The single-family home is being redefined. In South Florida and across the country, more families are choosing to live together across generations. Young adults are staying at home longer, grandparents are moving in and families are pooling space, care and resources. Today, roughly 6 million American households include three or more generations, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Data from the National Association of Realtors shows that 14% of homebuyers have purchased a home this year for their multigenerational family, with Gen X, ages 46 to 61, making up the largest share. Across all age groups, the top reasons for combining households are caring for aging parents, saving money and adult children moving back home.
“Multigenerational living can be a powerful [form of] ‘rehumaning,’ the practice of protecting the human essentials we need to thrive, which includes many of the benefits of healthy multigenerational living: connection, love, belonging and celebration,” says Stephanie Malia Krauss, author of “How We Thrive: Caring for Kids and Ourselves in a Changing World.” “When done in a positive, productive way, multigenerational living is a wonderful way to radically improve quality of life for ourselves and our loved ones.”
The practice is especially common in South Florida. In Miami, about 26% of adults ages 25 to 34 still live with their parents, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center study. That was well above the national average of 18%. In addition, many homes in the greater Boca Raton area feature flexible floor plans, multiple primary suites and secondary residences like in-law units or casitas.
“In South Florida, a lot of families come from countries where multigenerational living is the norm, not a compromise,” says Alexei Morgado, a licensed real estate sales associate and founder of Lexawise in Miami. “For them, a backyard accessory dwelling unit [ADU] isn’t a workaround — it’s the whole point of the purchase. And with carrying costs becoming a bigger concern in Florida, pooling resources as a family is starting to look like a smart move.”
Morgado notes that home listings mentioning “separate entrance” or “in-law suite” tend to get noticeably more attention than comparable properties that don’t. He adds that the reasons families choose multigenerational arrangements are as varied as the families themselves. “It might be a parent who can’t live alone anymore, an adult child who has moved back home, a sister going through a divorce or simply the need to split costs,” he explains. “Clients aren’t shy about saying they want a space where Mom can live with them but still have her own door to close, or that they need someone paying $1,200 a month to make the mortgage work.”
An Old Way Of Living Returns
While multigenerational housing may seem like a modern concept, before World War II it was rare for older adults to receive care outside the family or for young adults to leave home before marriage.
“Not since the Great Depression have there been so many families turning to their immediate relatives as a lifeline,” says Susan Newman, a social psychologist in New York City and the author of 15 books on relationships and parenting, including “Under One Roof Again: All Grown Up and (Re)learning to Live Together Happily.”
Newman attributes the trend in part to a more democratic parenting style that emphasizes collaboration between adults and their children. “Decades ago, whatever a parent said is what got done, or didn’t get done,” she explains. “Now families appear to be more cohesive and enjoy being around each other. This can make young adults less hesitant to move back home.”
Additionally, Newman says that factors like a challenging job market, student loan debt and high home and rental prices can make it difficult for many young people to afford a home of their own. A recent Redfin survey found that 67% of Gen Zers struggle with housing costs, as prices and mortgage rates rise faster than incomes.
“Most parents want to see their adult children being independent,” Newman says, “but in this economy, that can be very difficult.”
According to Newman, one of the biggest benefits of living in a multigenerational home is that adult children get to know their parents as people, while parents come to see their children as adults.“This can also provide an opportunity for families to do things together that they may not have been able to afford or make time for when the children were younger,” she says.
With those benefits, however, come challenges, and Newman warns parents and grandparents not to slip back into a “commander-in-chief” role. “Don’t allow your adult child to be treated in a way where you do everything for them,” she advises. “Parents need to be very clear about expectations and boundaries for everyone living under the same roof.” That includes defining responsibilities such as cooking, laundry, cleaning and other household tasks.
While living under one roof can be a positive experience for families, Newman also notes that it’s important for everyone to maintain their own lifestyle. “Don’t sever the connections you had before your family members moved in with you,” she says. “If you play bridge or have walking buddies, you want to maintain that social life, because your family won’t be living with you forever.”
When young adults return home, having an exit plan may be the furthest thing from their parents’ minds, but it might be the most important thing to discuss, to help keep adult children moving forward. “Talk through what their goals are, whether that’s paying off student loans [or] saving up to buy a condo, and come up with a rough idea of when they might be leaving, whether that’s in six months or a year,” Newman says. “If their plan is based on finding a job, it can be flexible, and you can revisit it periodically based on how their job hunt is going.”
Setting Boundaries And Expectations
Cory Reid-Vanas, a clinical therapist and the founder of Rocky Mountain Counseling Collective in Denver, sees multigenerational living becoming more common for a variety of reasons, including rising housing, childcare and eldercare costs, along with cultural shifts that encourage a more collaborative approach to supporting extended families.
“Aging parents or grandparents can help support parents in raising young children,” he explains. “Together, everyone can help manage the increased costs of living that many people are facing.”
Longer life expectancies also play a role. The average person now lives to 79, and the median monthly cost of assisted living for seniors in Florida ranges between $3,500 and $5,500, so a multigenerational setup can go a long way toward easing a family’s financial burden, while also providing better emotional support for elderly family members.
For a successful arrangement, Reid-Vanas encourages families to be intentional and thoughtful in how they set up the household, with a proactive focus on discussing what’s working and addressing challenges as they arise. “It’s important to define roles early, versus ‘We’ll just figure it out,’” he says. “Be explicit about who’s in charge of finances, childcare responsibilities and household labor.”
Reid-Vanas also recommends creating both physical and psychological zones, designating some spaces as shared and others as private. He emphasizes setting boundaries around everyday interactions, such as knocking before entering and maintaining direct, open and honest communication. By addressing issues early and using neutral, non-accusatory language — such as “I” statements, which allow family members to express their needs without blaming others — families can review agreements regularly, especially as their needs evolve.
Living together doesn’t automatically guarantee closeness, so Reid-Vanas recommends scheduling shared meals or activities, while also allowing for intentional time apart. This ensures that parents have time with their children without grandparents present, and couples have time without children.
“The reality is that couples can lose a lot of privacy, and alone time can become scarce,” he explains. “The impact on emotional intimacy, sexual relationships and conflict resolution can become strained. Couples may need to schedule alone time, even if that feels formal.”
In multigenerational homes, conflict management becomes an important skill. Reid-Vanas says that tension between two people can affect the entire household. Rather than taking sides, he encourages families to establish household agreements rooted in shared values like respect, privacy and support, while acknowledging that generational differences will need to be navigated.
Although multigenerational living can ease financial pressures and provide meaningful support, Reid-Vanas reminds families that it isn’t a passive arrangement.
“It requires intentional structure and ongoing communication,” he says. “Households that thrive tend to treat it like a shared system, not a default family dynamic. They negotiate expectations regularly.”