Number of young women living with their parents in the US reaches level not seen since 1940

But women's lives have drastically changed in 74 years

Women are staying at their parental home in the US longer than since the 1940s (Monkey Business Images/REX Shutterstock)

The percentage of young women living at home with their parents or relatives in the US has reached its highest level since 1940, as living costs increase and attitudes towards marriage and education change.

Some 36.4 per cent of women aged between 18 and 34 live with their parents, according to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center.

By analysing US Census Bureau data, researchers found that current figures match those reflected 74 years ago, when 36.2 per cent had such living arrangements.

After 1940, the figure began to drop as marriage rates increased and women became financially independent by joining the workforce. By 1960, just 24 per cent of women remained at home.

A gradual increase in women moving out until 2000 was followed by a sharp drop after the economic crash of 2008.

“The labor market recovery since then has not reversed the trend – in fact, it’s become even more pronounced,” explained Pew senior economist Richard Fry.

He added that while the findings reflect a “return to the past, statistically speaking”, the women lead drastically different lives.

In 1940, only 5 per cent of 15 to 34-year-olds were university students, compared to 27 per cent now according to the latest figures.

Women are staying at home now for a variety of reasons, including the burden of increasing student debt, higher living costs, economic uncertainty, and the fact that they are half as likely to get married.

Young men are also increasingly living with parents or other relatives – 42.8 per cent last year - but the percentage hasn’t climbed as steeply as it has for women.

Some women, like Casey Ballard, have moved home after trying to fly the nest.

Ballard returned to her home in California after living in Portland, Oregon, wanting to change career and become a teacher.

"There was that element of frustration and feeling like a failure," she told the Press Association about returning home.

"But then the logical side of me kicked in and said 'It's just fiscally responsible."