A new report by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) indicates a record high of 6.8 million American households were sharing their living quarters with unrelated housemates. While the older members of Generation Z (18 to 28) and younger millennials (29 to 34) comprise the largest group of home sharers at 41 percent, the 55-plus group now represents 30 percent of all home sharers.
The NAMB report shows that the trend of sharing homes among nonrelatives is a result of rising housing and apartment rental costs. As of 2023, more than one in five leaseholders or homeowners aged 18 to 24 was sharing housing with unrelated roommates.
