Living in your parents’ basement in your 20s and 30s is no ticket to success. It used to be one in four and now the ratio is one in three adults age 18 to 34 living at home with their parents:

The problem is much worse in Blue States.  That is the conclusion of a financebuzz.com study which extracted and rounded the data from deep inside the American Community Survey (Census Bureau) for 2024.

Nine of the 10 largest 18-34 aged persons living with their parents are from 8 states and the District of Columbia – all of which were Blue in the 2024 presidential election. The five highest percentage states were all Blue.

Among the states and DC with the smallest percentages of 18-34s, eight are Red, while two are Blue. The smallest share of 18-34s living with their parents are in North Dakota, at 12.3%. Positions three through six are also Red.

We think one major factor is that housing is much more expensive in blue states and cities than red ones. Blame the high cost of zoning and planning, among other things.