The latest edition of NAR's Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report revealed that multigenerational buying was at an all-time high, with 17% of homes purchased last year being a multigenerational household. Multigenerational homes are defined as households that with more than one generation, such as adult siblings, adult children, and/or grandparents.

According to our 2025 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report, 21% of Gen X buyers (ages 45-59),15% of younger boomers (ages 60-69), and 12% of older millennials (ages 35-44) purchased multigenerational homes. Over the past decade, a noticeable shift has occurred in the generational breakdown of multigenerational home buyers. Gen-X buyers, often referred to as “the sandwich generation” in the housing market, have increased their share of this market from 12% in 2013 to 21% today. Older millennial buyers appear to be following suit with a steady increase in multigenerational home buying, growing from 9% in 2018 (the first recorded year of “older millennial” buyers) to 12% today. Unlike the steady increase seen in older millennials and Gen X, the percentage of younger boomers buying multigenerational homes has decreased from 22% in 2013 to 15% currently.

Savings and Shared Spaces

In 2024, a notable 36% of homebuyers cited “cost savings” as the primary reason for purchasing a multigenerational home—a significant increase from just 15% in 2015. We have also seen a rise in adult children residing with their parents, contributing to the increase in multigenerational home buying. Twenty-one percent of respondents in 2024 mentioned children over the age of 18 moving back into the house as a reason for their multigenerational home purchase, up from 11% in 2015. Additionally, in 2024, 20% of respondents reported that their adult children or relatives had never left home, compared to 7% in 2015. These shifts underscore the rising popularity of multigenerational living arrangements, driven by both economic factors and family dynamics. Adult children may continue living at home seeking financial stability due to high living costs, student loan debt, and difficulties in finding well-paid jobs.

Paychecks and Playrooms

By examining the number of income earners in multigenerational households, we can gain a better understanding of the diverse economic structures within these families. Two individual income earners are most common among young millennials and older millennials, while the presence of three or more income earners is more prevalent among multigenerational home buyers aged 45 years and older. Many Gen X and younger boomer households are more likely than other generations to include adult children who have returned home due to economic challenges.

The data reveals that 27% of all multigenerational home buyers have children under 18 living with them. Older millennials are the most likely to have children in this age group, with nearly 4 out of 5 of their households including children under 18. Among younger millennials, 34% of multigenerational households have children under 18, while 42% of Gen X buyers also have children under 18 in their homes. This data aligns with older millennials purchasing multigenerational homes to move in with their aging parents. Thirty-five percent of older millennial multigenerational home buyers purchased their homes due to the health and caretaking responsibilities of their aging parents, and 32% shared that they bought their homes to spend more time with their aging parents.

Generations and Gatherings

The rise in multigenerational home buying underscores a broader trend driven by economic necessity and evolving family dynamics, as it offers a practical and supportive living arrangement that resonates with many families, particularly in times of economic uncertainty and changing social dynamics. Gen Xers are more likely to have adult children who contribute to the household income, while older millennials are more likely to have children under the age of 18 whom they are financially responsible for. As families continue to adapt to these changes, multigenerational living arrangements are likely to become an increasingly prominent feature of the housing market.

Infographic: 21% of Gen X Buyers Bought a Multi-Generational Home

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