More Than 18 Percent of Americans Live in Multigenerational Households

By Chris Hudson | April 7, 2022

Illustration by @drawnwell

DESIGN DATA

A new study from the Pew Research Center highlights the continuing rise in multigenerational living in the U.S. The study’s analysis of census data from 1971 to 2021 shows that the number of Americans living in multigenerational family households quadrupled over that span, reaching nearly 60 million last year. Over those 50 years, the share of the population living in multigenerational households rose from less than 8 percent to more than 18 percent. The report links the steady climb in both numbers to the growth of U.S. Asian and Hispanic populations, among whom living with extended family is more common than it is among White Americans.  

The study also includes findings from a survey conducted last fall. Survey respondents cited financial benefits and caregiving needs as leading reasons for choosing multigenerational living arrangements. More than half of the respondents who live in multigenerational households described the arrangement as “convenient” (58 percent) or “rewarding” (54 percent), while 23 percent said it was “stressful.”

Much more from the data-rich study can be found here.

The Design Data department highlights a compelling data nugget or survey finding related to the built environment.