The number of multigenerational households in the United States has surged by 700,000 over the past decade, reaching 4 million, according to a new study from Realtor.com. This trend reflects growing financial pressure on American families, with many choosing to live together across generations to save money.
Multigenerational homes—defined as households where parents, children, and grandparents live under one roof—now account for 4.5% of the housing market in 2024, up from 4.3% in 2019. In the 50 largest US cities, this share rises to an average of 6.1%.
California cities dominate the list of areas with the highest share of multigenerational homes. Los Angeles leads at 23.7%, followed by San Diego (22.7%), San Jose (18%), San Francisco (17.4%), and Riverside (14.9%). The study attributes this to the state's cultural diversity, particularly among Asian and Hispanic populations, who are more likely to live in multigenerational arrangements.
While the West Coast has the highest concentration of such homes, the Midwest sees the largest price premiums. Homebuyers in Detroit pay a 120% premium for a multigenerational property, while those in Cleveland and Buffalo pay 107% and 94% more, respectively.
The shift comes as homebuyers face high housing prices and mortgage rates. The average sale price of a listed home was $514,600 from January to March, near record highs. Meanwhile, 30-year fixed mortgage rates have remained above 6% for all but one week since September 2022, after staying below that threshold for 14 years.
