The Fact
Pew Research Center’s analysis of Census data found that the share of the U.S. population living in multigenerational households rose from 7% in 1971 to 18% in 2021. The number of people living in such households reached 59.7 million in 2021.
What This Means
Living with multiple generations under one roof has become much more common over the period spanning Gen X childhood through midlife. The arrangement can reflect culture, caregiving, economics, or a mix; the trend itself is measurable.
Sources
- Pew Research Center, “The demographics of multigenerational households,” March 24, 2022, analysis of Census data.