What is the average age to move out of home in Australia?

Melbourne Institute’s Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey has been following the lives of more than 17,000 Australians each year since 2001, and researchers have seen a steady increase in young adults staying in the family home.

What is the average age to move out in Australia?

The HILDA survey figures show that the average age for men to leave home is about 24. For women, the average age is just after they’ve reached 23.

There has also been an increase in the number of young adults staying in the family home. In 2001, 46.6% of men aged 18–29 were still in the family home, and this increased to 54.3% in 2021. For women aged 18–29, 35.9% were still living in the family home in 2001. This increased to 47.6% in 2021, though the figure has been falling from a high of 48.3% in 2018.

When researchers dug deeper into the data they found an increase in the number of men and women staying in the family home into their late 20s. In 2001, 21.3% of men aged 26–29 were still in the family home, and this increased to 31.2% in 2021. For women aged 26–29, 15.9% were still living in the family home in 2001. This increased to 27.5% in 2021.

Did COVID-19 keep young adults in the family home?

While figures show that men (aged 18-29) living at home increased by 0.7% during the COVID-19 pandemic, the same can’t be said for women (aged 18-29) who’s figures decreased by 0.4% during this period.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) did note the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rental markets reduced demand leading to some reductions in rent, and that the majority of rental homes were headed by a person aged 35 or under – typically with a lower income. This reduction in rent was short lived, as national median rents have now hit a record high of $627 per week, according to CoreLogic’s data.

Why are young adults staying at home longer?

Factors that could be responsible for keeping young adults in the family home for longer include a trend in delaying some aspects of adulthood, said Professor Roger Wilkins, Deputy Director of the Melbourne Institute. “The trend towards leaving the parental home later in life reflects mutually reinforcing effects of rising housing costs, increased participation in higher education, and reduced full-time employment rates,” he told Canstar. He also noted a general social trend towards getting married and having children later in life.

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Are there any benefits of staying longer in the family home?

One advantage to young adults staying at home longer is that it could give them a better chance to save or invest for a home loan deposit or rental bond, said Dr. Lixia Qu, a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Read more: Moving out of home: A guide for first-time renters

Some parents also enjoy the time with their adult children. But Dr. Qu warned there was also the potential for conflict if parents felt their adult children were not contributing with the daily chores and upkeep of the family home. A supportive family home can also provide the necessary space to develop life skills, such as fiscal responsibility and goal setting.

When it comes time to leave the family home, the Victorian Government’s Better Health Channel has some useful advice for young people looking to move out; such as making sure you are ready to live independently and have enough money to support yourself. Canstar also has an article on moving house, which may be helpful in preparing young people when moving out.

Budgeting and savings

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