49% of Young Adults Live With Parents as Costs Bite

Nearly half of American adults under 30 lived with a parent last year, a share that has climbed sharply since before the pandemic.

The figure hit 49% in 2024, up from 37% in 2019, according to the Federal Reserve's latest Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking. Close to a third of that group were 25 or older.

The Wall Street Journal reported the data Saturday, noting that what was once seen as a failure to launch is now often framed as a smart financial move.

“Everything is just out of reach,” said Megan Talley, 28, who lives with her mother in the Atlanta suburbs. Living alone is possible, she said, “but you would be dead broke at the end of the month.”

Some economists argue the actual share of young adults living with parents may be lower than 49%. The Fed survey does not distinguish between children living in a parent's home and parents living in a child's home, a distinction that matters as more older adults move in with adult children.

Either way, the stigma around the arrangement has faded. Young people discuss it openly on social media rather than hiding it.

Samantha Stobo, 33, lives with her mother in Miami and posts about it on TikTok. The videos earn supportive comments and some extra income.

“No one ever judges me,” she said. “The conversation tends to be more like, ‘That’s awesome, and I bet you’re saving money.’”

The trend reflects broader financial pressure on younger households. A PYMNTS Intelligence report from last month found that more than half of all consumers still say daily living expenses are a challenge. Younger adults are layering multiple coping strategies – budgeting apps, side gigs, shared housing – while older consumers are more likely to rely on fewer moves or take no action at all.