More families in England and Wales had adult children living with them in Census 2021 compared with a decade earlier. Most people in their early 20s were living with their parents, as children are staying in the family home later in life.
The number of families in England and Wales with adult children living with their parents rose 13.6% between the 2011 Census and Census 2021 to nearly 3.8 million.
At the same time, median house prices have increased by over 50% in the last ten years.
Tower Hamlets (46.1%), Barking and Dagenham (38.5%), and Newham (38.1%) saw the greatest percentage increase in the number of adult children in families. They also featured in the top 15 local authorities which saw the greatest increase in house prices in the same 10 year time frame.
Six out of the ten local authorities with the highest proportion of families with adult children were in London, with Brent having 32.4% of families with adult children living with them. Outside the capital, Leiceser, Knowsley and Birmingham all had around 30% of families living with their adult children.
In the South West, only 1 in 5 families had adult children living at home. Rutland, the Cotswolds and Rushcliffe had the lowest proportion at around 16%.
Despite Census 2021 taking place during the Covid lockdowns, it is believed that these increases are part of a continuing trend as increases in house prices and the rising cost of living make moving out more difficult for young adults.