Gen Z couples are moving in together at record rates, with a significant increase in the number of couples cohabiting in the past year. Many couples are also choosing to live with roommates to save money on rent, further fuelling the trend of cohabitation among young people. As housing costs rise significantly coupled with inflation, many young couples believe it is the most financial viable solution as it can allow them to save up to $ 1,000 a month.
The COVID-19 pandemic, according to Tyler Jamison, a professor in the University of New Hampshire's Department of Human Development and Family Studies, has significantly contributed to the rise in Gen Z couples living together. Due to lockdowns and travel limitations, he believes many couples were compelled to quarantine together, allowing them to spend a lot of time together and get to know one another better. Couples' relationships were further strengthened by being able to work from home and spend more time together thanks to remote work arrangements.
Jamison also notes that the COVID-19 crisis expedited the time frames of some couples who were already preparing to live together before the epidemic. Many couples saw moving in together as a way to guarantee they could be together and support each other during these trying times because of the uncertainty of the pandemic and the requirement for social distance.
In addition, Jamison thinks that the trend toward younger couples moving in together may signal a change in how society views marriage and committed partnerships. More couples are choosing to live together earlier in their relationships rather than waiting until marriage, which may be a reflection of shifting attitudes regarding the significance of traditional marriage.
Jamison's analysis indicates that more Gen Z couples are deciding to live together at a younger age, which is consistent with a trend that was already underway. Even though the pandemic undoubtedly contributed to this trend, there may also be broader societal changes at work, reflecting a move toward more adaptable and unconventional relationship models.
According to a survey by realtor.com released in February, financial and logistics were major factors for Gen Z couples to move in together. The survey revealed that 80 percent of cohabiting couples cited at least one of these factors. As housing costs are rising significantly and inflation is driving up the cost of nearly everything, many young couples are choosing to move in together sooner than they had planned to save money. In fact, nearly one in four respondents who moved in with a partner said they were able to save more than $1,000 a month.
The realtor.com survey found that 61 percent of cohabiting Gen Z couples said they moved in together sooner than they had planned due to the pandemic. Additionally, 31 percent of respondents said they decided to move in together because of the pandemic, while 17 percent said they were able to move in together because of remote work opportunities.
This article was first published in Boston Globe
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