More Than One in Three Young Men Now Live With Their Parents — And Here's Why

Record Numbers of Young Men Are Staying at the Family Home

A growing financial squeeze is reshaping the way young adults in the UK live, with new figures revealing that more than one in three men aged 20 to 35 were living with their parents in 2025 — the highest proportion recorded since at least 2007. According to data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 35% of young men now remain in the family home, a sharp rise from 26% back in 2000.

While young women are experiencing a similar trend, they do so at a lower rate, with 22% living with their parents in the same period. Notably, both figures have been climbing steadily in recent years.

Soaring Housing Costs Are Driving the Trend

Researchers and economists point to sky-high rental prices and an increasingly unaffordable property market as the primary forces behind this shift. A study conducted by the Institute for Fiscal Studies identified housing costs as a major barrier preventing young adults from striking out on their own, with financial pressures making independent living feel out of reach for millions.

The ONS also found that the rising cost of living ranked as the single most pressing concern among UK adults — placing it above worries about the NHS and the broader economy.

One Young Man's Story: Saving £50,000 by Staying Home

For some, the decision to stay put is a calculated financial strategy. Nathan, 24, lives with his father in a council house on the outskirts of Manchester. Working night shifts cleaning and maintaining trains, he has managed to accumulate an impressive savings pot of £50,000 — a feat he attributes entirely to not paying market-rate rent.

"If you are lucky enough to live with a parent or grandparent who doesn't charge you much, you can build up money even on minimum wage," Nathan explains.

His approach to saving is disciplined and deliberate. He batch-cooks hearty meals like chillies and stews to bring to work, avoids impulse buying, and caps his spending on a night out at around £20.

"I'm not interested in a flashy car, blowing money on alcohol, or buying £500 trainers," he says. "My dad bought a house at 21, but that was just how things were back then."

Returning Home After University

For others, moving back in with family is less of a choice and more of a necessity. Harry Turnbull, 22, returned to his mother's home in Surrey last summer to complete his degree after spending three years living independently with friends on the south coast.

Despite missing the freedom of student life, Harry says the financial reality left him with little alternative.

"Everything is just so expensive, and prices have gone up massively," he says. "Young people should have more of an option to live independently, but right now that simply isn't possible for a lot of us."

How UK Households Are Changing

The ONS data paints a broader picture of shifting household dynamics across Britain. Roughly three in ten UK households now consist of a single person living alone, with nearly half of those — approximately four million people — aged 65 or over, a slight increase compared to 2015.

At the same time, the proportion of households made up of married couples, with or without children, has declined as alternative family structures — including unmarried partnerships, civil unions, and single-parent households — become increasingly common.

The Wider Cost of Living Crisis

The financial pressure facing younger generations sits within a much larger national context. Separate ONS surveys conducted in early 2026 found that more than two thirds of adults reported that the cost of living had increased in March compared to the previous month, with rising food and fuel prices cited most frequently as the cause.

Between January and March of the same year, nearly one in four adults said they would be unable to cover an unexpected but essential expense of £850. A further 3% reported having run out of food in the preceding two weeks and lacking the funds to buy more — a stark illustration of the financial vulnerability facing a significant portion of the population.

For young people navigating this landscape, the family home has become less of a stepping stone and more of a lifeline.