They’re known as the Boomerang Generation because so many returned home to live with their parents. New data released by the U.S. Census shows today’s young adults are indeed more likely to be bunking with mom and dad. This generation may be less financially secure, but it’s also more educated.
The census has an interactive mapping tool to compare Millennials, considered to be between 18 and 34 years old, with previous generations. Rochester’s Millennials are similar to their counterparts across the country.
Here are the main takeaways:
1. A lot of Milleninals live with their parents. In Rochester, 29 percent of young adults are living with a parent, compared to 23 percent in 2000, 24 percent in 1990 and 23 percent in 1980. The national rate of young adults living with their parents is 30 percent.
2. Interestingly, the percentage of Millennials living alone has stayed steady over generations in Rochester – 8 percent.
3. Rochester’s Millennials are not as financially secure, with 21 percent living in poverty,. That comparedsto 15 percent in 2000, 12 percent in 1990 and 11 percent in 1980. The national Millennial poverty rate is 20 percent.
4. Far fewer Rochester Millennials are employed – only 67 percent. But that’s better than the national young adult employment of 65 percent. In 1990, 74 percent of 18 to 34-year-olds had jobs. In 2000, 72 percent were working.
5. Rochester’s Millennials are not getting hitched. Seventy-three percent have never been married. That compares to 66 percent nationwide. In 1980, more than half of 18 to 34-year-olds had tied the knot at least once.
6. There is no brain drain, as I have pointed out previously. The percentage of 18 to 34-year-olds in Rochester mirrors that of the country. What’s more, Rochester’s Millennials are more educated. Twenty-five percent have bachelor’s degrees, compared to 22 percent nationwide. This generation of Rochesterians has a higher rate of college degree attainment than previous ones.
7. Millennials are more diverse. Nearly one in four Rochester Millennial is non-white, compared to nearly one in 10 in 1980.
8. Millennials are still driving alone to work – 86 percent. But the rate dipped slightly from the 88 percent who drove alone to work in 1990 and 2000.
Links of the Day:
– Cleveland police tactics violated rights of citizens, the Justice Department found.
– “I was told something as a new rookie officer: You’d rather be tried by 12 jurors than carried by six pallbearers.”
– The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on NFL blackouts – and the Bills took center stage.
– When Larry Glazer died, the city pretended everything would go on as usual. That’s not going to happen.
– A New York appeals court ruled that chimps are not people.
– Research casts alarming light on decline of West Antarctic glaciers. Rising sea levels will impact coastlines.