Living with others is no new concept. Roommates have existed for decades, providing an easy way to split housing costs, and the market doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Room renting is rising faster than the rest of the market in many major U.S. cities. In fact, Chicago has seen the highest growth rate of any other US city.
But why? What is causing so many individuals to choose to rent with strangers rather than on their own?
The Demographics of Room Sharing Have Shifted
Having a roommate was once seen as a rite of passage for college students and graduates, but this has shifted significantly in recent years. Sharing a home with a roommate is no longer just for young people; a much broader range of Americans has also taken on this new way of living. There are a few reasons for this:
The Live-in Landlord
There has been a 233% increase in live-in landlords since 2020, which is where a homeowner rents out a room (or multiple rooms). Homeowners are then using the extra income that comes from roommates to offset higher property taxes and inflation.
Furthermore, according to roommate platforms like SpareRoom, about 13% of shared households now include at least one couple. The goal of this is to save for a down payment on a house or pay for a home they’ve just bought.
Silver Roommates
According to the National Association of Home Builders, the number of older adults has more than doubled in the last decade. Furthermore, approximately 39% of shared households are now multi-generational, and the age gap between the oldest and youngest roommate is 20 years or more. More than a quarter have or are roommates with a 30+ year age gap between them.
Why More Americans Are Choosing to Live With Roommates
It’s Easier Than Ever to Find Trusted Roommates
Before, people would find roommates through word of mouth, bulletin boards, and Facebook groups. While this is still the case for some, the online world and the development of roommate platforms have made it much easier to find reliable roommates. SpareRoom, for example, is a roommate-matching platform where users can filter through roommates and rooms for rent based on their preferences – whether they wish to live with smokers, avoid pets, or even live in an LGBT-friendly house.
It’s More Expensive to Live On Your Own
There is a big price gap between living alone and sharing. Renting a one-bedroom apartment is roughly $900–$1,200 more expensive per month than renting a single room in a shared house. This, combined with living costs and wages, means that renting a room is the only way for many Americans to keep housing costs under the recommended 30% of income.
Living in Big Cities Costs More Than Ever
Big, popular cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Chicago are some of the best places to find jobs and other opportunities, but the cost of living there is astronomical. The cost of a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco is approximately $3,591 to $3,850 a month (on average). This also shows a 15% to 18% increase compared to early 2025. Because of this, more and more Americans are choosing to live with others in big cities.
Conclusion
With record-high rents across the US, particularly within major cities, it’s no surprise that more and more Americans are turning to house sharing. Moreover, the demographics of people who are living with others have changed. Having a roommate is no longer a young person’s game; those from all walks of life are using it to offset their bills and improve their finances.
References
- (2025, 05, 05). House Sharing Reaches All-Time High as Affordability Issues Linger. NAHB.
- SpareRoom. (2026, 03, 12). SPAREROOM DATA SHOWS U.S. ROOMMATES ARE GETTING OLDER. PR Newswire.
- Jordan, B. (2026, 04, 08). Apartment Rent Growth Surges in San Francisco. CRE Daily.
- Global Newswire. (2026, 04, 14). Record-high rents in five major US metros, finds SpareRoom’s roommate rental index. Business Insider.
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