Rent is eating up paychecks and loneliness is rising, and a growing number of seniors are answering both problems at the same address. Co-housing, sometimes called dormitories for seniors, is on the rise in every US city as tenants seek lower monthly costs, shorter leases and a built-in community.
The model offers residents a private bedroom within a building with shared kitchens, lounges and event spaces. It's no longer just aimed at digital nomads. It is marketed to anyone who is priced out of a single bedroom or is tired of living alone.
How Co-Living Works
Each resident rents a private room and shares common areas with others in the building. The price is usually all-inclusive, covering utilities, Wi-Fi, cleaning and furniture in one monthly payment. Leases are usually month-to-month rather than annual, which makes getting in and out easier than a traditional lease.
Residents can save up to 40 percent compared to renting a comparable apartment themselves, according to industry figures. Shared spaces double as community infrastructure, where community managers organize dinners, workshops and networking events.
Why Co-Living Matters Now
A record 50 percent of US employers are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent, according to Gensler. Cities have continued to prioritize building standard market rates that remain out of reach for most workers, and remote systems have left many people working alone for long periods of time.
Co-living tries to solve both. A 2023 industry report found that 71 percent of cohabitants felt lonely after moving in, and shared lounges and organized events are designed to make informal connections easier.
Who Really Lives in Cooperatives
The stereotype is the laptop traveler, but the data tells a different story. In a survey conducted by Outsite, 60 percent of participants said they have a home base in addition to living together. The average age of the member was about 35, and 70 percent of those surveyed identified as single, followed by people in a relationship.
That makes the model useful for frequent business travelers, remote workers and anyone who wants to build a community without signing a long-term lease.
Challenges Facing the Industry
Growth was not smooth. Workers faced unhappy employers, legal scrutiny and a lack of suitable buildings. Some companies have responded by switching to a hotel-style model with shorter stays and more on-site employees. Others have been merged, acquired or closed.
“The companies that emerged in 2017 and 2018, many of them are no more,” Brad Hargreavesfounder of Common, told The New York Times in 2022. Common, founded in Brooklyn in 2015, once managed 7,000 bedrooms across 80 buildings in cities including Birmingham, Seattle and Tampa. It was acquired by Berlin-based Habyt GmbH in 2022 and filed for bankruptcy in mid-2024, ending its regular US joint venture operations.
What to Look for in a Cohabitation Area
Naima von Ritter Figueresfounder and Head of Community and Health at Conscious Coliving, told We Should Get Together that the model can do more than save money.
“I became more and more interested in believing as I learned that it can be a solution not only to loneliness, but also to mental health, environmental, and housing problems that we all face,” she said.
His advice to prospective residents focuses on whether the building is really built for the community. “If you are looking to enter coliving as a resident, look at what the area offers in terms of community and well-being. Because in our experience, these two areas have a great impact on making a good living experience,” said Figueres.
He suggests asking some questions before signing. “Is there at least one dedicated community organizer or manager for every 30 residents? Are there regular community events? Are residents encouraged to engage and participate? Are there good communication and accountability channels? Are community and wellness metrics included in key business performance indicators?”
Platforms like Coliving.com and Outsite list available worldwide for renters ready to explore the option.
