In many cultures, it’s common for multiple generations to share a household. In the U.S., however, multigenerational living declined throughout the 20th century due to several key shifts—namely, the introduction of Social Security in 1935, the move from rural to urban living, and the growth of professional nursing homes. Households that once included three or more generations, two adult generations (like parents and adult children), or even skipped generations (grandparents and grandchildren) became less common. After World War II, a new prosperity brought by successful infrastructure programs, like the expansion of the U.S. highway system, further eroded multigenerational living as Americans went to “see the USA in their Chevrolets” and discovered other places they’d prefer to live. Cheaper transportation allowed visits “back home.” Medicare allowed aging adults to live independently, and many of them moved to warmer climates, further changing migrations across the country. By the time their children, the Baby Boomers, were young adults, society had changed radically, with those born between 1946 and 1964 becoming the first and largest generation to collectively leave their parents and bypass mom and pop small business legacies for high-paying jobs in numerous industries: technology, aerospace, home and office development, travel, and energy, to name a few. By 1980, households were increasingly composed of singles, dinks (double-income, no kids) and baby-on-board families. Multigenerational households reached a nadir of only 12% of household formations. Since then, major economic disruptions—from the high interest rates of the 1980s to the Great Recession of 2008, the pandemic of 2019 and its impact on housing costs, and even catastrophic weather events—have gradually reshaped attitudes toward multigenerational living. By 2022, more than 59 million Americans were living in multigenerational households. Young adults are moving back in with parents, who in turn are caring for their own aging parents—many of whom are living longer, outliving their savings, or requiring daily support. The “sandwich generation” is evolving: once defined by juggling childcare and eldercare, it now often means housing both adult children and grandparents under the same roof. A prime example of why finances are so tough is what’s happening to Gen Z (ages 18-27) and Millennials (28-43). Along with the financial challenges of other Americans—high food and housing costs—these generations’ graduates are earning $10,000 less in wages, adjusted for inflation, than their parents at the same ages, along with carrying larger student loan balances. Savings.com reports that 50% of parents (a three-year high) with an adult child provide them an average of $1,474 monthly, a 6% increase year-over-year. This is more than twice the amount parents contribute to their own retirement and 60% of them are subsidizing their adult children by risking their own financial security, which could indicate that finance-pooling at the heart of multigenerational living is here to stay for a while. A recent builder’s survey of 1,000 Americans conducted to gauge homebuyers’ appetite for purpose‑built multigenerational homes, 55 percent said they already live in a multigenerational household. By generation, 61 percent of Gen X (ages 44–59), 59 percent of Gen Z (ages 18–25), 56 percent of Millennials (ages 26–43) and 33 percent of Baby Boomers (ages 60–78) currently reside in multigenerational homes. Not surprisingly, the top reason for living in a multigenerational home is financial (65%), followed by the desire to maintain close family ties (39%), share responsibilities (28%), care for elders (23%), and enjoy companionship (22%). For those currently in a multigenerational home, a staggering 95% say their households function smoothly. For those considering a multigenerational home, 75% want to pool financial resources, 53% need to care for elders, and 37% desire stronger family bonds. Obviously, there are pros and cons to multigenerational living. Sharing expenses takes pressure off individual household members, especially for those priced out of homes to rent or buy. Surpluses can go to toward purchasing a home, paying for tuitions and student loans, and providing more basics and comforts. As far as senior care goes, most survey respondents (about 75%) would rather care for their elders themselves than pay for an assisted living or nursing home facility. In turn, seniors who are able to can help take care of children to save on childcare expenses. For the arrangement to work for everyone in the household, certain challenges have to be met and overcome. A majority of respondents (62%) say lack of privacy is the biggest issue, followed by balancing the needs and lifestyles of different generations (46%), and establishing clear boundaries and expectations (34%). Different generations may clash in their values and beliefs, but with careful planning, acceptance of others, and continuous positive communication, a populous household can work well. Perhaps the biggest challenge is that most existing homes for sale as well as new homes by builders are designed for the majority of homebuyers—the single family. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 62% of homebuyers are married couples, and 73% of those do not have minor children at home. Currently, just 3 in 10 homebuyers say their homes have separate living areas for different generations. Home costs have decreased the market share of first-time buyers from 32% last year to 24% this year—the lowest level since 1981—while the average age of first-time buyers has risen from 35 to 38. Among all buyers, only 17% purchased a multigenerational home. The top reasons? Cost savings (36%), caring for aging parents (25%), accommodating returning adult children or relatives (21%), and supporting adult children who never left home (20%). Many housing industry professionals view multigenerational families as an untapped market for homebuilders, but it’s a goldmine for remodelers who can figure out how to design comfortable, ergonomic, and energy-efficient updates for multigenerational family homes. What would a home designed for multiple generations look like? Among features that would make the home more functional are flexible living spaces for both privacy and togetherness, separate entrances and living quarters for adult generations, and universal design elements with accessibility for seniors and disabled household members. Universal design focuses on features that are easy to use, intuitive, and require minimal physical effort, with space planning that works for people of all ages and abilities. Many of these improvements go unnoticed—like wider doorways, efficient lighting, motion sensors, non-slip flooring, lever-style door handles, seamless thresholds, and hallway handrails. In an elder-friendly bathroom, essentials include a walk-in or roll-in shower with a hand-held showerhead, a comfort-height toilet, and single-handle faucets. Perhaps the greatest benefit of multigenerational living is the strengthening of family bonds. With love and mutual support, households can overcome challenges—from loneliness to debt—and that’s what truly makes a house a home.