Bethany Clark graduated from college in 2021 and moved back in with her parents, originally planning to stay for just a year but now it's been three years.
The 24-year-old Surrey native spent her first year studying to become a teacher, earning no income. But when she got a teaching job the following year, she didn't leave. "I couldn't move out without saving up," Bethany said.
Two years later, she is still living with her parents and has continued to do so. Bethany joins the 620,000 young adults in the UK who still live with their parents.
U.S. Census Bureau data shows a similar pattern. The proportion of young adults living with their families has increased by 87% in the past 20 years, with 50% of Gen Zers aged 18-24 choosing to live with their parents.
In a recent survey by home rental service RentCafe, 41% of Gen Z said they would live with their family for at least two more years.
This trend starts with the housing market. A 2022 Moody's report found that the average American spends 30% of their income on rent.
Rental property platform HotPads estimates Gen Z will spend $226,000 on rent, $24,000 more than Gen Y and $77,000 more than baby boomers.
This has created significant pressure on young people. In a 2023 Harris Poll survey of 4,100 adults, 70% of 18- to 29-year-olds who live with their parents said they would not be financially well off if they lived independently.
"I work close to my family, there's no reason I should pay expensive rent just to have a little more space," Clark said. She pays a small amount to her parents, and saves most of her income.
Same goes for homeownership. Data from the National Association of Realtors shows that the median age of first-time homebuyers has hit a record high of 36.
One-third of adults surveyed by financial institution Freddie Mac in 2022 said buying a home is something they will never achieve.
According to a survey by market analysis firm Harris Poll, 40% of Gen Z said they were happy living at home, while a third felt the choice was wise. 87% said that you shouldn't judge someone because they live with their parents.
“I’ve never heard any negative comments, even from older generations,” Clark said. “The high cost of living and housing is something everyone understands.”
However, not everyone agrees. A survey by the Pew Research Center found that one-third of Americans believe that young people living with their parents is a negative influence, while only 16% believe it is a positive thing.
A study by the Urban Institute of America found that people aged 25-34 who live with their parents are more likely to own a home 10 years later. The study compared living independently with living with parents.
Over the past decade, 32% of young people who lived with their parents still lack the independence that most renters have achieved.
Sarah Obutor, 20, moved back to live with her family in Georgia, USA after dropping out of school due to mental health issues. She felt like a burden stuck at home.
“Your parents still see you as a kid no matter how old you are,” she said. Her two older siblings, ages 27 and 29, also live at home.
Sarah Obutor couldn't take it anymore so she made plans to return to college in the fall, planning to live on campus. She hoped to be able to find her own place after graduation.
A 2022 study found that people who move back in with their families may experience some stress.
“You live with your family but you still want to be yourself,” says Prabash Edirisingha, professor at Northumbria University. “It’s the boundary between personal space and family space.”
Clark University psychology professor Jeffrey Jensen Arnett says young people are entering a new phase of life. In previous generations, people thought about marriage or having children, but most Gen Zers don't have those responsibilities.
“It doesn't mean they're lazy or don't want to grow up, it's just that times have changed,” Arnett said.
Ngoc Ngan (According to Business Insider )
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