California Cities Lead U.S. In Young Adults Living with Parents, Pew Study Finds

A new Pew Research Center analysis reveals that three California metro areas have the highest concentrations of young adults living with their parents in the United States.

In 2023, 33% of 25- to 34-year-olds in both Vallejo and Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura lived in a parent’s home, followed closely by 32% in El Centro. These rates sharply contrast with the national average of 18%, and in some areas, such as Odessa, Texas, the share is as low as 3%.

A young woman living with her parents | Source: Freepik

Pew researchers attribute the trend to a combination of demographic and financial factors. “Areas where there are more minority young adults tend to have more young adults living at home,” said Richard Fry, Pew senior researcher and co-author of the report. Black and Hispanic young adults, who are overrepresented in the top metros, tend to have lower college attainment and earnings compared to white peers, Fry noted.

In 2022, the typical Black or Hispanic worker aged 25 to 34 earned about $46,000 annually, while white workers in the same age group earned $58,000, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Financial pressures are also a factor. A 2019 Federal Reserve study found that young adults can save roughly $13,000 annually by living at home, with over $6,000 saved on housing and utilities alone.

Man holding his house's keys | Source: Freepik

Cultural factors and local economic conditions may also influence living arrangements, Fry said. Meanwhile, college towns such as Ithaca, New York, and Bloomington, Indiana, show some of the lowest rates, with just 3% of young adults living at their parents' home — likely due to higher education levels and better employment opportunities.

The share of young adults living with parents peaked nationally at 20% in 2017 and stood at 18% in 2023.