Economy puts generations under the same roof

More Nevada families lived under one roof in 2010 than a decade ago, with adult children, grandparents, grandchildren, cousins, in-laws, adult siblings and roommates all sharing the same address, according to newly released census statistics.

The data suggest some Nevadans turned to family to survive a years-long economic downturn that has brought record foreclosures, joblessness and bankruptcies to a state once awash in job openings and newly built homes.

Nevadans weren't too picky about who they lived with last year. They also shared a roof with extended family members and nonrelatives, the figures released Wednesday show.

In 2000, nearly 47,000 homeowners were living with relatives other than a spouse, child, sibling or parent. In 2010, that number grew to nearly 79,000, including more than 23,600 nieces, nephews, cousins or other relatives under 18. That is a 68 percent increase.

The number of unrelated housemates also increased, with more people living with roommates, unmarried partners and other nonrelatives. Still, only 16 percent of Nevadans lived with people they weren't related to last year.

Meanwhile, more homeowners let their parents or siblings move in, according to the census. In all, roughly 5.4 percent of Nevada homes consisted of family members from more than two generations.

Hispanics had the largest average family size, with 3.98 people, followed by Asians, African-Americans and then whites, with 3.02 people.

But sociologists and housing experts said stories of one-roof families became more widespread after Nevada's robust job market started to shrink in 2008. The state's unemployment rate in June was 12.4 percent, the highest in the nation.

The study predicted that Nevada's economic recession and housing crisis would have profound effects on household relationships and encourage more multigenerational living.