More US Families Choose Multigenerational Homes

Why this is here: A homebuilder in Houston offers floor plans with a “dual home” option, featuring a separate living space complete with its own kitchen and living room.

In Worcester, Massachusetts, and across the United States, families are increasingly living in multigenerational homes. This shift echoes traditions found in many cultures worldwide, where grandparents, parents, and grandchildren share a residence. June Boyd’s home in Toldelo, Ohio, houses thirteen people—spanning three generations—who share expenses like a $700 monthly rent.

Rising costs for childcare, housing, and everyday goods are major factors. Natasha Pilkauskas, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan, notes this trend is also linked to changing family structures, like increasing rates of divorce. Vanessa Gordon of East Hampton welcomed her parents into her home after a divorce, finding their support invaluable.

Roughly 17% of home buyers purchased multigenerational homes between July 2023 and June 2024, up from 14% the prior year. Builders like Newmark in Houston are responding by designing homes with features like separate apartments to balance togetherness and privacy, though Pilkauskas suggests many still prefer the traditional nuclear family if financially feasible.