Free News Reader

Rising Costs Drive Adult Children Back Home

Free News Reader  ·  June 13, 2026

AI-generated context summary requested by a Free News Reader user. Sourced via Gemini from publicly available information — no paywalled content was accessed.

You hit a paywall. Here’s the context on this topic based on publicly available information. We did not access any paywalled content. View original article.

Rising Costs Drive Adult Children Back Home

  • Nearly half of parents, 46%, reported having an adult child aged 18-35 move back home, according to a 2025 Thrivent survey.
  • Housing affordability remains the primary driver, cited by 32% of respondents in the 2025 Thrivent Boomerang Kids Survey, though this figure is down from 50% in 2024.

Full Summary — powered by AI

An increasing number of adult children are returning to live with their parents, a trend often attributed to significant economic pressures and personal life events. This phenomenon, sometimes called the “boomerang kid” trend, is impacting family dynamics and parental finances across many regions.

Key factors contributing to this return include high housing costs, increasing prices for everyday essentials, and substantial student loan debt. In 2024, nearly a third, 32.5%, of adults aged 18-34 lived with their parents, an increase from 31.8% in 2023. Personal events such as divorce or separation also play a role, accounting for 20% of adult children moving back home.

While providing a safety net for adult children, this living arrangement can create what financial advisors like Alex Gonzalez of Thrivent refer to as a “Boomerang Burden” for parents. A 2025 Thrivent survey indicated that 38% of parents supporting adult children reported an impact on their long-term financial goals, such as retirement savings, and 39% noted an impact on short-term savings goals like vacations. Alarmingly, 60% of young adults in the same survey stated their parents had not discussed the financial implications of supporting them a second time.

To navigate this situation effectively, experts advise open communication and setting clear expectations. This includes discussing financial contributions for household expenses, outlining household responsibilities, and establishing a realistic timeframe for the adult child’s eventual move towards independent living. Prioritizing parents’ own financial security, particularly retirement goals, is