Part of living with roommates means giving up a certain degree of freedom. Of course, another part of living with roommates means giving up a certain degree of loneliness. The trick for most roommates is to reconcile these two things and to sacrifice an appropriate amount of the former in order to stave off an excessive amount of the latter.

Of course, when you’re younger, the desire for freedom is at a fever pitch, while true loneliness has yet to sink in. Fun is the number one priority, and homesickness is about as bad as it ever gets. As we get older, the need for freedom gradually decreases, while we begin to obsess over finding someone to spend our lives with. Careers begin to take off, and going out becomes less and less important.

In both instances, a roommate can provide the perfect solution. For younger people, roommates represent a built-in fun source, and for older people, they represent a built-in companion. But what about for the in-betweeners? What about those single people in their 30’s that are looking to platonically cohabitate? Let’s find out!

Perfect!

Let’s cut right to the chase, if you’re single, your 30’s are the perfect age to live with roommates. According to recent research from the United States Census Bureau, more and more people are choosing to live with roommates further into life. From 2010 to 2019, the number of people living in non-family households (i.e., with roommates) increased 13% from 38 million to 43 million. This has to do with a number of factors, including a significant decrease in cultural pressure to marry and a significant increase in the average individual’s amount of debt. Living with a roommate offsets these variables by offering companionship and financial assistance.

If you’re in your 30’s, you've likely reached a place in life where your career and your finances have begun to finally stabilize, but you might still have sizable student loans or credit card debt that is preventing you from venturing off completely on your own. Additionally, you’re still young enough where you probably are still interested in going for happy hour drinks or going to a concert on a Saturday night. You’re mostly in control of your feelings and emotions, so you don’t get lonely easily, but it’s always nice to have someone around to chat with, rent a movie, or order in some take out.

A Likely Friendship

As you and your roommates become more and more accustomed to one another, it’s likely that you will become closer as friends, which means that rather than having to call or text a friend to share dinner with, you can simply walk into the living room and ask one of your roomies. And the more often the two (or three or four) of you spend time together, the more likely you are to become better friends. So from a casual relationship built on bingeing netflix, you can gradually develop into something more concrete, allowing you to lean on each other during tough times and celebrating with one another during life’s successes (promotions, new relationships, etc.).

Perhaps most importantly, single people living with roommates share a common bond that many of their other friends do not. It seems like the majority of Americans get married and/or have children in their 20’s and 30’s, which places them in a very firm familial position. And when the majority of your friends are busy building and maintaining their families, it’s easy to feel like you’re on the outside, which can make it difficult to know where you fit in. By finding roommates who are at a similar place in life as you, it’s easier to relate and know that you aren’t behind; you’re exactly where you need to be based on your personal choices and philosophy.

Roommates.com

Regardless of your age, maturity, or relationship status, you can find thousands of other people who are on the same trajectory as you at roommates.com. Our easy and convenient user interface allows you to search for the perfect match and then connect with them directly before moving in with one another. Whether you’re a college freshmen or a seasoned executive, roommates.com has everything you’re looking for.