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According to US Census data, over 26 million people, which represents more than 8% of the US population, reside in households with three or more generations.
These multigenerational households make up about 3.7% of all US homes, totaling approximately 4.8 million households.
Sherry Finkel Murphy, the founder and CEO of Madrina Molly, introduced a new term, "the triple-decker club sandwich generation," to describe the increasing trend of multiple generations living together.
Although the percentage of multigenerational households has remained relatively steady, the rapid growth of the US population has led to a significant rise in the number of individuals living in such households.
This demographic shift is reshaping family dynamics, impacting housing requirements, and presenting fresh opportunities for learning between different age groups, particularly from older family members.
Financial considerations are the main reason driving the prevalence of multigenerational living, with around 40% opting for this arrangement due to financial constraints.
The lack of suitable housing options is a significant challenge for the older population, with only a small percentage of existing housing being accessible. Consequently, many older adults are unable to downsize and end up staying in their current homes for longer periods.
The shortage of downsizing options for older adults also constricts housing choices for younger generations, facing a diminishing inventory of available homes for purchase.
Another contributing factor to the increase in multigenerational households is the rising immigration rate in the US, with immigrants now making up 14.3% of the nation's population following the largest surge in the immigrant population in over two decades in 2023.