Rising rents and housing shortages aren't just making it harder for young Canadians to find a place of their own - they're fundamentally changing how families live together, according to new research from the University of British Columbia.
The study, published in The History of the Family, examines how rising housing costs across major Canadian cities have affected household formation from 1981 to 2021. The findings show that in cities like Toronto or Vancouver, where rents have surged, the number of young adults forming their own households has plummeted. Instead, many are staying with family or moving in with roommates to manage costs.
In sharp contrast, cities where rents have remained lower, like Quebec City and Montreal, have seen more stable or even increased household formation.
