In this suburb, more than half of young adults live with their parents. Why?

ELK GROVE, Calif. -- Alexis Farrow is thrilled to finally move into her studio apartment in Elk Grove this month. She recently went for a walkthrough and has already imagined what decorations she will have on the walls.

Farrow, 31, has lived at home with her parents all her life and will experience for the first time what it’s like to live alone. She’s spent years living with her mom and dad in Elk Grove , saving up to help afford her own rent and other bills.

It’s a special moment, she said, as she prepares to embark on a new journey in her adulthood.

“Honestly every person should live with their parents for as long as they can, as long as possible,” said Farrow, who works as a behavioral technician. “Just because the economy is so crazy right now and everything’s so expensive… I’m realizing it doesn’t matter how old you are. I think for everyone it’s different because progress is not linear.”

It’s not uncommon for adults to live with their parents in today’s economy, especially in Elk Grove, the second-largest city in Sacramento County.

In fact, it’s become the norm for young adults. According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates, 53% of Elk Grove residents ages 18 through 34 lived with their parents between 2018 and 2022. That’s up from 45% from 2011 through 2015.

By comparison, about 40% of California residents ages 18 to 34 lived with their parents between 2018 and 2022, according to the data, as did about 34% of residents across Sacramento County.

Among cities within the county, Sacramento had the lowest rate at 28%. Elk Grove’s percentage is also much higher than the county’s other suburban cities: Folsom (40%), Rancho Cordova (34%) and Citrus Heights (31%).

According to the city’s website, there are 52,000 households in Elk Grove, and it is one of California’s fastest-growing cities.

Farrow believes that more people are now opting to live with their parents a little longer than previous generations because of the rising cost of living.

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