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The fall of multigenerational households - A significant number of Americans lived in multigenerational households until after WWII. Before the war, 25% of Americans lived in multigenerational homes.

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The fall of multigenerational households - After the war, the number of people living in multigenerational homes decreased continually until 1980, when just 12% of the population shared their home with extended generations.

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The rise of multigenerational households - Between 1980 and 2016, the number began to rise again. A Pew Research report in 2016 revealed shocking numbers: 60.6 million Americans, or one-fifth of the population, were living in multigenerational homes.

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The rise of multigenerational households - Even more surprising was that in just seven years, between 2007 and 2014, there was a 30% increase in multigenerational households.

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The rise of multigenerational households - Pew Research Center defined multigenerational as a household consisting of two or more adult generations or grandchildren living with grandparents.

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Explanations - One of the explanations for the sharp increase in this type of living arrangement is the current tendency for adult children to return home after college or never move out in the first place.

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Explanations - For the first time in 130 years, more adult children (individuals over the age of 25) are living with their parents as opposed to any other type of living situation.

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Explanations - The sharp increase is also correlated with the Great Recession of 2007-2009 as a way to preserve resources and save money.

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Who lives in multigenerational homes? - Millennials make up just one-third of the rise in multigenerational living. 23% percent of Americans aged 55 to 64 also live in multigenerational homes, and another 21% are over 65.

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Demographics - The increase is reflected across all racial groups, with Asians making up 23% of the multigenerational households, Hispanics and blacks making up 25% each, and whites making up 15%.

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Demographics - Asian and Hispanic populations are more likely to live in multigenerational households than any other racial group.

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Demographics - Foreign-born individuals are also more likely to live in these types of homes, according to Pew.

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Demographics - Education also plays a role in the tendency for young adults to continue living with parents. Those with a college degree are more likely to move out and live on their own or with a partner, while those without a degree are more likely to live at home.

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Consequences - The rise in multigenerational living has also explained why more elderly individuals live with family than on their own for the first time since 1990.

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Pew study - According to the 2016 study, 28.4 million Americans live in a three-generational household (grandparent, parent, and child). Less than a million live in a household with more than three generations.

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Pew study - The same study revealed that 3.2 million Americans live in a household consisting of a skipped generation situation—meaning just grandparents and grandchildren.

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Multigenerational housing developments - A new phenomenon, known as multigenerational housing developments (houses consisting of multigenerational floor plans), are cropping up across the country.

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Multigenerational housing developments - These houses include two homes—a main house and a private attached apartment.

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Multigenerational housing developments - Many three-generational families are choosing to move into these homes, in which the oldest generation (the grandparents) live in the separate apartment, while the parents and children live in the main house.

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Multigenerational housing developments - This innovation in family living is not just cost effective, it is also incredibly useful for elderly family members to receive special care while also maintaining their independence.

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Multigenerational housing developments - Fans of these communities also speak to the convenience of built-in daycare and the extra help with household chores, including cooking and cleaning.

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Multigenerational housing developments - There are now over 300 multigenerational housing communities surrounding major cities in 14 states, and more are cropping up every day.

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The phenomenon - One of the reasons that this trend in multigenerational housing is such a phenomenon in US society is because it defies the traditional family values America tends to uphold.

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The phenomenon - Most Americans tend to highly value independence and view multigenerational households as a sign of failure. Adult kids living with their parents are often pegged as spoiled millenials, while the idea of elderly parents living with their adult children and grandchildren is seen as a burden.

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The phenomenon - The fact that these households are increasing even after the end of the Great Recession shows a potential shift in American values and attitudes.

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Media influence - The idea that independence is seen as success while codependency is seen as failure is reinforced by media. For example, the movie 'Failure to Launch' tells the story of a woman hired by the parents of an adult male still living at home in order to make him move out by falling in love with her.

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Media influence - Movies, shows, and news stories all contribute to the message that adults still living with parents is shameful or wrong.

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Attitude evolution - Fortunately, studies are proving the various benefits of multigenerational living. A study from the University of Oxford revealed that children have fewer behavioral and emotional problems when their grandparents are highly involved in their lives.

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Attitude evolution - Families may have started living together out of necessity during tough economic times, but they are now choosing to stay together, and the numbers only continue growing.

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