Despite all the stories about unhappy families and children who cannot wait to fly the coop, it seems there are still many families where the nest never empties. Instead, adult offspring still cling to the parental home, sometimes well into their thirties, often due to the force of circumstance and the high cost of housing.

A new study by Apartment List found that 17% of adults aged 25-35 lived in their parents' house – compared to just 7% in 1970. And they are doing so out of necessity, rather than choice, as rents and the cost of housing soar out of reach.

"The prevalence of young adults living with parents is increasing in all parts of the country, and for both those with and without college degrees," the study revealed.