North Dakota’s Housing Crisis Is Forcing Young Adults To Live At Home Longer

For today’s young adults, the unfair shame long associated with living at home is overdue for a complete rewrite. Far from a lack of independence, staying with family has become a grounded, strategic response to a daunting economic environment.

According to the most recent Census figures, 33% of young adults aged 18-34 live with their parents, nearing the historic highs seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, as of 2025. This staggering number equals 25.2 million adults under 35 living with their parents in 2025, according to Realtor.com® research.

Moreover, a generational report by Realtor.com noted that a paycheck is no longer the clear dividing line between dependence and independence. Housing shortages, job losses, and significant cost-of-living adjustments in recent years have created a challenging environment for young adults striving for self-sufficiency.

North Dakota’s affordability challenges

A recent study by FinanceBuzz, utilizing Census data, mapped out the percentage of 18- to 34-year-olds who live with their parents in every state, revealing a nuanced picture of young adult independence.

In North Dakota, 12.30% of young adults aged 18 to 34 are currently living with their parents, making it the state where adults are least likely to live with their parents. The top 3 include New Jersey (44.1%), Connecticut (41.3%), and California (39.1%)

States with a higher percentage of young adults living at home often share a common thread: high living costs, indicating that the decision to stay with parents is frequently need-based. Conversely, states with lower housing costs, more remote housing options, and generally more available space tend to exhibit lower rates of young adults living at home.

With that said, North Dakota, with a median home price of $364,259, positions itself with a “C” grade on the 2026 Realtor.com Housing Report Cards. While this median price might be lower than some coastal states, it still represents a significant financial hurdle for many young adults.

Therefore, even in states like North Dakota, the dream of independent living can remain out of reach for those navigating entry-level salaries and rising expenses.

National trends impacting North Dakota

The report from Realtor.com provides additional crucial insights into why so many young adults are living with their parents. Again, the data, reflecting the situation in 2025, indicates a record 25.2 million adults under 35 are living with their parents, surpassing even the pandemic peak. This means approximately 33% of young adults reside at home, just shy of the all-time high of 33.6% set in 2020.

The primary driver for this phenomenon is housing affordability, rather than a lack of employment. Data indicates that 7 out of 10 adults aged 25–34 living at home are employed, highlighting that a steady job no longer guarantees the ability to live independently. The housing market is characterized by a substantial 4-million-unit supply gap, which has contributed to soaring costs. The median home listing price has reached $430,000, a 34.4% increase since 2019, while the median asking rent stands at $1,673, up 17.9% over the same period. These elevated costs make independent living financially challenging for millions, including those in North Dakota.

“Something about their income level, debt load, or the cost of housing in their market is keeping them home despite steady employment,” said Hannah Jones, Senior Economist at Realtor.com. The increase in co-residence is evident across different age groups. For adults aged 18–24, over half (57.6%) are living at home in 2025, a rise from 54.6% in 2019 and 52.1% in 2000. This demographic accounts for 17.6 million individuals, roughly 70% of all adult kids living with parents.

Furthermore, the delay in establishing independent households is particularly pronounced as young adults age. By age 22, 49.3% remain at home, up from 46.1% pre-pandemic. This trend intensifies by age 24, where 35.2% are still living with parents, a significant jump from 29.6% in 2019, indicating a growing delay in achieving independent living milestones. “The rise in college attendance over the past 25 years likely plays a role too: More widespread student debt may be constraining what an entry-level salary can actually buy in terms of independent living,” Jones added.

Therefore, the situation often creates two distinct groups. “The reality is probably two groups. A genuine launchpad cohort with higher incomes and lower debt who will convert to buyers when conditions allow, and a larger group for whom the childhood bedroom is less a runway and more a floor, preventing a worse outcome, but not reliably producing the one they’re aiming for,” Jones explained. This sentiment resonates deeply with young adults struggling to navigate today’s economic landscape.

Generated with AI assistance and finalized through human editorial oversight by Dina Sartore-Bodo and Gabriella Iannetta.