NC in Focus: Young Adults Living at Home

“In 2014, for the first time in more than 130 years, adults ages 18 to 34 were slightly more likely to be living in their parents’ home than they were to be living with a spouse or partner in their own household.

This turn of events is fueled primarily by the dramatic drop in the share of young Americans who are choosing to settle down romantically before age 35. Dating back to 1880, the most common living arrangement among young adults has been living with a romantic partner, whether a spouse or a significant other.” – Richard Fry, For First Time in Modern Era, Living With Parents Edges Out Other Living Arrangements for 18- to 34-Year-Olds

Living with parents is now the most common living arrangement for young adults in the United States. In 2014, 32.1% of individuals ages 18-34 lived in their parent(s)’ home and 31.6% were married or cohabiting in their own household.

This is not the case in North Carolina. Although the share of North Carolina young adults living in their parent(s)’ home increased from 19.3% in 2001 to 30.3% in 2014, it remains the second most common living arrangement. North Carolina young adults were most likely to be married or cohabiting in their own household in 2014, with 33% of 18-34 year olds reporting this living arrangement.

Data source: 2014 American Community Survey via IPUMS-USA

Learn more:

• Millennials: Renting, Unmarried, and Childless
• NC in Focus: Young Adults Living with Parents, State by State (2012)
• NC in Focus: Young Adults, Then and Now