These States Have the Most (And Fewest) Multigenerational Households

As housing costs continue to climb nationwide, families are finding creative ways to make living more affordable. One increasingly common solution: Bringing multiple generations under one roof.

Multigenerational households, defined as three or more generations living under the same roof, allow families to save by splitting mortgage payments, sharing costs, and pooling resources, all while giving younger generations time with older generations and vice versa.

Given the logistics and wide age gap, however, it's still not exactly common in the U.S. Nationally, just 3.8% of U.S. households are multigenerational, but in some states that number is more than double the national average.

To find where multigenerational living is most prevalent, the FinanceBuzz research team reviewed Census data on the households in each state that include three or more generations.

Key findings

• 3.8% of U.S. households are multigenerational, meaning grandparents, parents, and kids live in the same house.
• Hawaii (7.7%) has the highest share of multigenerational homes, more than twice the national rate.
• Western and coastal states tend to rank higher.
• Several Midwest states have the lowest rates, with North Dakota at just 1.4%.

States with the highest share of multigenerational households

Just 3.8% of households in America house three or more generations, meaning fewer than 1 in 20 homes have grandparents living with their grandchildren. In some states, however, the trend is more common.

1. Hawaii: 7.7%
2. California: 5.9%
3. Texas: 4.7%
4. New Jersey: 4.6%
5. Nevada: 4.5%

Hawaii leads the nation by a wide margin. With high housing costs and strong cultural traditions centered around extended family living together, it's no surprise that nearly 1 in 13 households is multigenerational.

Similarly, California's sky-high housing costs likely contribute to its high ranking. Pooling income across generations can help offset high rent and home prices.

Outside the top five, Maryland (4.4%), Delaware (4.4%), Georgia (4.4%), Mississippi (4.4%), and Florida (4.3%) are all in the top 10 states and statistically above the national average of 3.8%.

States with the least multigenerational households

At the other end of the spectrum, multigenerational households are far less common in parts of the Midwest and Northern Plains.

1. North Dakota: 1.4%
2. Iowa: 1.6%
3. Vermont: 1.7%
4. Wisconsin: 1.8%
5. Wyoming: 1.8%

Outside of the top five, Minnesota (1.9%) and South Dakota (2.0%) also rank among the states with the least multigenerational households.

In many of these states, housing tends to be more affordable relative to income, potentially reducing the financial pressure to combine households. Lower population density and cultural norms that favor independent living may also contribute.

Why multigenerational households are growing

While the financial reasons for living multigenerationally come from necessity for many, they can provide avenues for saving that wouldn't otherwise be possible by allowing these households to:

• Offset high rent or mortgage payments
• Share childcare costs
• Support aging parents
• Reduce eldercare expenses
• Allow young adults with kids to save while living with their parents.

For grandparents who may be retired or receiving Social Security benefits, this increased financial ease is particularly important, as fixed income from Social Security often doesn't stretch far enough for everyday expenses. This flexibility helps seniors save more money.

Beyond financial benefits, cultural norms also play a significant role. In many communities, especially in states with diverse populations, multigenerational living is more common. They may be on to something, as studies have shown that grandparenting is good for the brain. Similarly, studies have shown huge benefits to children who have relationships with their grandparents, and the proximity can help foster those relationships.

Multigenerational households by state

Below is the full ranking of states by percentage of multigenerational households.

Full data table
State	% of Multigenerational Households
Hawaii	7.7%
California	5.9%
Texas	4.7%
New Jersey	4.6%
Nevada	4.5%
Maryland	4.4%
Delaware	4.4%
Georgia	4.4%
Mississippi	4.4%
Florida	4.3%
Arizona	4.2%
New Mexico	4.2%
New York	4.1%
Rhode Island	3.8%
Alaska	3.8%
Utah	3.7%
Massachusetts	3.6%
South Carolina	3.6%
Virginia	3.5%
Tennessee	3.5%
Illinois	3.4%
Alabama	3.4%
Louisiana	3.4%
Arkansas	3.4%
West Virginia	3.3%
Connecticut	3.3%
Washington	3.2%
Oklahoma	3.2%
North Carolina	3.1%
Idaho	3.1%
Pennsylvania	3.1%
Kentucky	3.1%
Indiana	3.0%
Missouri	2.9%
New Hampshire	2.9%
Oregon	2.9%
Michigan	2.8%
Colorado	2.7%
Ohio	2.7%
Nebraska	2.5%
Montana	2.5%
District of Columbia	2.4%
Kansas	2.2%
Maine	2.1%
South Dakota	2.0%
Minnesota	1.9%
Wyoming	1.8%
Wisconsin	1.8%
Vermont	1.7%
Iowa	1.6%
North Dakota	1.4%
U.S. average	3.8%

Other ways to save money if you're a grandparent

• Find the right bank for your money: No matter how old you are, it's important to keep your money safe and growing. Choosing one of the best banks for your living situation allows you safety and flexibility with your money. Whether you're looking for banking options for young adults, savings accounts for seniors, or even debit cards for your kids, there are online and brick-and-mortar options that fit your finances.
• Stay sharp with your finances in retirement: Between collecting Social Security, managing retirement distributions, and figuring out taxes on Social Security, it's easy to make financial mistakes in retirement.
• Earn rewards on your spending. Household expenses like groceries are some of the easiest ways to earn credit card rewards that can add up to more cash in your pocket. By shopping with one of the best grocery credit cards, you can earn cash back or travel rewards to help offset the cost of feeding a big family.

Methodology

To compile the data shown above, we analyzed the most recent U.S. Census data (2024 American Community Survey) for the percentage of households in each state classified as multigenerational, defined as three or more generations of the same family living in a single residence. National totals reflect aggregated U.S. data.