Analysis of data from the 2010 census shows a significant increase in the proportion of households containing members from two or more adult generations. These multigenerational families are most commonly formed when a young adult returns home to live with his/her parents (and possibly other younger siblings) or an empty-nest couple or a married couple with children living at home starts caring for an elderly parent. Baby boomer householders are particularly prone to multigenerational family living situations as they find themselves dealing with the demands of housing both an adult age child and a senior age parent at the same time.
Who is the primary decision maker in a multigenerational household?
This dynamic can pose a challenge for marketers when developing targeted marketing campaigns. For example, who is the primary decision maker in a multigenerational household? Who else within the household has an influence on product purchase decisions? What are the most effective marketing channels for reaching members of multigenerational households? How is product consumption different in a multigenerational household compared to more traditional household types? What new products could be developed that have broad appeal to household members from widely different age ranges?
As an example, some home builders have capitalized on the trend for multigenerational family living by offering models that feature second master bedrooms, kitchenettes, and separate entrances. Regional factors might also play a role when developing a strategy to meet the needs of multigenerational households. Specifically, the incidence of multigenerational families within a retail trade area could be an additional factor to consider when making merchandising decisions for a particular store.
Consumer segmentation systems like Experian’s Mosaic USA, help marketers to identify areas of the country most likely to have multigenerational families. A recent Mosaic analysis focused on specific consumer segments that best represent the most common scenarios leading to the formation of a multigenerational household. The segments include (1) “Boomers and Boomerangs” (households with a high propensity to contain boomerang adult children), (2) “Generational Soup” (households with a high propensity to contain an elderly parent), and (3) “No Place Like Home” (households with a high propensity to contain either a boomerang child, elderly parent, or both). The results were summarized within each segment for counties with a population of 75,000 or more. Here is a detailed breakdown:
Top Counties for “Boomers and Boomerangs” (based on percentage of adult population)
| Description | The members of the postwar baby boom have all grown up – and so have their children who have returned to the nest. Boomers and Boomerangs consist of these two generations sharing single-family homes. | |
| Region | County | Nearest Major City |
| East | 1 – Stafford, Virginia | Fredericksburg, VA |
| 2 – Carroll, Maryland | Baltimore, MD | |
| 3 – Fayette, Georgia | Atlanta, GA | |
| Central | 1 – Anoka, Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN |
| 2 – Saint Charles, Missouri | St. Louis, MO | |
| 3 – Scott, Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | |
| Mountain | 1 – Davis, Utah | Ogden, UT |
| 2 – Utah, Utah | Provo, UT | |
| 3 – Salt Lake, Utah | Salt Lake City, UT | |
| Pacific | 1 – Solano, California | San Francisco, CA |
| 2 – Snohomish, Washington | Seattle, WA | |
| 3 – Benton, Washington | Kennewick, WA | |
Top Counties for “Generational Soup” (based on percentage of adult population)
| Description | A haven for multigenerational families, Generational Soup is home to a mix of affluent older couples – nearly three-quarters are from the Baby Boom Generation – and families with young adults and aging seniors. Most live in suburban homes an easy drive from the nation’s big cities, and many households have multiple breadwinners. | |
| Region | County | Nearest Major City |
| East | 1 – Howard, Maryland | Baltimore, MD |
| 2 – Loudoun, Virginia | Washington, D.C. | |
| 3 – Hunterdon, New Jersey | Edison, NJ | |
| Central | 1 – Fort Bend, Texas | Houston, TX |
| 2 – Collin, Texas | McKinney, TX | |
| 3 – Williamson, Tennessee | Nashville, TN | |
| Mountain | 1 – Douglas, Colorado | Denver, CO |
| 2 – Arapahoe, Colorado | Denver, CO | |
| 3 – Jefferson, Colorado | Denver, CO | |
| Pacific | 1 – Ventura, California | Oxnard, CA |
| 2 – El Dorado, California | Placerville, CA | |
| 3 – Contra Costa, California | Danville, CA | |
Top Counties for “No Place Like Home” (based on percentage of adult population)
| Description | This segment has a high concentration of multigenerational households headed by boomer-age parents. Nearly a third of households contain a young adult in their 20s and 30s – more than triple the national average – and one in six is home to an aged parent. | |
| Region | County | Nearest Major City |
| East | 1 – Monroe, Pennsylvania | Wilkes-Barre, PA |
| 2 – Barnstable, Massachusetts | Boston, MA | |
| 3 – Hampshire, Massachusetts | Northampton, MA | |
| Central | 1 – Randall, Texas | Amarillo, TX |
| 2 – La Crosse, Wisconsin | La Crosse, WI | |
| 3 – Sheboygan, Wisconsin | Sheboygan, WI | |
| Mountain | 1 – Coconino, Arizona | Flagstaff, AZ |
| 2 – Washington, Utah | St. George, UT | |
| 3 – Larimer, Colorado | Fort Collins, CO | |
| Pacific | 1 – Lane, Oregon | Eugene, OR |
| 2 – Jackson, Oregon | Medford, OR | |
| 3 – Marion, Oregon | Salem, OR | |
Top Counties for Multigenerational Segments Combined (based on percentage of adult population)
| Region | County | Nearest Major City |
| East | 1 – Stafford, Virginia | Fredericksburg, VA |
| 2 – Hunterdon, New Jersey | Edison, NJ | |
| 3 – Fayette, Georgia | Atlanta, GA | |
| Central | 1 – McHenry, Illinois | Rockford, IL |
| 2 – Washington, Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | |
| 3 – Anoka, Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | |
| Mountain | 1 – Douglas, Colorado | Denver, CO |
| 2 – Davis, Utah | Ogden, UT | |
| 3 – Utah, Utah | Provo, UT | |
| Pacific | 1 – El Dorado, California | Placerville, CA |
| 2 – Solano, California | San Francisco, CA | |
| 3 – Placer, California | Sacramento, CA |