Nearly half of U.S. adults under 30 still live at home, reshaping life milestones

According to the Federal Reserve’s Report on the Economic Well-Being of US Households, 49% of adults aged 18 to 29 still reside with their parents, and 47% have received monetary assistance from family members for living expenses in the past year. The proportion living at home has climbed six points since 2022 and twelve points since 2019, the year before the pandemic. The most common reasons for external aid include covering rent, mortgage, utilities, and other basic costs.

Economists, including Laura Ullrich of Indeed Hiring Lab, say this trend slows new household formation, which in turn raises the average age of marriage and first childbirth, depresses fertility rates, and curtails home-buying activity, affecting schools and local markets. Similar financial dependence is observed among 26% of adults aged 30 to 44. Ullrich attributes the shift to unaffordable housing, persistent inflation, and difficulty finding first jobs, suggesting the phenomenon will shape demographic and economic patterns for years to come.