Your Place30 Jun 2026
When Intergenerational Living Makes Sense
by Eve Forsyth
A shift in how Australians define home, connection and belonging.
Is intergenerational living the future of housing in Australia? It’s a question being asked more often as households evolve and expectations of home extend beyond the traditional four walls.
Anticipating the next shifts in our real estate landscape is essential to supporting the neighbourhoods we serve. And the data suggests a shift is well underway.
Why intergenerational living is growing in Australia
According to insights from our business partner realestate.com.au, Australia is one of the fastest-growing developed nations in the world. Population growth is forecast at close to 900 people per day over the next decade, reaching approximately 31 million by 2035. While some growth is natural, the majority will come through migration.
At the same time, single-person households are the fastest-growing household type -driven by fewer people choosing share living, and older Australians remaining in family homes for longer.
Layered together, these trends are reshaping how households form and function.
Connection matters more than ever
In June 2025, the World Health Organisation released a report detailing the prominent influences for a growing loneliness epidemic*, where even in a digitally connected world, lifestyle patterns can limit meaningful human connection. Humans are social by nature. We thrive through shared experiences, everyday interactions and a sense of belonging.
Add the reality that many young adults are staying at home longer due to housing affordability and cost-of-living pressures, and a new picture begins to emerge - one where independence and togetherness are no longer opposites, but complementary.
What intergenerational living offers
Intergenerational living provides a thoughtful response to these shifts. Whether motivated by financial practicality, lifestyle alignment or the desire to stay connected, living across generations can offer a more balanced way of life.
Benefits often include:
- Stronger emotional connection
- Shared responsibilities and support
- Greater financial flexibility
- A renewed sense of belonging
Importantly, it doesn’t mean sacrificing autonomy. Today’s intergenerational homes are designed to respect personal space as much as shared life.
Homes designed for multigenerational living
From granny flats and dual-occupancy homes to adaptable floorplans and considered renovations, modern property design increasingly supports multigenerational living in Australia.
These spaces allow families to live side by side while maintaining privacy, dignity and independence - making long-term co-habitation more achievable than ever.
Rethinking what home can be
For those who may not have considered it before, intergenerational living isn’t about compromise. It’s about possibility. A home where care is shared, conversations happen more easily, and daily life feels more connected.
In a world that can feel increasingly fast and fragmented, the future of living may not be further apart, but a little closer together.
Ready for a more connected way of living?
As Victoria's original real estate firm, Buxton has been the trusted link between people and the homes that define their lives for over 160 years. We’ve grown strong together and throughout that time, we’ve seen monumental change.
Your local Buxton can help you discover homes designed to support intergenerational living - now and into the future.
*Rising loneliness epidemic supported by World Health Organisation – Report of the WHO Commission on Social Connection. Released 2025: https://www.who.int/groups/commission-on-social-connection/report