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It is one of the most archetypal Christmas images: the hard-working son or daughter catching planes, trains and automobiles just to make it home for the holidays.

But in reality, for most Americans it would take nothing more than a quick bus ride to make it back to mom and dad's in time for December 25.

A study has found that the average US resident lives just 18 miles from their mother. 

 

 

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The Upshot research discovered that over the last few decades, Americans have become less mobile, and most adults – especially those with less education or lower incomes — do not venture far from their hometowns.

That image goes against the common perception of Americans as rootless, constantly on the move to seek opportunity even if it means leaving family behind. 

It instead shows the country as a nation of close-knit families, where multiple generations rely on each other for financial and practical support.

And the figures suggest that trend will continue, spurred on baby boomers requiring additional care later in lift and the growing number of low-income families who need help with the cost of childcare.

'The culture of caring is not well rewarded in this country,' said Anne Tumlinson, health care policy analyst who writes about elder care at Daughterhood.org.

'You go from raising your kids and dealing with all the challenges of compromising your career that come along with that, and then all of a sudden you're thrust back into a caregiving role.'

 

 

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Geographically, families in the north east and the south tend to stay nearby, while those on the east coast and in the Mountain States are generally further apart

The study found the average American lives 18 miles from their mother, with just one in five living more than two hours' drive from their parents.

It concluded that education and income are the biggest determinants for why people would move away from their homes. Those with college and professional degrees are much more likely to live farther from their parents than those with a high school education.

Geographically, families in the north east and the south tend to stay nearby, while those on the east coast and in the Mountain States are generally further apart.

Culture is also thought to play a key role. Hispanic households are more likely to provide in-person care, while Europeans households are more likely to provide financial support, according to research led by Natalia Sarkisian, a sociologist studying families at Boston College.