The case for moving out: Why adult kids still living with their parents should get their own place now

For the first time in years, the math might finally favor renters.Across the country, prices for studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedroom apartments are dropping.

In May 2025, the national median rent fell for the 22nd month in a row, according to data from Realtor.com—a sign that the rental market is softening after years of soaring costs and impossible trade-offs.But despite this rare opening, millions of young adults aren’t seizing the opportunity to move out.Instead, they’re staying put in their childhood bedrooms, stuck between caution and comfort.This moment matters.

For many young adults, waiting for the perfect time to launch could mean missing the best time.And the longer they delay, the more they risk falling behind in ways that no amount of rent-free living can fix.Living at home is becoming a defining feature of a generation.

Nearly half of parents today have had an adult child move back in, according to a recent survey from Thrivent.That shift made sense in recent years.Rent was often unaffordable, inflation was brutal, and entry-level wages couldn’t keep up with everyday costs.But today’s numbers tell a different story.

Asking rents have dropped nearly across the board: Studios are down 1.9% year over year, one-bedrooms down 2.3%, and two-bedrooms down 1.7%, according to the Realtor.com May 2025 Rental Report.In more than half of the nation’s largest cities, rent growth is now trailing overall inflation, something that hasn’t happened consistently in years.For renters willing to downsize, commute, or share space, the market is finally cooling enough to offer real options.

Yet many young adults remain at home—not because they have to, but because they can.And while that decision might feel safe, experts say it could be costing more than they think.Living at home might postpone rent, but it also postpones progress.That’s because a little financial pressure is good.

It forces young adults to budget with intention, develop di...