Millennials More Likely to Live With Parents Than Past Generations: StatsCan Report
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A new report from Statistics Canada reveals a striking generational shift in Canadian housing patterns. By analyzing data from three census cycles, the agency compared living arrangements across millennials, Gen Xers, and baby boomers — and found that millennials are fundamentally less likely to leave the family home than their predecessors.
The numbers are clear: 16.3 per cent of millennials aged 25 to 39 were living with a parent as of 2021, compared to just 8.2 per cent of baby boomers at the same age in 1991. Millennial home ownership rates also lagged behind — 49.9 per cent owned their home in 2021, versus 55.9 per cent for boomers in 1991 and 56.2 per cent for Gen Xers in 2006.
Question
Why are millennials staying with parents at nearly double the rate of previous generations, and is housing affordability the whole story?
Editor's Comment
StatsCan’s numbers line up with what we see on the ground in Greater Vancouver: a meaningful share of 25–39 buyers are “delayed entrants,” often living at home longer while they build down payments, pay off school, or wait for a life-stage trigger (partnering, kids). The 19.3% Vancouver figure underscores that affordability is the headline driver, but the report is right to flag culture and later family formation—multigenerational living is also a deliberate strategy, not just a last resort. For the market, this points to a larger-than-normal pool of pent-up first-time demand that’s highly price-sensitive and payment-focused. If prices only soften marginally, the practical path for many will remain condos, entry-level townhomes, and family-assisted purchases. For agents and developers, messaging that acknowledges family involvement, flexible timelines, and “step-up” planning will resonate more than assuming a traditional early-30s move-out-and-buy trajectory.