Economic pressures make boomerang living the new normal

Returning home to live with their parents is becoming a defining feature of life for many young adults, according to Thrivent's fifth annual Boomerang Kids Survey.

Half of U.S. parents with adult children ages 18–35 said this year that a child has moved back home at some point. That percentage is in line with 2025’s percentage (46%). This sustained trend continues to shed light on a living arrangement that has become more of an expectation than an exception, the survey said.

"Adult children moving back in with their parents has shifted from stigma to strategy – for both parents and kids," said Thrivent Financial Consultant Gene Elder. "Five years into Thrivent's survey, we've found that boomerang living is not a blip; it's becoming a lasting part of how families plan their money and keep moving toward their long-term financial goals."

What is driving boomerang living?

The survey revealed several trends that are driving boomerang living.

-- Economic pressures, not preference, continue to drive young adults back home, often for extended periods. More than half of young adults (55%) who currently or previously boomeranged back home said that it was financially necessary, with an additional 27% saying it was not necessary but provided financial benefits.

--More than half of boomerang parents expect the arrangement to last at least a year, reinforcing that these are no longer short-term stays.

--Top factors driving young adults back home include unaffordable housing (45%) and job loss or reduced income (36%).

--Young adults moving back home are using the move as a runway to work toward achieving longer-term financial goals.

--34% of young adults said that their primary reason for living at their parents’ home would be saving for a down payment on their own home.

--Among those who have not yet achieved financial independence from their parents, 78% said that it is likely they will do so within the next five to ten years.

--Supporting adult children continues to come at a cost, often impacting both short and long-term financial goals.

Impact on boomerang parents

What areas have the greatest impact on the financial goals of these boomerang parents? Supporting an adult child who returns home can affect finances in the short term, such as everyday spending and the ability to save, as well as progress toward bigger financial goals, like retirement, said Elder.

Many families report cutting back on personal spending (47%), delaying major purchases or plans (36%), or postponing personal goals like travel or education (33%) to support their adult children financially, Elder added. Meanwhile, nearly one in five parents said that they would be willing to reduce personal savings or retirement contributions to provide that support.

“What makes boomerang living especially challenging is that many parents are trying to balance two priorities at once,” Elder pointed out. “They want to help their children regain stability or become financially independent, while making sure they don’t lose ground on their own long-term financial goals.”

Helping boomerang parents reach their goals

What steps can financial professionals take to help boomerang parents reach their goals? “The first thing I encourage clients to do is define the purpose behind the living arrangement,” Elder said. “Families tend to navigate this much more successfully when there’s a clear understanding of what the adult child is working toward — whether that’s paying down debt, rebuilding savings, finding stable employment or saving for a home.” In fact, he pointed out, 34% of young adults said that their primary reason for moving back in with their parents is to save for a down payment on a house of their own.

From there, it’s important to put some structure around the arrangement, Elder added. That includes discussing timelines, expectations and what progress should look like over time.

“I also encourage parents to be realistic about what they can afford to provide without putting their own financial future at risk,” Elder said. “Helping with housing or essentials may make sense, but it’s important to continue prioritizing retirement savings and other foundational goals.

“The families that tend to navigate this most successfully are the ones that communicate openly, revisit the plan regularly, and treat this as a temporary step toward independence rather than an indefinite arrangement.”

The poll was conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Thrivent Financial from March 24 – April 3, 2026, using the probability-based KnowledgePanel. It is based on a nationally representative probability sample of 2,325 general population Americans.

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