Nearly Half of 18-35 Adults Move Back Home as 82% Cite Financial Need or Benefit
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Aug 31
Nearly Half of 18-35 Adults Move Back Home as 82% Cite Financial Need or Benefit
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Aug 31
Summary
Thrivent’s April 2026 survey found nearly half of parents with a child aged 18 to 35 said that child had moved back home at some point, underscoring how common “boomerang” living has become.
Eighty-two percent tied the move to money—55% said it was financially necessary and 27% said it was not necessary but still offered financial benefits—reflecting a shift from stigma to strategy.
Experts said the key is to turn rent savings into a plan: set a target such as a $30,000 down payment in two years, automate transfers, and treat the foregone rent like a monthly bill paid to savings.
That cash should usually go first to an emergency fund, then high-interest debt, and only after that to longer-term goals; just 29% of young adults have saved enough to cover three to six months of expenses.
Moving out again should hinge less on a deadline than on financial readiness—stable income, manageable debt, moving costs covered, and a budget that still allows monthly saving.