[dougmwne]

This is an over generalization of American culture. Yes, in my experience, when parents live in a high cost of living city with plentiful opportunities, the children tend to live at home longer. This seems quite common in California and New York. In areas with less opportunity, children are forced to move out or never have much of a career.

This was the case for me. I had no choice but to leave home at 18 or I would have been working in food service or lawn care for the rest of my life.