In expensive markets, married couples are living with roommates to share the financial burden of high housing costs, according to a new study.
In 2018, nearly 4.2 million households, a 3.28 percent national share, lived with a roommate or boarder. Among married couples, the rate was 0.46 percent, or more than 280,000 households; the share has doubled since 1995, and the historical average is 0.36 percent, finds Trulia. Married homeowners are driving up the share, as 0.34 percent live with roommates, 40 percent more than the historical average.
While most married couples tend to live without non-family members, the small percentage that take on roommates or boarders are seemingly doing so to help mitigate housing costs. In housing markets with the highest rates of married couples living with roommates, including Honolulu and Orange County, Calif., the share is between four and five times the national rate. And it’s probably no coincidence that the areas with the most married-with-roommate households are also fairly pricey: Markets exhibiting the highest rates of married couples with roommates tend to be concentrated on the West Coast, a known stronghold of high home prices.
Advertisement
Related Stories
Labor + Trade Relations
Who's Earning What in Construction
Workers in construction management roles may earn a higher median wage, but on average, lower-paid occupations have experienced somewhat faster wage growth
Build to Rent
Build-to-Rent Is Booming, Particularly in These Metros
A recent report finds that the Phoenix metro leads with more than 4,000 build-to-rent units completed in 2023, and Texas is the leading state for build-to-rent development
Sustainability
Which Green Building Practices Are Home Builders Using Most?
A recent report reveals which green-building practices are most popular among single-family home builders and remodelers