Older Adults Share Homes in Boston as Housing Costs Rise, Retirement Delays

It may seem like The Odd Couple and The Golden Girls are getting a reprise in 2026.

As housing costs and the cost of living soar across the Greater Boston area, many older adults are turning to roommates to offset the rising mortgage and rent burdens.

“I never thought I'd be at this point in my life. But here I am,” said Melissa Hirshson, 56, who bought her one-bedroom condo in Waltham 20 years ago so that she could “never have to have roommates again,” she told The Boston Globe. 

For the past 10 years, however, she has shared her 800-square-foot home with a male roommate in his late 50s to supplement her income and pay off her mortgage.

Hirshson isn't alone. According to data from the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University, the percentage of adults 50 and older with a roommate increased by 60% nationwide. In Boston, the roommate search engine SpareRoom reported that the percentage of Boston residents ages 45 or older seeking roommates on the platform jumped by 50% between 2020 and 2025. The increase is even higher than this percentage in Los Angeles or New York.

High urban rents in downtown Boston and rising grocery and gas prices are key drivers of this trend. According to the Deutsche Bank Research Institute, the costs of one-bedroom rental units in downtown Boston are the second-highest in the country.

Matt Hutchinson, a spokesperson for SpareRoom, noted that as more people delay retirement due to financial constraints, it's likely the number of older adults who want to cut their housing costs by living together will increase.

Beyond economics, shared living can offer social benefits and help sustain independence for older adults, though suitability varies by individual circumstances.

“Loneliness impacts younger and older people more acutely,” said Sheri Steinig, director of communications for Generations United, a nonprofit that addresses intergenerational relations, in a statement shared with the Globe. 

Some young renters, in turn, say they enjoy having roommates, recognizing the benefits of more affordable housing and opportunities to connect socially.