The generational divide between Gen Z and their older counterparts is becoming more pronounced, not just in lifestyle choices but in the very ability to achieve traditional markers of adulthood. Recent research, personal stories, and financial data all point to a landscape where young adults face mounting challenges in gaining independence, affording housing, and reaching milestones like parenthood. These trends are sparking concern among families, policymakers, and financial experts alike, with ripple effects that stretch from household budgets to national demographics.
According to a February 2026 report from LendingTree, only 26.9% of adults aged 18 to 27 with full-time jobs can live comfortably on their own—a stark contrast to the more than half of millennials, Gen Xers, and baby boomers who reported the same. LendingTree defined "living comfortably" as being able to afford a standard one-bedroom apartment while spending less than 30% of income on rent. The numbers reveal a generation squeezed by rising costs and stagnant wages, with affordability varying dramatically across the country. In Scranton, Pennsylvania, more than seven in ten Gen Z workers can afford a one-bedroom apartment, but in Oxnard, California, that figure drops to fewer than one in ten. Cities like Miami, San Diego, and Honolulu present similarly grim outlooks for young renters.
The report also highlights a demographic shift: there are now more Gen Zers working full time than baby boomers. Yet, this greater workforce participation hasn’t translated into greater independence. About 60% of Gen Xers can afford a one-bedroom apartment on less than 30% of their salary, along with 57% of millennials and 56% of baby boomers. For Gen Z, the struggle is real—and it’s not just about income. LendingTree suggests that renters try to negotiate their rent, noting, “Finding a new tenant is a headache. It takes time and money that the landlord would prefer not to spend. Assuming you’ve been easy to work with, they’d likely rather have you stick around, and they might even be willing to knock a couple of bucks off your rent each month to make it happen.”
Housing woes are only one piece of the puzzle. New findings from the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, published on February 22, 2026, show that only 10% of Gen Zers in the UK had children by age 23. That’s less than half the rate of millennials, 24% of whom had become parents by age 25. The research, based on the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), underscores a global trend: falling birthrates and rising ages for parenthood. The Office for National Statistics reported in August 2025 that the fertility rate in England and Wales dropped to 1.41 children per woman—the lowest since records began in 1938. Between 2004 and 2024, the average age for new mothers rose from 29 to 31, and for fathers from 32 to nearly 34.
Despite these shifts, the desire to start families remains strong. The MCS found that 61% of Gen Z expressed a definite wish to have children or more children in the future. But the barriers to independence are formidable. At age 23, 68% of Gen Z were living with their parents—three times the proportion of millennials at a similar age a decade earlier. More than a fifth rented, while only 5% owned their home. Nearly a quarter said they hadn’t left home because they couldn’t afford it, and almost a fifth stayed to save for a deposit. One in eight didn’t feel ready to leave the family home.
Romantic relationships, too, are being postponed or lived differently. At 23, just over half of Gen Z had a partner, and only 17% lived with them. Among millennials at 25, 40% lived with a partner, and homeownership was more common. Lead author Charlotte Booth of the MCS points to economic headwinds as a central factor: “These financial challenges may lead to a cascade of problems in the future, including lower birth rates and higher rates of mental health problems.” Booth urges policymakers to help young people gain independence through affordable housing and good jobs, arguing that "helping Gen Z to reach adult milestones is likely to improve this generation’s mental health and help to increase future economic growth and stability in the UK.”
These statistics come alive in personal stories shared online. In a February 2026 Reddit post highlighted by Benzinga, a millennial described his Gen Z sister’s struggles with anxiety, emotional overwhelm, and dependency on their parents. She finds it difficult to walk more than half a mile, is overwhelmed by household chores, and experiences intense anxiety in social situations. The brother wrote, “She gets legit anxiety and raving thoughts when she has to interact with people she feels don’t like her enough.” More strikingly, she has confided fears about who will care for her if their parents pass away, leading her brother to realize, “I never knew that she has become so cripplingly dependent.”
The post resonated widely, with commenters noting that each generation faces unique pressures. One millennial observed, “She not only grew up in a different world than I did, but she had totally different parents than I did, even though they were technically both the same people.” Others noted that Gen Z’s high-achievers are excelling, but those who struggle seem to struggle more intensely. The conversation shifted from blame to empathy, with many recognizing that mental health challenges and the need for perseverance can coexist. As one commenter put it, “Multiple things can be true at the same time: mental health issues/diagnoses and also the need to persevere and work through difficulties.”
Financial dependency is not just a private matter—it has far-reaching implications. A 2025 report from Savings.com found that 50% of U.S. parents provide ongoing financial support to their adult children, averaging $1,474 per month. This support covers essentials like groceries, cell phone bills, and rent, but it also chips away at parents’ retirement savings, especially when it continues for years. The financial strain is prompting more families to seek professional advice; a 2025 Ameriprise study found that 78% of parents who consulted a financial advisor felt better equipped to balance supporting their children with safeguarding their own long-term goals.
What emerges from these studies and stories is a portrait of a generation navigating a tougher economic landscape, with consequences for family life, mental health, and society at large. The old markers of adulthood—moving out, owning a home, starting a family—are being delayed, redefined, or, for some, put out of reach entirely. But the desire for independence and stability remains strong. The challenge now is finding ways to bridge the gap between aspiration and reality, ensuring that today’s young adults are not left adrift in a world that feels increasingly out of reach.