• From Christmas markets to light displays, small towns across the US get into the holiday spirit.
• Helen, Georgia, is a recreation of a Bavarian alpine village that goes all-out for Christmas.
• Santa Claus arrives by boat during Nantucket, Massachusetts' annual Christmas Stroll.

From dazzling festivals of light to towering Christmas trees, there are plenty of ways for small towns across the US to celebrate the holidays.

Whether you're celebrating the season in a quaint New England town or hitting the slopes in Jackson Hole, there's no wrong way to get in the holiday spirit.

For local small businesses, hotels, and restaurants, the holiday season offers more than just festive cheer — it's also an opportunity to generate income from tourism. Day-trippers and overnight tourists boost local economies while enjoying festive holiday markets, local restaurants, quaint and cozy inns, and more.

Keep reading to discover the best Christmas towns in the US, from Alaska to North Carolina.

North Pole, Alaska

North Pole, Alaska, is decked out in Christmas decorations year-round, although it's an especially festive place to be during the holiday season.

It's only fitting that there's a town called North Pole in Alaska. The small town, which has a population of just 2,285 people, keeps the holiday spirit alive all year long. However, the North Pole is especially festive around the holidays.

Its Santa Claus House sells gifts, toys, decor, and holiday treats, and offers photo opportunities with St. Nick himself, while the town's post office is a famous local attraction that receives over 400,000 letters addressed to Santa Claus every year, Travel Alaska reported.

Solvang, California

Solvang, California, is an adorable Danish-inspired village located in the Santa Ynez Valley, up the coast from Santa Barbara.

The town feels festive all year round, although Solvang stands out during the holiday season. Every year, the European-inspired town hosts Julefest, a holiday celebration complete with Christmas tree lighting, plenty of holiday shopping, and Danish treats.

Mystic, Connecticut

Visitors to Mystic, Connecticut, can stroll around the town's harbor to admire the elaborately decorated boats, watch Santa Claus arrive by tugboat, or grab a slice at the town's most famous restaurant, Mystic Pizza.

Helen, Georgia

The downtown of Helen, Georgia, is a recreation of a Bavarian alpine village that only gets more adorable once it's decorated for the holidays.

While the town is famous for its Oktoberfest celebration, Helen also comes alive around the holidays.

The town has a Christmas market and parade featuring costumed characters, floats, and Santa Claus himself. There are also festive lights, a breakfast with Santa, and the opportunity to buy your gifts at Helen's own Christmas Shoppe.

Frankenmuth, Michigan

Frankenmuth, also known as Michigan's Little Bavaria, is one of the coziest places to spend the holidays. The town's architecture will make you feel as if you've been transported to Europe, and it's even better when it's covered in snow.

The town is also home to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, which, at 320,000 square feet, calls itself the world's largest Christmas store.

Silverton, Oregon

Silverton is a tiny town in Oregon, although it's arguably the most festive place in the state during the holiday season.

The Silverton Christmas Market at the Oregon Garden Resort is a popular holiday event in Silverton. During this event, the gardens are lit up with festive light displays, snowless tubing, a Biergarten, and a vendor market.

Nantucket, Massachusetts

Many people only associate the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, with summer vacations, although the town is filled with holiday charm in the offseason.

You may not want to swim in the frigid Atlantic Ocean, but the beach is just as charming in the winter thanks to its beautifully decorated lighthouses.

Nantucket also holds an annual Christmas Stroll festival, during which visitors can shop at discounted prices at many of the island's shops and watch Santa arrive by boat into Nantucket Harbor.

Sun Valley, Idaho

It's nearly impossible to avoid holiday cheer in Sun Valley, Idaho.

The charming ski town goes all out — its celebrations include Christmas light displays, tree lightings, and visits from Santa Claus.

Santa Claus, Indiana

What better place to spend the holidays than a town called Santa Claus?

The Indiana town is well-known for its post office, appropriately located on Kringle Place, where thousands of children mail their letters to Santa every year.

There's also a large Santa statue that stands outside the post office year-round, serving up a dose of Christmas cheer even in the summer.

Branson, Missouri

Branson is a go-to spot for Missourians looking to get into the holiday spirit.

From live shows to holiday lights and shopping, Branson has everything you could ask for in a festive night out. It also offers natural beauty, such as snowy vistas at Table Rock Lake.

McAdenville, North Carolina

Located outside Charlotte, McAdenville is also known as "Christmas Town, USA" during the holiday season.

The name is fitting since it's one of the best places to view holiday lights and decorations in the country. Beginning December 1 — and sometimes, even earlier — homes and buildings all over town are aglow in lights and decorations until the day after Christmas.

Woodstock, Vermont

Woodstock, Vermont, is widely regarded as one of the most quintessentially New England towns in the country. Gorgeous in both the fall and the dead of winter, Woodstock has a number of festive attractions and activities.

If you're planning to stay in town over the holidays or the winter season, try to book a room at the cozy and festive Woodstock Inn. Each guest suite has its own fireplace, perfect for cuddling up next to with a cup of hot cocoa and a copy of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas."

Stowe, Vermont

People love to visit Stowe, Vermont, in the wintertime for skiing and other outdoor activities, but the town especially comes alive during the holiday season.

Stowe offers a beautiful winter landscape and hosts an annual tree-lighting ceremony, a holiday bazaar, and an ice skating rink.

Leavenworth, Washington

Leavenworth, Washington, is a small Bavarian-inspired town with an impressive display of Christmas lights.

Every year, Leavenworth's downtown is decorated in lights, and the town's annual Christmas market keeps the holiday festivities going all season long.

Jackson, Wyoming

The ski town is famous for its arches made of elk antlers, which are adorned with Christmas lights during the holiday season, providing the perfect opportunity for family photo ops.

Outdoor enthusiasts can also hit the slopes at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort or enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the multiple surrounding national parks.

• I started vaping in college, right as it was becoming trendy, even though I never smoked cigarettes.
• It became a significant problem — both for my health and my finances.
• After almost 8 years, quitting has saved my lungs and my wallet.

I was at my senior year homecoming dance when I learned what a vape was for the first time.

It was 2017, and I saw a group of my classmates huddled in a corner, passing around what looked like a USB drive.

Out of curiosity, I asked what it was, and one said, "What, you've never heard of a Juul before?" I hadn't, but a quick Google search taught me it was meant to be a replacement for cigarettes.

I eventually joined the growing trend, which left me feeling awful for years — before I could muster the willpower to quit vaping. Thankfully, quitting has helped me save money and feel healthier.

It started with good intentions

A friend of mine had started smoking right before we left for college. After many years of health classes and TV commercials warning of the dangers of cigarettes, I knew this wasn't a habit I should sit back and let my friend form. I went out and bought a vape for them — since getting them to stop altogether seemed like a tall order.

It seemed innocent enough because there was no actual tobacco involved, so I gave it a go myself. I immediately understood why they had become so popular. They tasted great and were fun to use, so without even considering the addictive qualities of nicotine, I bought my own.

Pod-based vapes were all the rage on my college campus. They were easy to pass around with friends, and every gas station for miles sold refills. They were also discreet and easy to use, so many students, including myself, carried them everywhere. It was common to run into classmates taking a "bathroom break," when in reality we were all just vaping in the stalls.

Being that it was so easy to get away with, it didn't occur to me that I was wiring my brain to become dependent on this little stick of nicotine in my pocket.

The cost hit both my wallet and my health

It was a regular errand of mine to go to the gas station after class. Running about $25 for a pack of four vape pods, it didn't seem like a huge expense as a college dorm resident with few bills to pay.

Over time, the pods began to fall out of fashion and were replaced with disposable vapes. They weren't much more expensive — at about $30 each.

But the frequency at which I made these purchases affected not only my wallet but also my health.

The habit continued for years. It became obvious to me that the idea of vapes being "better for you" simply because they lacked tobacco wasn't true. I tried to quit several times, rarely making it longer than a few days or maybe even a week due to the withdrawals.

Factoring their costs into my budget felt like a cold sore that wouldn't go away, knowing it was unnecessary, but the struggle to stop remained. But once I found myself so sick from it that I could barely take a deep breath, I buckled down and told myself the time had come.

In May, I threw away what would be my last vape and have not purchased one since.

Kicking the habit brought a breath of fresh air

The physical relief from quitting came slowly, but the financial part was almost immediate. Since the day I quit six months ago, I have saved over $900.

My resting heart rate has improved significantly, energy levels are up, and I don't wake up each morning reaching for a vape before my eyes are even open.

I had looked up every technique I could possibly try to make the withdrawals easier, but it came down to the sheer willpower to lock myself in my apartment until the worst of the cravings stopped.

I can't say they don't still arise when I find myself particularly anxious (or just bored), but a life free from nicotine is one both my body and wallet are happy to have back.

• Citadel, Millennium, Point72, and more all made money in November.
• Big-name funds battled a choppy equities market, though stocks bounced in the second half of the month.
• Many hedge funds outperformed the modest 0.1% gain in November by the S&P 500 index.

Hedge funds' biggest names had a solid November despite an early-month sell-off of hot tech stocks.

Citadel, Balyasny, and Point72 made money in the month, people close to the managers told Business Insider.

Miami-based Citadel, run by billionaire Ken Griffin, was up 1.4% in its flagship Wellington fund. The fund has made 8.3% for the year. The manager's Tactical Trading fund, which combines the firm's quant and flesh-and-blood stockpickers, is up 16.3% in 2025 after 2.6% gain last month.

The $30 billion Balyasny continued its strong year with a 2.5% gain in November. The manager is now up 15.3% in 2025. ExodusPoint pushed its year-to-date returns to 15.6% with a 1.2% bump in November. Billionaire Steve Cohen's Point72 is up 15% in 2025, following a 1.4% gain last month.

Millennium eked out gains of 0.5% over the month, bringing its year-to-date returns to 8.3%. The $81 billion manager was dragged down by significant losses from its index rebalance teams, Business Insider reported.

These firms and many other multistrategy managers outperformed the S&P 500 last month; the index gained just 0.1% thanks to an early-month sell-off of tech stocks that was partially reversed by strong earnings from chipmaker Nvidia and solid iPhone sales by Apple.

The index for the year has still made more than 16% in 2025, which is greater than many funds' year-to-date gains.

The firms below declined to comment. More performance figures will be added to the table and the article as they are learned.

(Editor's note: This story was originally published on December 1 at 2.32 pm. New figures have been added to the table below as they have been learned.)

Inside Business stories reveal the inner workings of companies from Silicon Valley to Wall Street that are shaping our world today.

• Netflix defended its acquisition of Warner Bros. as a strategic and informed move.
• Co-CEO Greg Peters says past media mega-mergers failed due to a lack of industry expertise.
• Netflix emphasized its healthy business and confidence in understanding the entertainment industry.

Netflix defended its announced acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming business, saying it wouldn't be a failure like other media mega-mergers that have come before it.

"It's true. Historically, many of these mergers haven't worked. A lot of these failures were because the companies doing the a didn't understand the entertainment industry," Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters said, speaking during a call Friday with investors to discuss the deal. "These are key businesses we understand."

Another point he made was that while other M&A deals were about companies looking for a lifeline, Netflix isn't doing the deal to save its business.

"We have a healthy business," Peters said.

He didn't specify any past mergers, but notable tie-ups that have widely been considered failures were AT&T buying Time Warner in 2018 and the AOL-Time Warner combo in 2000.

The streaming giant is making the biggest acquisition in its history — and one of the largest ever in entertainment — announcing Friday that it had struck a deal to acquire Warner Bros. from WBD for an equity value of $72 billion.

• The International Wedding Photographer of the Year awards announced the winners of its 2025 contest.
• The winning photos featured poignant moments, stunning landscapes, and lively wedding celebrations.
• The overall winning photo showed a young boy gazing through a window at a wedding cake.

After the vows are exchanged and the dance floor clears, wedding photos help preserve the memories for years to come.

The annual International Wedding Photographer of the Year awards celebrate the best in wedding photography, honoring photographers who excelled at capturing poignant moments, stunning landscapes, and lively celebrations in 2025.

The IWPOTY judges evaluated 2,500 submissions from 568 photographers in 61 countries, naming winners in categories including Black and White, Dance Floor, Epic Location, and I Do Crew.

Take a look at the best wedding photos of the year.

Armen Hambardzumian won the Black and White category with a poignant photo of a bride's grandfather after the wedding ceremony.

"For me, wedding photography is about documenting the connections between generations — the emotions and memories that live on through time," Hambardzumian wrote.

The winning photo in the Break the Rules category was taken by Traci Edwards in the North Cascades.

"To me, this image is about Tammy and Eric being engulfed in the incredible mountain peaks of the North Cascades in the morning sunlight romantically in their own bubble of bliss, sharing their day together," Edwards wrote.

Oli Prince took the top prize in the Couple Portrait and Emerging Artist categories with a photo highlighting a bride and groom on a stormy mountainside.

"Under dark storm clouds in the Cuillin Mountains, Scotland, the couple held each other as the wind tore through the valley," Prince wrote. "Her veil was ripped into the air, twisting above them like part of the storm itself."

In the Dance Floor category, Jeff Tisman won with a creative angle.

"The dance floor was rocking at this point," Tisman wrote. "I lay the camera down low and captured the moves through the legs of another dancer."

Alessandro Biggi took the winning photo in the Epic Location category at San Pietro Church in Porto Venere, Italy.

"On a summer day, right after the intense passage of a storm, the sky opened to reveal a sublime, almost ethereal light that enveloped the scene in an atmosphere suspended between dream and reality," Biggi wrote. "The bride, wrapped in her elegant grace, stands silently before the infinite, seemingly captured by the poetry of the sea as it opens through the ancient columns — witnesses to countless stories, loves, and legends."

Tony Iskra's photo of an intimate Iceland elopement earned first place in the From Above category.

"Iceland's raw wilderness, black sand beaches, cliffs, waterfalls, and that quiet sense of awe were exactly how they envisioned their special day," Iskra wrote.

The winning photo in the I Do Crew category, taken by Moment Picture, showed a bride and her parents sharing a tender moment.

"Just before the ceremony, her parents asked for a quiet moment — a final act of love," a representative for Moment Picture wrote. "With trembling hands and full hearts, they placed the veil over their daughter, not just as a tradition, but as a sacred blessing. This veil, woven with grace and care, became a symbol of everything they wished for her: love, strength, protection, and peace."

Sammie and Micah Chaffin used vintage lanterns to create this cinematic shot of a bride and groom, winning first place in the Lit! category.

"During blue hour, the orange lantern light perfectly complemented the deep blues in the sky and ocean, as well as mirroring the orange in the last traces of the sunset," the Chaffins wrote.

Katy Homan took the winning photo in the Solo Portrait category of a bride leaping into the air.

"We want to capture not just what the day looked like, but what it felt like, too," Homan wrote.

The Engagement/Non-Wedding category winner, and the contest's overall Runner-Up, was taken by Maddie Mae during a Utah engagement shoot.

"To create this image, we woke long before sunrise and drove a serious 4×4 road in complete darkness with an experienced guide," Mae wrote. "From there, we hiked by headlamp to reach this massive sand dune in a cave before anyone else arrived. I knew the perfect light hits the back wall only at sunrise, so the timing was critical, and it was more than worth the effort."

David Scholes was named Grand Winner of the contest with a whimsical photo of a young wedding guest admiring the towering cake.

As the boy ran back and forth outside the reception hall, Scholes caught the split second when he paused to look at the cake.

"I don't stop working at weddings, and even when there doesn't seem to be much happening, I will still look for something interesting that can be part of the story," Scholes wrote.

• Netflix agreed to purchase Warner Bros. in a $72 billion deal.
• Netflix will buy HBO Max and the Warner Bros. studio, but not WBD's TV networks like CNN and TNT.
• Here is the memo Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav sent to employees.

Netflix is buying Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming businesses in a seismic $72 billion deal that promises to shake up Hollywood.

The Netflix-WBD tie-up, which the companies announced on Friday morning, would be the industry's largest since Disney bought 21st Century Fox for $71 billion in 2019. Netflix is planning to buy HBO Max and the top-performing Warner Bros. studio, but not WBD's TV networks like CNN, TNT, and TBS.

Netflix must first secure regulatory approval from the US and foreign governments, which some media analysts say could be a challenge. If all goes as planned, the deal is set to close in 12 to 18 months, the companies said.

Netflix beat out Paramount Skydance and Comcast in a bidding war.

Since Netflix is only buying the Warner Bros. studio and HBO Max, the remaining TV assets that are seen as less valuable will be spun out, as WBD originally planned. WBD was formed in April 2022 after a merger between AT&T's WarnerMedia and Discovery.

"In the coming days, we will establish an Integration Office, which will coordinate all planning with Netflix, consistent with regulatory requirements," WBD CEO David Zaslav wrote in a note to employees on Friday. "Until the transaction closes, WBD and Netflix remain separate companies. It may be tempting to reach out directly to counterparts or former colleagues at Netflix, but it is essential that all interactions are managed through this office to ensure we meet every legal and regulatory obligation."

Here's the full memo that Zaslav sent employees on Friday morning:

This communication has been sent to everyone at WBD.

Team,

The Board of Directors of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) approved a transaction under which Warner Bros. will be acquired by Netflix, subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions, including the completion of the separation of Discovery Global from WBD.

As part of the structure, the Global Networks business will form a new standalone company, Discovery Global, with Gunnar Wiedenfels to serve as CEO once the new company separates from WBD, now expected to be completed in Q3 2026.

This decision reflects the realities of an industry undergoing generational change – in how stories are financed, produced, distributed, and discovered – and recognizes the strong, transformed company we are today, the significant value we have created, and the resilience and attractiveness that now position us in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Over the past several months, the Board evaluated a full set of strategic paths. Their conclusion is that this structure – Warner Bros. joining Netflix, and Discovery Global becoming a focused standalone company – provides the strongest long-term foundation for both sets of businesses.

As outlined in the announcement, the proposed combination of Warner Bros. and Netflix reflects complementary strengths, more choice and value for consumers, a stronger entertainment industry, increased opportunity for creative talent, and long-term value creation for shareholders.

I know this announcement creates many questions about what's next. For some, it brings clarity about direction. For others, it raises questions about what this means for their teams and their work. All of those reactions are understandable. A transaction of this nature naturally creates uncertainty, and not all answers will be available immediately. Some will be clarified in the coming days and weeks; others depend on regulatory processes and on work that cannot begin until separation or closing.

People across WBD have navigated extraordinary change over the last three years, while building a company with real creative, journalistic, and commercial strength. That deserves to be acknowledged plainly.

What we can say now, based on the direction set out today, is that this structure provides a clearer path forward for Warner Bros. within Netflix, and for Discovery Global as a standalone company. For both, the goal is to position their creative work, talent, and brands to navigate a market that is constantly evolving and increasingly global.

What happens now

Later today, we will hold a Global Town Hall to walk through what we know and what is still to be determined. Calendar invites will follow shortly after this email.

Business Unit leaders will hold discussions specific to their areas in the coming days, so you can hear directly from your leader.

Managers will also come together early next week so they have the context and support they need to guide their teams through the early stages of this transition.

What happens next

The path toward a separation of WBD into Warner Bros. and Discovery Global will shift. We will redirect work tied to the earlier, planned two-company operating model and focus instead on the steps required to enable this transaction.

In the coming days, we will establish an Integration Office, which will coordinate all planning with Netflix, consistent with regulatory requirements. Until the transaction closes, WBD and Netflix remain separate companies. It may be tempting to reach out directly to counterparts or former colleagues at Netflix, but it is essential that all interactions are managed through this office to ensure we meet every legal and regulatory obligation.

What this means for you

We also recognize that many people are looking for more clarity about what to focus on, how to prioritize work, and what this means for their teams. Those details will become clearer over the next several weeks, as we move toward our 2026 goal-setting and operating plan alignment processes.

As part of that, you will hear guidance from your Business Unit and functional leaders early in the new year, with expectations and priorities anchored to what we know at that point in the regulatory process.

In the meantime, please continue to focus on the work needed to wrap up 2025, support year-end deliverables, and take the opportunity to rest and recharge over the holidays.

We will continue to communicate regularly, and new information will be shared in One Insider and on the One website. And we will see you later today at the Global Town Hall.

As we move through this next chapter, our aim is simple: handle decisions with care, communicate clearly about what we know, and make sure people have the information and support they need at each step.

I know moments like this carry weight. And they can also mark the beginning of new possibilities. The work you bring to this company – and the way you have shown up for one another – has built something that others clearly see value in. That matters. And while I cannot predict every step ahead, I am confident in the strength of our brands, in the talent of our teams, and in the stories, journalism, and experiences we will continue to bring to audiences around the world.

David

• I stayed in a cylindrical tiny home hotel in Germany during a European train trip in 2022.
• The 106-square-foot home made smarter use of space than any tiny home I've seen in the US.
• The European tiny home was two stories and less than half the size of the US tiny homes I've booked.

As a New Yorker who's rented several cramped apartments over the years, tiny homes are my inspiration.

Making the most of a minimal square footage requires some creativity. So when I travel, I often book compact accommodations to discover new space-saving hacks that might help me make the most of my own little dwelling.

From Florida and Maryland to Canada and Switzerland, I've stayed in several tiny Airbnbs around the world.

None of those homes utilized indoor space as efficiently as this tiny home hotel in Germany, which I found on Airbnb back in 2022.

I was looking for tiny stays in Germany when I found one with a unique, cylindrical shape that packed a lot inside, so I booked it for two nights for $140.

The Airbnb was part of a tiny home hotel in Neustrelitz, Germany, called Slube. The company designs minimal concrete "Slubes" for up to two people.

There are three types of Slubes: a one-story Basic, a two-story Home, and a Tower, which is two stories with a rooftop terrace. I booked a Home Slube.

It was less than half the size of any tiny home I'd stayed in before.

The 16-foot-tall tiny home with two floors was 106 square feet.

I checked in with a code sent to my phone rather than a physical key.

When I arrived by train from the airport in Berlin, I didn't see any employees at the tiny home hotel.

At first, I was confused, but then I checked my email. A message from Slube informed me I'd be staying in room five and could check in by myself.

Inside, the 53-square-foot bottom level had a bathroom on the right, a sitting area on the left, and a ladder to the second floor.

The sitting area had a foldout table that I could push against the wall to save space.

Across from a foldout table was a bench with two seat cushions instead of a couch.

There was enough space for me to store luggage beneath the benches.

This tiny home utilized more vertical space than those I've seen in the US.

There were hooks and storage cubbies above the bench, so I stored all my clothing and toiletries on the first floor.

I was impressed by the amenities packed into such a small room.

In the back right corner of the sitting area, there was a nook of built-in shelves storing a small coffee machine, a hair dryer, and a few dishes.

The bathroom had an efficient layout.

There was a curtain separating the shower head and sink from the toilet and storage space.

Even with two windows, I felt I had enough privacy.

The first-floor windows had a film over most of the glass, which allowed me to let natural light in without sacrificing my privacy.

After checking out the first level, I headed up the ladder to the second-floor bedroom.

I thought it was easy to climb, but it could be challenging for some.

There was a latched gate at the top of the ladder, which I imagine was built to keep people safe from falling.

Knowing I was securely fastened into the bed area made sleeping easier.

The bedroom was the same size as the living space and bathroom combined — 53 square feet.

The floor space was covered by a comfy, full-size bed. The pillows had the ideal ratio of fluff to firmness for my neck and head.

Above the bed was a mounted TV equipped with Netflix and other streaming services.

Before bed, I watched some of my favorite shows.

I used the lower platform on the far side of the bed as a nightstand.

It had easily accessible outlets, a pocket for the TV remote, and more space for my electronics and water bottle.

Above the bed, a large window opened so I could let the breeze into my room.

It had a blackout curtain for privacy and early morning light.

The Slube also had smart electricity that made my stay feel a tad luxurious.

I controlled the lights and temperature of each story from my phone.

I found it fascinating that this tiny home truly left no space unused, from the loft bed to the wall cubbies.

I can't stick a second story into my own rental, but the European tiny home still gave me inspiration for how I could make better use of my space, starting with vertical storage hacks.

• Multigenerational households are rising in popularity as families look for savings and caregiving support.
• Architects report in-law suites and multigenerational housing are popular demands from homeowners.
• The number of people living in multigenerational households has quadrupled since 1971.

Living with your parents isn't always the first option, but for Lindsey Gregory, it made the most sense. Not only are Gregory, her husband, their daughter, and her in-laws living under one roof, they bought a home together.

While some people view living with their parents as a last resort or a safety net, Gregory saw it as an opportunity to strengthen her family.

"For us, living this way was a choice," Gregory wrote in an essay for Business Insider. "No one was ill or unemployed. But when there has been a job loss or expensive home repairs are needed, we've been able to stay afloat."

Gregory is far from alone in choosing a multigenerational living arrangement. An American Institute of Architects (AIA) survey of more than 300 residential architecture firms found that in the third quarter of 2025, one of the most popular categories of home features was in-law suites and junior accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

Forty-six percent of respondents said that in-law suites and junior ADUs were increasing in popularity from the previous year — the largest percentage increase among the surveyed home features, which also included outdoor living space and multi-function rooms.

It's a trend that's been rising for years. A 2022 report from the Pew Research Center found that the number of people living in multigenerational households has quadrupled since 1971, reaching 59.7 million in March 2021. As of the report's publication, 18% of the US population was living in a multigenerational household.

While the Pew study noted that lower-income households are more likely to opt for multigenerational living, that's not always the case.

Content creator Lexi Poer spent $350,000 building a home for her mother that's connected to her and her husband's home in Roswell, Georgia.

"She very much wanted to make sure that she had all of the things she needed to live independently in her space, like somewhere to park her car and enter her home without having to come through our house, access to the outdoor space without having to enter our house, her own laundry room, her own kitchen," Poer told Business Insider in April.

Saving money isn't the only benefit of multigenerational living

The common assumption is that those who choose to live in multigenerational households are doing so to save money — which isn't far off, as 40% of those surveyed by Pew cited "financial issues" as their reason for multigenerational living.

But the leap into multigenerational living also often has caregiving benefits for both children and adults. Thirty-three percent of survey respondents said caregiving was a major reason for living with family members.

For Shawn Lentz, it was a bit of both. In 2024, he sold his house and bought a small manufactured home to place on his in-laws' 5-acre property so he could live there mortgage-free with his wife and teenage son.

"This wasn't some dreamy escape into the minimalist #vanlife trend," Lentz wrote in an essay for Business Insider. "In reality, we were desperate to be free from a mortgage, and we wanted to live closer to my in-laws so we could assist them as they age."

Genevieve Dahl, whose mother-in-law moved in with her, her husband, and their two children, said she benefits from having an extra adult around to help with daily responsibilities.

"Four months later, it's the best decision we've ever made," Dahl wrote in an essay for Business Insider. "My kids now have a full cheering section at their games. The house is spotless (she actually loves to clean). When we work late, dinner is waiting for us. She even bakes and freezes protein muffins so I don't skip breakfast."

For Brandi Spering, buying a house with her in-laws was a better option than moving them to a nursing home.

"While we weren't expecting the next chapter of our lives to look like this, we couldn't ignore how we would benefit: being surrounded by family, combining our incomes, having a chance to invest in property, and splitting the mortgage," Spering wrote in an essay for Business Insider.

According to the Pew survey, 30% of adults living in multigenerational households say the experience has been very positive, and 58% say it's convenient, while 54% say it's rewarding all or most of the time.

"There will always be a standard I hold, a responsibility I feel, and pride myself on; deciding to move in together means helping care for them," Spering wrote. "While I need to be diligent to step in whenever necessary, it doesn't mean it has to be without boundaries, for us all."

• Goldman Sachs' US equity chief shared advice for Gen Z entering the workplace.
• He said these workers should understand how their role fits into the firm's commercial engine.
• If you understand your role and how it contributes to the business, you can see how both evolve over time, he said.

For Gen Z starting out their careers, Goldman Sachs' US equity chief has one key tip: figure out how you fit into the company machine.

David Kostin, the firm's longtime partner and chief US equity strategist, who will be retiring this year, shared his advice for young workers in his final appearance on "Goldman Sachs Exchanges" this week.

"Think about one's role and how that fits into the broader business environment," he said.

"If you understand where you sit and your contributions to the commercial process, then you can see how that changes over time," he added.

Kostin, who joined Goldman in 1994, credits decades of conversations with hedge funds, sovereign wealth funds, and pension giants for shaping his own way of thinking.

His advice to juniors reflects the same idea: technical skills matter, but judgment comes from a deep understanding of clients, markets, and how your work influences both.

Focus on tasks, not titles

Gen Z is entering the workforce at a challenging time. AI is disrupting the traditional pathways into white-collar work, and experts say young employees must adapt in different ways.

James Ransom, a research fellow at University College London, told Business Insider last month that Gen Z should stop chasing job titles and instead zero in on the tasks AI still struggles with — judgment, oversight, leadership, and persuasion.

In his view, the standout young workers will be those who can supervise and scale AI while demonstrating real, measurable impact.

Wharton professor Ethan Mollick, one of the most influential voices in the AI revolution, took that thinking a step further.

Because AI evolves so quickly, he said last month, many AI skills become obsolete almost as soon as workers learn them.

Instead, young job seekers should focus on what tasks they are uniquely good at, and let AI handle the parts they struggle with.

He called this "task distribution," saying that success now depends on being able to judge AI's output, give clear instructions, and pair deep topic expertise with broad knowledge — including in the humanities.

Quentin Nason, a 35-year finance veteran and former managing director of investment banking, offered a more structural warning.

With the first rung of the career ladder collapsing as graduate schemes shrink, he said in October that young people should look beyond traditional finance hubs to the next wave of automation, robotics, blockchain, and drones.

"Rather than chasing yesterday's jobs, chase tomorrow's," he said.