09/01/2026
A record number of U.S. adults under 35 are living with their parents, according to a recent Realtor.com study.
In 2025, 25.2 million adults under 35 lived at home, a higher share than during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many are working, but wages are not always keeping up with the cost of living. Among adults ages 25 to 34 who live at home, roughly 7 in 10 have jobs.
Housing affordability is a major factor. Higher home prices, elevated mortgage rates, rent, student loan payments, car payments, and everyday expenses can make living independently harder to sustain.
For some families, moving back home may be a way to reduce expenses, rebuild savings, or create more breathing room before taking the next step.
The broader takeaway is that financial independence does not always follow a straight timeline. Cost-of-living pressures are reshaping what adulthood, housing, and household decisions look like for many families.
Source:
One woman in her mid-30s said her $60,000 annual income wasn't enough to cover all her bills after a breakup, leading her to move back home.
