The average age Americans move out of their parents house is 27, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics research on millennial household independence. By age 27, about 90% of young adults have left home at least once. Currently, 1 in 3 adults ages 18 to 34 live with a parent, a share that rose to 32.5% in 2024.
Most Young Adults Leave Between Ages 24 and 27
The typical departure window runs from age 24 to 27, with the national average at 27 years old. Urban Institute research tracking young adult housing transitions found this figure consistent across high-cost, medium-cost, and low-cost housing markets from 2010 through 2021. Even in the most expensive states, young adults do not significantly delay moving out once they reach their mid-20s.
Nearly 1 in 3 Adults Ages 18 to 34 Currently Live With a Parent
32.5% of adults ages 18 to 34 lived with at least one parent in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. That figure rose from 31.8% in 2023, reversing two years of post-pandemic improvement. The pre-pandemic peak was 34.5% in 2017.
The boomerang pattern, meaning young adults who move out and then return home within a few years, adds further complexity to the headline number. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows more than 50% of those who leave before age 27 return home, most often due to job loss, a relationship ending, or finishing college.
To determine your exact age, subtract your birth date from today’s date (04/05/2021). You can use online tools like the AgeFinder.Org Age Calculator to find your age in years, months, days, and even hours or minutes.
Housing Costs Are the Primary Reason Young Adults Stay Home Longer
The national median gross rent was $1,487 per month in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau housing cost data. That figure exceeds $2,100 in California and $1,931 in Washington, D.C., making independent living financially out of reach for many entry-level earners.
Housing cost burden, the condition of spending 30% or more of gross income on rent or a mortgage, is the federal affordability threshold tracked by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s housing research division. States where more renters are cost-burdened consistently register higher shares of young adults still living at home.
A 2024 Bank of America survey found more than half of Gen Z adults cannot afford the life they want due to the high cost of living.
The table below ranks the top financial barriers that delay moving out:
| Rank | Financial Barrier | Why It Delays Moving Out |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rental cost burden | Median rent of $1,487/month consumes most of an entry-level paycheck |
| 2 | Student loan debt | Monthly loan payments reduce cash available for deposits and rent |
| 3 | Insufficient emergency savings | Advisors recommend 3 months of expenses saved before moving out |
| 4 | Stagnant entry-level wages | Starting salaries in many fields have not kept pace with rent growth |
| 5 | High mortgage rates | Down payment requirements have grown larger as rates rose |
Your State Determines Whether 1 in 20 or 1 in 4 Young Adults Still Live at Home
Young adults in California are more than 5 times more likely to still live with parents than those in North Dakota, based on NAHB analysis of 2023 Census data. The gap between the highest and lowest states exceeds 20 percentage points.
| State | Share of Adults Ages 25 to 34 Living With Parents |
|---|---|
| California | 26.5% |
| New Jersey | 26.3% |
| Hawaii | 25.2% |
| Delaware | 23.2% |
| Maryland | 22.7% |
| District of Columbia | 7.5% |
| South Dakota | 7.0% |
| North Dakota | 5.0% |
Source: NAHB analysis of the 2023 American Community Survey.
Rental cost burden explains roughly half of the cross-state variation in young adult living arrangements, according to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development affordability data. States with higher shares of renters spending 30% or more of income on housing consistently show higher shares of young adults remaining at home.
Buying a First Home After Age 35 Reduces Retirement Wealth Significantly
Young adults who buy their first home after age 35 accumulate significantly less housing wealth by their 60s than those who buy before 35, according to Urban Institute research. The gap is a meaningful difference in net worth at retirement age.
Urban Institute data also shows young adults who remain home longer are statistically less likely to become homeowners a decade later, even after controlling for income and education.
The long-term cost of delayed homeownership only becomes visible 20 to 30 years later, when equity accumulation gaps translate into lower net worth at retirement.
College Graduates Typically Leave at 23 But Frequently Return Before Full Independence
The typical bachelor’s degree recipient graduates at age 23 and often moves home temporarily before achieving stable independent living. Full-time students aged 18 to 24 were the primary driver of the pandemic-era spike, with 67% living with parents in June 2020 compared to 58% in January of that year.
Young adults with higher educational attainment leave home at higher overall rates, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, but often do so later than peers who enter the workforce directly after high school due to time in school and monthly debt loads at graduation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average age to move out of your parents house in the US?
The average age Americans move out of their parents house is 27, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. By age 27, approximately 90% of young adults have left home at least once. More than 50% of those who leave before 27 return home at some point before establishing permanent independence.
Is it normal to still live with your parents at 25?
Living at home at 25 is common and increasingly reflects economic conditions rather than personal choice. Roughly 1 in 3 adults ages 18 to 34 live with at least one parent, according to the 2024 American Community Survey. High rent, student loan debt, and stagnant entry-level wages are the most frequently cited reasons.
What percentage of 25 to 34 year olds live with their parents?
About 19.2% of adults ages 25 to 34 lived with a parent or parent-in-law in 2023, according to NAHB analysis of U.S. Census data. That share rises above 26% in high-cost states like California and New Jersey. In lower-cost states like North Dakota, it falls as low as 5%.
At what age should you move out of your parents house?
Financial readiness is a more reliable benchmark than a specific age. The standard guideline is to move out when rent will not exceed 30% of gross monthly income, when an emergency fund covering at least 3 months of expenses is in place, and when income is stable enough to cover utilities and basic living costs. For most Americans, those conditions align between ages 24 and 27.
Why are so many young Americans still living with their parents?
Housing affordability is the primary driver. The national median rent was $1,487 per month in 2024, and more than half of Gen Z adults report they cannot afford the life they want due to the cost of living, according to a 2024 Bank of America survey. Student loan debt, low starting wages, and elevated mortgage rates since 2022 compound the problem.