San Diego’s housing crisis now comes with a familiar soundtrack: the creak of old bedroom doors as grown kids move back home. Today, Mayor Todd Gloria turned up the volume on a national alarm about young adults returning to their childhood rooms because they simply cannot afford a place of their own.
For millions of under-35 Americans, that stalled launch into independent living is not just awkward, it is costly. Careers get delayed, homeownership gets pushed into the distant future, and fewer new households form in cities across the country.
National Numbers Show How Crowded the Nest Has Become
According to Realtor.com, a record 25.2 million adults under 35 were living with their parents in 2025, roughly one in three nationwide, a share that has climbed back to its pandemic peak. The report finds that about 70% of 25 to 34-year-olds living at home have jobs, yet they are still locked out of the market.
Realtor.com’s researchers point to a national housing supply gap of roughly four million units and a median home listing price of about $430,000, around 34% higher than before the pandemic. All those would-be renters and first-time buyers who are still staying with family represent what the analysts describe as latent demand that would otherwise put pressure on rental units and starter homes.
Pricey States Feel the Squeeze First
Reporting on the Realtor.com analysis, The Guardian notes that the share of young adults living with parents climbs above 39% in California and exceeds 44% in New Jersey, showing how already expensive markets amplify the crunch…