US – Half of young people under 25 live “in their parents’ home,” says Census. OK but…

More than 15.3 million twentysomethings—and half of young people under 25—live “in their parents’ home,” according to official Census statistics.

Theres just one problem with those official statistics. Theyre criminally misleading. When you read the full Census reports, you often come upon this crucial sentence:

It is important to note that the Current Population Survey counts students living in dormitories as living in their parents home.

When you were adjusting to your freshman roommate, you were “living with your parents.” When you snagged that sweet triple with your best friends in grad housing, you were “living with your parents.” That one time you launched butt-rattling bottle rockets at the stroke of midnight off your fraternity roof? I hope you didnt make too much noise. After all, you were “living with your parents,” and mine definitely went to bed around 11.

via The Misguided Freakout About Basement-Dwelling Millennials – Derek Thompson – The Atlantic.