Stuck in the Nest? NJ Millennials & the High Cost of Adulting

Go Get a Real Job

Brace yourselves for some not-so-shocking news: our beloved (or hated) state is a paradise for millennials who can't seem to leave the nest. According to a recent report, a whopping 25.9% of young adults aged 25-34 are still bunking with their mommy and daddy, making us the bronze medalists in the "Failure to Launch" Olympics. But hey, at least they have plenty of time for Call of Duty marathons in Mom's basement!

But fear not, for we're in good company! Coming in at a close second is our west coast rival, California, with 26.2% of young'uns still rocking the family zip code. And taking the gold? The ever-expensive Hawaii, where a staggering 28.1% of millennials are riding the "living with parents" wave (probably because a shoebox apartment costs more than your soul...and their income from scrolling TikTok videos).

Now, let's be real here – with a median home price of $536,875, it's no wonder our kids are staying put. That's like, a million avocado toasts! But hey, at least they're getting some quality time with Mom's famous Sunday gravy in between Fortnite sessions, right?

On the flip side, there are a few states where the kiddos seem to be flying the coop early. The champions of independence? North Dakota, where only 4.6% of young adults are still crashing at home (probably because there's nothing else to do there besides farm simulators). Kudos also go to South Dakota (9.1%), Iowa (9.9%), Nebraska (10.3%), and Kansas (10.9%) for their low percentages of millennials living that #BasementLife.

So, to all the New Jersey mamas out there – take heart! Your little bambinos may never leave, but at least you'll always have someone to split the grocery bill with. And who knows, maybe they'll even do the laundry once in a blue moon...right after they prestige again in Call of Duty (but let's not get too carried away here).