Where does Idaho rank on the list of young adults living at home with parents?

Nearly more than ever, young adults are ditching the apartment hunts and townhouse tours to live at home with the family.

With an increasingly turbulent economy, astronomical debts from higher education and the rising cost of rent, it’s no surprise that people are saving their money and heading back to the familiar.

According to recent census data, 33% of adults ages 18 to 34 live with their parents — a figure almost reaching the historic highs seen during the pandemic. This rate has been increasing since the 60s’ and doesn’t seem to be going down any time soon.

FinanceBuzz took a nationwide look at this trend of young adults living at home to better break down the ongoing reasons for this, as well as where this occurs the most frequently.

Why are more young adults staying at home?

Ultimately, finances are the leading factor for people not living on their own. The cost of housing has increased in the past two decades with major cities reaching near-record highs for rent.

Student loan debt is sure to prevent young adults from putting a security deposit down for an apartment, with graduates facing up to the tens of thousands or more for their degree. Even for graduates who obtain jobs right out of college, wage growth is often not enough to keep up with rising inflation.

There’s also the factor of job market instability in fields that younger people seek out more frequently, particularly in the tech field.

One common theme among the states with adults that live at home most frequently is that they are expensive places to live in. New Jersey tops the mainland U.S.A’s list, only behind Puerto Rico where cultural trends may contribute to adults staying at home longer.

States where adults that are less likely to live with their parents have lower rent costs as well as more remote housing options. These places generally have more space, allowing for more opportunities to live away from home.

Top states for adults aged 18 to 34 living at home

1. Puerto Rico: 57.5%
2. New Jersey: 44.1%
3. Connecticut: 41.3%
4. California: 39.1%
5. Maryland: 38.5%
6. Florida: 36.6%
7. New Hampshire: 36.5%
8. New York: 35.9%
9. Massachusetts: 35.7%
10. Illinois/Nevada: 35.1%

States where adults are least likely to live with their parents

1. North Dakota: 12.3%
2. District of Columbia: 13.3%
3. Wyoming: 16.2%
4. South Dakota: 17.7%
5. Nebraska: 20.4%

State breakdown of adults 18 to 24 living at home

• Alabama: 31.8%
• Alaska: 26.2%
• Arizona: 30.7%
• Arkansas: 25.3%
• California: 39.1%
• Colorado: 22.8%
• Connecticut: 41.3%
• Delaware: 37.0%
• District of Columbia: 13.3%
• Florida: 36.6%
• Georgia: 34.4%
• Hawaii: 33.3%
• Idaho: 25.4%
• Illinois: 35.1%
• Indiana: 28.4%
• Iowa: 21.6%
• Kansas: 23.3%
• Kentucky: 26.5%
• Louisiana: 30.2%
• Maine: 26.2%
• Maryland: 38.5%
• Massachusetts: 35.7%
• Michigan: 32.5%
• Minnesota: 27.1%
• Mississippi: 33.0%
• Missouri: 26.6%
• Montana: 23.3%
• Nebraska: 20.4%
• Nevada: 35.1%
• New Hampshire: 36.5%
• New Jersey: 44.1%
• New Mexico: 33.2%
• New York: 35.9%
• North Carolina: 28.3%
• North Dakota: 12.3%
• Ohio: 28.5%
• Oklahoma: 26.1%
• Oregon: 26.2%
• Pennsylvania: 34.7%
• Rhode Island: 33.8%
• South Carolina: 29.6%
• South Dakota: 17.7%
• Tennessee: 27.5%
• Texas: 33.2%
• Utah: 26.8%
• Vermont: 26.4%
• Virginia: 32.0%
• Washington: 26.8%
• West Virginia: 28.3%
• Wisconsin: 25.3%
• Wyoming: 16.2%
• Puerto Rico: 57.5%

Reporting by Patricia Mendoza, Asbury Park Press via USA TODAY Network, Reuters Connect.