Ryan Reynolds at #1 for America’s Dream Roommate

America has crowned Ryan Reynolds as its top celebrity roommate pick, with 17% of survey respondents preferring him to other celebrities in the running. Taylor Swift followed closely behind, preferred by 14% of Americans. 

When all the numbers were tallied, Reynolds and Swift were the clear favorites across all generations, while 19% of Gen Z respondents chose Emmy Winner Zendaya as their top pick. 

That’s according to a recent survey commissioned by Zillow Rentals and conducted by the Harris Poll. 

It’s no surprise Ryan Reynolds took the top spot. After all, who wouldn’t want a roommate who balances blockbuster movies, family life and business ventures with effortless charm? Zendaya’s impeccable style and calm, cool energy make her an obvious favorite for Gen Z, who may expect she would share her extensive wardrobe with her roomie. Whether you’re looking for charisma or couture, at Zillow Rentals, we know that finding the right roommate is all about compatibility — and maybe a little star power.

Emily McDonald

Zillow's rental trends expert

Read on for a closer look at America’s dream roommates for 2024. 

Aspirational Roommate Pics for 2024

If you’ve ever been told you’re the average of the five people you spend most of your time with, who can blame you for aiming high when it comes to your choice of roommate? The stakes are up there. 

And whether you prefer the company of A-list celebs, legendary athletes, or famous social media influencers, you’re allowed to be picky. Dream a little. 

Let’s start with the red carpet celebs. We’ll cover the cross-generational favorites as well as Gen Z’s picks for 2024. 

Celebrity Roommate Preferences

Across all generations, the top choice for preferred celebrity roommate this year is Ryan Reynolds. The Deadpool and Free Guy actor is the number one choice for 17% of all survey respondents. 

Coming up as a close second is one of the most genuine and likable people on the planet, international favorite Taylor Swift, taking 14% of the overall vote. 

Preferred celebrity roommates across generations: 

1. Ryan Reynolds (17%)
2. Taylor Swift (14%)
3. Zendaya (9%)
4. Beyoncé (7%)
5. Kendrick Lamar (5%)
6. Sabrina Carpenter (5%)
7. Timothée Chalamet (5%)
8. Chappell Roan (2%)
9. Glen Powell (2%)
10. Other (7%)

Gen Z (ages 18-29) ranked both Reynolds and Swift high on their list, too—at 16% and 11%, respectively. But their top choice, chosen by nearly one-fifth (19%), is Zendaya, reinforcing the clear preference for genuine and approachable celebs. 

Both are important qualities in a roommate, along with a willingness to help with clean-up. 

Preferred celebrity roommates for Gen Z:

1. Zendaya (19%)
2. Ryan Reynolds (16%)
3. Taylor Swift (11%)
4. Kendrick Lamar (11%)
5. Beyoncé (10%)
6. Sabrina Carpenter (10%)
7. Chappell Roan (4%)
8. Timothée Chalamet (3%)
9. Glen Powell (2%)
10. Other (6%)

Athlete Roommate Picks

Among famous athletes, Simone Biles is the number roommate choice for 17% of all survey respondents, followed by NBA legend Lebron James and WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark. 

Favorite athlete roommates across all generations: 

1. Simone Biles (17%)
2. Lebron James (11%)
3. Caitlin Clark (9%)
4. Travis Kelce (8%)
5. Lionel Messi (7%)
6. Lamar Jackson (5%)
7. Max Verstappen (2%)
8. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2%)
9. Other (6%)

Biles tied with Lebron James for Gen Z respondents, both with 22% of the vote. Lionel Messi takes the third spot at 11%, indicating a stronger interest in soccer (or “football” as it’s known in every country but this one). 

Favorite athlete roommates for Gen Z:

1. Simone Biles (22%)
2. Lebron James (22%)
3. Lionel Messi (11%)
4. Lamar Jackson (10%)
5. Caitlin Clark (7%)
6. Travis Kelce (5%)
7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (3%)
8. Max Verstappen (2%)
9. Other (5%)

Influencer Roommate Preferences

Drew Desbordes, aka Druski, tops the list of preferred roommates across all generations with 8% of the overall vote, followed by Chris Olsen, Tyler Cameron, and Monet McMichael, all of whom took 4% of the vote. 

Preferred influencer roommates across all generations: 

1. Druski (8%)
2. Chris Olsen (4%)
3. Tyler Cameron (4%)
4. Monet McMichael (4%)
5. Jake Shane (3%)
6. Alix Earle (2%)
7. Wisdom Kaye (2%)
8. Benito Skinner (2%)
9. Tefi Passoa (1%)
10. Other (10%)

Among Gen Z, nearly one-quarter (24%) chose Druski as their number one pick, with Tyler Cameron, Chris Olsen, and Alix Earle tied at the next-largest share of the vote (6%). 

Druski was also the number one pick for 12% of Millennials, 3% of Gen X, and less than 1% of Baby Boomers. 

Preferred influencer roommates for Gen Z:

1. Druski (24%)
2. Tyler Cameron (6%)
3. Chris Olsen (6%)
4. Alix Earle (6%)
5. Jake Shane (5%)
6. Monet McMichael (4%)
7. Wisdom Kaye (4%)
8. Benito Skinner (3%)
9. Tefi Pessoa (2%)
10. Other (15%)

Roommate Qualities & Annoying Habits

Now, we come to the things people look for in a roommate—along with the qualities most would rather not see in someone who shares the same living space. 

According to Zillow’s survey, the most valued quality in a roommate is “respect for personal space and boundaries,” chosen by nearly one-third of all respondents (31%). 

More than nine out of ten Americans (93%) who’ve had a roommate have experienced at least one annoying habit. For 28% of those, the most annoying habit was “not helping with cleaning.” 

Rental Market Insights

Gen Z makes up 47% of recent renters, making them the largest generational group in today’s rental market. 

Since the start of the pandemic, the typical U.S. rent has grown 33%, making shared housing a more cost-effective (and often necessary) option for many American renters. 

For more insights on the rental market, check out our 9 key takeaways from the latest housing market forecasts from Zillow and Realtor.com.