18% of Americans Live in a Multigenerational Home

Over the past 50 years, the share of the U.S. population that lives in a multigenerational household has more than doubled, rising from 7 percent in 1971 to 18 percent in 2021, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey. Pew defines a multigenerational household as one that includes at least two generations of adults (mainly aged 25 or older) or a "skipped generation"—grandparents living with grandchildren under age 25. 

Young adults (aged 25 to 29) are most likely to live in a multigenerational household, at 31 percent. In the age group, men (37 percent) are more likely than women (26 percent) to do so.  

Percent of population living in a multigenerational household, 2021

Aged 25 to 29: 31%

Aged 30 to 34: 19%

Aged 35 to 39: 15%

Aged 40 to 64: 19%

Aged 65-plus: 18%

By race and Hispanic origin, non-Hispanic whites are least likely to live in a multigenerational household (13 percent). Asians (24 percent), Blacks (26 percent), and Hispanics (26 percent) are about equally likely to have a multigenerational living arrangement. 

The number-one reason for living in a multigenerational household is financial issues, cited by 67 percent as a reason and by 40 percent as a major reason. Nearly half (45 percent) say they live in a multigenerational household to care (or receive care) for an adult family member. Twenty-four percent are doing so to receive help with child care.

Interestingly, multigenerational living gets positive reviews. Overall, 56 percent say the experience is somewhat/very positive, 26 percent say it is neutral, and 17 percent think it is somewhat/very negative. What explains these positive reviews? The 58 percent majority of those who live in a multigenerational household say it is convenient most/all of the time. Fifty-four percent say it is rewarding most/all of the time. Only 23 percent say it is stressful most/all of the time. And, if you think most of these multigenerational households are crowded, think again. Fully 72 percent of those who live in a multigenerational household say there is plenty of space. 

Source: Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, Financial Issues Top the List of Reasons U.S. Adults Live in Multigenerational Homes

Attitudes Toward Multigenerational Living Arrangements

When asked whether it is a good idea or a bad idea for older parents to move in with grown children or for grown children to move back home to live with their parents, younger generations are much more enthusiastic about multigenerational living arrangements...

Older parents moving in with grown children is a good idea
Millennials: 69%
Gen Xers: 72%
Boomers: 51%
Older: 30%

Grown children moving back home to live with parents is a good idea
Millennials: 52%
Gen Xers: 57%
Boomers: 41%
Older: 32%

Note: Millennials are aged 22 to 39; Gen Xers are aged 40 to 51; Boomers are aged 52 to 70.
Source: Demo Memo analysis of the 2016 General Social Survey

Older Americans Don't Like Living with Children

That's a shocking statement, but it is supported by research findings: people aged 65 or older who live with children under age 18 are unhappier, angrier, more worried and stressed out than those who do not live with children under age 18--even after controlling for factors that might cause negative emotions.

In the delightfully titled study, "Grandpa and the Snapper: The Wellbeing of the Elderly Who Live with Children," NBER researchers Angus Deaton and Arthur A. Stone examine data from the Gallup Healthways Wellbeing Index. They measure the happiness, enjoyment, worry, and stress of people who live with and without children under age 18. Younger adults gain both pleasure and pain from living with children, but for the elderly it's all pain and no pleasure.

"Our evidence suggests that living with children under 18 is associated with worse outcomes on all measures," say the researchers. "None of this is to argue that some elderly do not take pleasure in their grandchildren or in the children of those with whom they live. But, on average, we can find no evidence of it."