According to a June 18 report from Realtor.com, one-third of U.S. adults between the ages of 25 and 35 were living with their parents in 2025. Of these, 70% had jobs, and many had college degrees, which suggests a problem in housing affordability. Nationwide, rental costs are 18% above pre-pandemic levels, and the median home price has risen by 34%. The report states that the old taboo of living with one’s parents has now become the new normal. This is also a burden for the parents, who may be forced to delay retirements or reconsider plans to “downsize” to accommodate the realities of relying on a pension.
Many are struggling in the U.S. economy, but young adults may be taking the biggest brunt of the punishment. College graduates now have a higher unemployment rate than non-college graduates, and young college graduates are experiencing the highest unemployment rates since the pandemic. Of the graduates who are working, 40% are “underemployed,” working at jobs that do not require a degree. While dealing with student debt, many young graduates find job advancement difficult. Realtors say that U.S. home sales are at a 6-year low and that the anemic turnover of starter homes is a major factor.
