The reasons extend beyond unemployment; many of these young adults are employed but find their wages insufficient to cover the rising cost of living. Roughly seven in 10 adults aged 25 to 34 living at home hold jobs. Karleigh Gaudreau, a 34-year-old business coach, shared her experience of moving back home after a breakup, despite earning about $60,000 annually. She explained that while splitting rent was manageable, living alone became unaffordable, estimating a required income of at least $85,000 to cover expenses like student loans and car payments.

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To be able to afford that on top of your student loans or car payment, it's really hard to function off of anything, I believe, less than $85,000.

This situation reflects a broader affordability crisis impacting many Americans, particularly concerning homeownership. A recent LendingTree analysis found that fewer than 40% of non-homeowner households can afford a typical starter home. Susan Wachter, a real estate professor at the Wharton School of Business, stressed that the issue is widespread affordability, encompassing not just home prices and mortgage rates but the overall cost of living.

Gaudreau's situation illustrates a common strategy: saving money by living with parents. She plans to move into her own place in November after a period of saving. This trend underscores the challenges young adults face in achieving financial independence and securing housing in the current economic climate.

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Society as a whole has to respond. It's affordability across the board. It's not just price of the home and the mortgage.