Multigenerational Living

In the U.S., young adults today are much more likely to be living within a multigenerational household than 50 years ago. According to the Pew Research Center, 17 percent of adults aged 25 to 34 live in a parent's home, and an additional eight percent live in another type of multigenerational living arrangement.

A variety of social and economic pressures are driving this change, including student loan debt, rising housing and rental costs, increasing costs of goods and services, and the cost of eldercare. These challenges offer opportunities for planners to support intergenerational approaches to community planning, including multigenerational housing. Planners should be prepared for local impacts in the form of new building typologies, new amenities, and the need for new housing options catering to mixed and intergenerational households.