Why can't today's young adults leave the nest? Blame high housing costs
Rising housing costs relative to wages are keeping more young adults living with their parents longer, especially in cities where zoning limits new construction and homes are treated as investment assets. Commenters link this trend to delayed family formation, falling fertility, and intergenerational tensions, arguing that what older cohorts framed as a matter of “sacrifice” is now often simple unaffordability. Ideas floated range from embracing multigenerational living and small-town moves to reforming zoning, curbing real-estate speculation, and rethinking how societies support families and long-term housing.
Housing costs, wages, and the generational squeeze
- Many argue housing has become dramatically less affordable relative to incomes: home prices have outpaced inflation and wages; rent often exceeds 50% of a typical young worker’s pay in some examples.
- Multiple commenters contrast their own past (rent at ~30% of income, realistic starter home) with their children’s situation (two jobs, degrees, still can’t rent alone).
- Data cited: long‑run charts showing home‑price‑to‑income ratios roughly doubling, plus evidence of decades‑long wage stagnation and recent real wage declines.
- Some push back that earlier eras had much higher interest rates, but replies note that even after adjusting for inflation and rate changes, current buyers still need significantly more resources for the same house.
Fertility, demographics, and policy
- Concern: delayed household formation and high housing costs will suppress fertility and deepen population decline, with reference to extreme cases like South Korea.
- Others think multi‑generational living plus longer time to save could ultimately support higher fertility.
- Debate over whether pro‑natalist policies “don’t work” versus examples like the Czech Republic and Israel suggesting partial reversals are possible.
- Some see low fertility as a “problem to solve”; others explicitly say it is not a problem.
- Immigration is discussed as both a proposed fix and, per one cited paper, a short‑term depressant on native fertility.
Culture, values, and “growing up”
- Disagreement over whether young adults are less willing to “sacrifice” (roommates, moving, smaller towns) versus being objectively priced out.
- Several note shared housing has shifted from a 20s norm to a 30s necessity; living with parents is framed by some as rational, not immature.
- One view blames cultural “party mode” and pessimism; others counter that prudence means not having kids you can’t afford.
- Another commenter notes Gen Z appears to “grow up” slower (work, dating, sex) in ways not directly tied to housing.
Supply, policy, and structural forces
- Zoning, building codes, NIMBYism, and treating homes as speculative assets are repeatedly blamed for constrained supply and runaway prices.
- Aging homeowners “aging in place” in large houses are seen as locking up family‑suitable stock.
- Remote work was expected to revive small towns, but commenters cite weak job prospects, poor services, and the rollback of remote roles as limiting that shift.