The Typical American Lives Only 18 Miles From Mom - The New York Times

Families traveling from far-flung places, returning home for the holidays. That image of an American Christmas fits the perception of Americans as rootless, constantly on the move to seek opportunity even if it means leaving family behind. Yet that picture masks a key fact about the geography of family in the United States: The typical adult lives only 18 miles from his or her mother, according to an Upshot analysis of data from a comprehensive survey of older Americans. Over the last few decades, Americans have become less mobile, and most adults – especially those with less education or lower incomes — do not venture far from their hometowns. The data reveal a country of close-knit families, with members of multiple generations leaning on one another for financial and practical support. The trend will continue, social scientists say, as baby boomers need more care in old age, and the growing number of two-income families seek help with child care. The United States offers less govern

Follow Us: Visit The Upshot on Facebook Visit The Upshot on Twitter Follow The Upshot via RSS Get the Upshot in your Inbox The Upshot The Typical American Lives Only 18 Miles From Mom By QUOCTRUNG BUI and CLAIRE CAIN MILLER Median Distance From Mother 6 12 18 24 30+ Families traveling from far-flung places, returning home for the holidays. That image of an American Christmas fits the perception of Americans as rootless, constantly on the move to seek opportunity even if it means leaving family behind. Yet that picture masks a key fact about the geography of family in the United States: The typ

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