Surveying more than 1,300 U.S. parents, Gen Zers, and millennials, a recent LendingTree study has found that two-thirds of young adults who moved in with parents during the pandemic still live there. While a little over half (51%) of those who moved home say it was out of necessity, 49% say it was to save money.
Broken down into age groups, the younger demographics are more likely to already have moved back out. Out of the almost 3 in 10 Gen Zers who moved home, 13% have already left. For the 18% of younger millennials (aged 26 to 34), 14% also have gone back to independent living. Of the 17% of elder millennials (aged 35 to 41) who moved in with parents during the pandemic, only 8% have left. This could be to help take care of aging parents as well as paying down debt.
Saving for a home down payment (31%) and clearing debt (39%) were the two major focuses for young adults moving home. Yet, no matter the generation, a LendingTree study from 2021 shows that credit card debt is the most common non-mortgage debt burden. Other ways moving home positively impacted finances of young adults includes investing more or saving for retirement or for life events like a wedding or baby.
By state, the percentage of adults ranging in age from 24 to 40 who live with their parents is about 20% in Hawaii (21.6%), New Jersey (20.7%), and Florida (20.1%). California, Rhode Island, New York, Maryland, and New Mexico follow close behind. Conversely, the states with the lowest percentage of young adults at home with parents are North Dakota (5.3%), Nebraska (8%), and both South Dakota and Iowa (8.2%).
How do parents feel about having their empty nests filled? Most said they would let their adult children live at home (56%), and 29% have or are currently living with grown children.
While 73% of parents say they wouldn’t charge rent, most would add rules and financial agreements to adult children moving in. The most popular is having help with cleaning and cooking at 58% and cash for groceries and household expenses at 56%. Also important to parents is for the child to be employed (53%). Other arrangements noted include rent payments (27%), planning a move-out date (11%), and setting a curfew (10%).
For purposes of the survey, LendingTree researchers also analyzed U.S. Census Bureau data to create a national and state-by-state snapshot of the number of younger adults living at home.
