'I'm the lucky one' - more than one in three young men now live with their parents

More than one in three young men aged 20 to 35 now live with their parents, according to recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In 2025, 35% of young men in this age group were residing in their parental homes, up from 26% in 2000, while 22% of young women lived with their parents. The rising cost of living, particularly soaring housing expenses, is a key factor driving this trend, making independent living increasingly unaffordable for many young adults. Nathan, 24, who lives with his father in a council house near Manchester, exemplifies this shift. Working night shifts cleaning and maintaining trains, he has managed to save £50,000 by living rent-free and minimizing discretionary spending. Nathan contrasts his situation with that of his father, who was able to buy a house at 21, highlighting how economic conditions have changed over generations. Another young adult, Harry Turnbull, 22, recently moved back in with his mother in Surrey to complete his studies, citing the high cost of living as a barrier to maintaining independent accommodation. The ONS also reported broader demographic changes in household composition across the UK. Approximately 30% of households consist of single occupants, with nearly half of these being people aged 65 and over. The proportion of traditional married-couple families has declined, while other family arrangements such as unmarried couples, civil partnerships, and single-parent households have become more common. The rising cost of living remains a pressing concern for adults nationwide, with over two-thirds of respondents in a recent survey acknowledging increased expenses, particularly for food and petrol. This economic pressure underscores the challenges faced by younger generations in achieving financial independence and stable housing, reflecting wider social and economic shifts affecting family structures and living arrangements.