TL;DR Summary
Living arrangements of young adults in the 1970s and 1980s were not much different than those of young adults (Gen Z) today. The MAJOR change is that far more young people got married in the 1970s and 1980s than today. It was rare for an unmarried “couple” to live together then, whereas today, up to 15%-20% of young couples cohabitate without marriage. That’s the main change.
As far as living at home, in rental apartments, in a purchased home – the differences are not large.
Most of Gen Z lives at home (or at college), up to 30-35% rent, and the remainder, at the oldest ages, have bought a place. Of those who rent, 83% say they prefer to rent to have flexibility for moving to a new job, for moving to a better place, to take time out for travel, or because it is cheaper than the mortgage payment for the type of place they would like to buy.
DETAILS
(Constructed with assistance from Grok AI search)
In the 1970–1980 period, living arrangements for young adults in the U.S. (based on U.S. Census Bureau data) differed significantly from current trends, particularly in the emphasis on marriage and lower rates of living with parents or independently.
Data for ages 25–29 is approximated from broader 25–34 trends where exact sub-group breakdowns are unavailable, but patterns are consistent. Percentages are averages or approximations for the period, as year-to-year variations were minor. Comparisons to recent years (e.g., 2020–2025) highlight similarities and differences.
Ages 18–24
During 1970–1980, arrangements reflected higher marriage rates (median age at first marriage was ~21 for women and ~23 for men, vs. ~28 and ~30 today), growing college enrollment (with dorms counted as “living with parents” in Census data), and economic factors like affordable housing/entry-level jobs. This period saw a slight uptick in living with parents from the 1960s low, but overall shares were somewhat similar to today—though with more emphasis on early marriage and less on cohabitation or roommating due to social norms and lower costs.
- Living with parents (including dorms for unmarried college students): 45–50% (males ~54%, females ~41–43%). Similar to today (55–60%), but today’s higher share reflects delayed independence due to student debt, housing costs, and economic uncertainty.
- Living with a spouse: In the 1970s, 30–40% lived with a spouse (higher among 20–24 subgroup; many married young). Today, just 15–20%, as marriage rates have declined sharply.
- Living with an unmarried partner (cohabiting): <1% in the 1970s. Much lower than today (~10–15%), where cohabitation has risen as a precursor or alternative to marriage.
- Living alone: 5–10%. Lower than today (10–15%), as affordability allowed more to marry or share early.
- Living with non-relatives (roommates) or other relatives: 5–10%. Lower than today (15–20%), with fewer opting for shared housing due to quicker transitions to marriage/family.
Overall similarity/difference
Somewhat similar to today in the prominence of living with parents (driven by education/economics both then and now), but different in the higher role of marriage and lower cohabitation/roommating.
Trends began shifting upward for parental living post-1980 due to recessions.
Ages 25–29
This group in 1970–1980 was more established, with high marriage/homeownership rates amid post-WWII economic growth and suburban expansion.
Living independently or with a spouse was the norm, contrasting sharply with today’s delayed milestones, higher renting, and flexibility preferences (e.g., 72% (or 83% depending on the survey) of Gen Z renters today cite renting as smarter for mobility/travel).
- Living with parents (or other relatives): In the 1970s, 8–10% (males ~10–11%, females ~7%). Much lower than today (15–20%), where economic pressures (e.g., housing affordability, job instability) have nearly doubled this share since 1980.
- Living with a spouse: 75–80%. Far higher than today (40–50%), reflecting earlier marriage and family formation.
- Living with an unmarried partner (cohabiting): 0.5%. Much lower than today (15–20%), as cohabitation was less socially accepted and common.
- Living alone: 5–7%. Somewhat similar to today (10%), but today’s figure includes more single parents or post-divorce arrangements.
- Living with non-relatives (roommates): 2–3%. Lower than today (5–10%), with fewer needing shared housing due to higher marriage/ownership rates.
Overall similarity/difference
Quite different from today—dominated by spousal living then, vs. a more diverse mix now (higher parental, cohabiting, and roommating due to delayed marriage, rising costs, and lifestyle priorities).
Parental living doubled post-1980, while spousal shares halved
Sources for these figures include U.S. Census Bureau historical tables (e.g., AD-1 for parental living, AD-3 for broader arrangements), Pew Research Center analyses of Census data, and visualizations from outlets like InfoPlease and Reddit/dataisbeautiful (sourced from Census). infoplease.com +3
