Multigenerational living rises as a defining American family trend

Multigenerational living is becoming a defining feature of American family life, driven by financial pressures, aging populations, and housing market challenges. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center report, approximately 20 percent of adults aged 65 and older lived in multigenerational households in 2023, an increase from 17 percent in 1990.

Data from the National Association of Realtors indicates that multigenerational homes accounted for 17 percent of housing purchases in 2024. Additionally, a survey by the National Endowment for Financial Education in August 2024 found that 55 percent of 1,475 surveyed adults lived in multigenerational arrangements.

In these households, cooking roles often evolve organically. Grandparents frequently assume the primary cooking responsibilities due to greater daytime flexibility and established culinary experience.