For decades the rite of passage into adulthood came with a symbolic act: packing up a car and heading off to a place of one’s own. That vision now feels distant for many young people. A growing share of recent college graduates are skipping the apartment hunt and staying in their childhood bedrooms. And they are not rushing to leave.
According to new research from Sallie Mae, nearly half of college graduates who finished school within the past five years still live with their parents or other family members. Among those who earned their degrees in just the past two years, the number is even higher—two-thirds are still under the same roof as their parents. These young adults are not stuck; many say they are choosing to stay, and a surprising portion of them seem perfectly content doing so.
The biggest holdouts? Young men.
A Soft Landing in a Tough Economy
There are some familiar culprits behind this trend. Rent prices remain high in most cities. Student loans are back on the table after pandemic-era relief programs ended. Inflation continues to stretch young people’s paychecks. The dream of owning a home feels more out of reach than ever, especially with limited inventory and surging property prices.
But finances are not the whole story. Many grads are not simply waiting to save up—they are choosing not to move out because they do not feel ready.
Among young men living at home, 45% told researchers they were “not ready to move out.” That was far higher than the 28% of women who said the same. The reasons go beyond dollars and cents. Some young men appear to be stepping back from the pressures of independence, either to reassess their goals or to delay adult responsibilities. Living at home is no longer seen as a failure to launch—it is a holding pattern that feels comfortable and low-risk.
The Timeline to Independence Is Stretching
Living with parents is the default for many right after graduation, but the data suggests that most eventually spread their wings—at least by their late twenties. Only 35% of graduates who left college three to five years ago are still living at home or with relatives. The rest have moved on to different arrangements: 20% have bought homes, 19% live with romantic partners, 16% rent on their own, and 9% live with roommates.
Still, nearly half of recent graduates—about 47%—remain with family. And that figure is not shrinking as quickly as some might expect. Even as more young adults land jobs, start careers, and enter relationships, many are slow to uproot themselves.
The Pull of Familiar Places
When grads do move out, their reasons tend to be practical. A job tops the list. Forty-five percent said their employer’s location dictated where they ended up living. Affordability was the next most common factor, followed by a preference to stay close to where they grew up. Many also said they wanted to remain near relatives—especially if that meant free meals, laundry service, and emotional support.
Others looked for a better lifestyle. Around 30% said weather, safety, and overall quality of life shaped their decision about where to live. A smaller number prioritized proximity to friends or romantic partners (21%), access to further education (14%), or career growth opportunities (15%).
These priorities show that young people are weighing more than rent costs or square footage. For many, the goal is not to leave home as quickly as possible, but to find a situation that makes sense—financially, emotionally, and personally.
Rethinking What Success Looks Like
What defines success in your twenties? For past generations, it was often tied to homeownership. But that measure feels more distant now.
Among those who reported feeling “very successful,” about 27% had managed to buy a home within five years of graduating. Among grads who felt neutral or unsuccessful, that number dropped to just 8%. A sense of stability and self-worth appears to go hand in hand with owning property—but getting there is no easy feat.
Student debt remains a huge barrier. The average loan burden can push the timeline for homeownership back by a decade or more. And even for those who do manage to buy, reality can hit hard. A recent survey by Insurify found that 90% of Gen Z homeowners underestimated how expensive it is to maintain a home. From surprise repairs to rising insurance premiums, the costs keep piling up.
Not surprisingly, paying off debt—not buying property—is now the top financial goal for many in Gen Z, according to data from PYMNTS Intelligence. Homeownership, once the cornerstone of the American dream, now feels optional or at least deferred.
A Shift in Norms
Living with parents used to carry a social stigma. That is fading. Today’s young adults are rewriting the script. Staying home is not a sign of failure—it can be a smart way to regroup, save money, or wait for the right opportunity. Many parents, for their part, are supportive. They get help around the house, more time with their kids, and sometimes even a financial break if their children chip in on groceries or bills.
There are cultural shifts at play too. Ideas about adulthood, independence, and success are evolving. Some graduates are choosing to prioritize mental health over moving out. Others are investing in side hustles, freelance work, or creative projects that might not pay the bills right away. Home can provide the buffer they need to take risks without falling flat.
What Comes Next?
Eventually, most will leave. But the path is winding, and the timeline is stretched. The economic conditions young people face are tough, but the cultural shift may prove more lasting. Living with parents is becoming part of the standard post-college journey—less like a fallback, more like a phase.
It is not clear yet how this will shape future housing markets, family dynamics, or even workforce trends. But one thing is obvious: the grown kids are still home. And many of them are in no hurry to go.
