November 13, 2025
The Boston Globe recently published an article featuring Rachel Reiser, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Student Experience, exploring how Generation X, now in their 40s to late 50s, is increasingly becoming the “sandwich generation,” caring for both aging parents and their own children.
Because many Gen Xers entered the housing market earlier than millennials, more families are turning to multigenerational living as both a practical and economic solution. Examples like Jessica Bruno’s three-generation household in Sutton, MA, illustrate how families are reconfiguring homes to balance privacy, connection, and caregiving needs. Realtors are also seeing growing demand for larger, adaptable homes as Gen Xers consolidate households to support parents and help adult children navigating a challenging housing market.
“A generation, broadly defined, is a group of people who can be categorized by a similar birthspan, generally perceived as 18-20 years. The idea is that they experience different major life events at a similar age range to one another during certain form periods,” Reiser explains, noting that these shifts reflect deeper generational patterns.
Experts emphasize that Gen X’s unique economic position – higher earnings, a smaller cohort size, and earlier homeownership – allows them to influence emerging housing trends. As caregiving needs grow and affordability issues persist, multigenerational living is becoming not just a preference but, for many families, a necessity.
