Key facts
- A family of five relocated from Texas to New York City in December 2025.
- They downsized from a 2,000 sq ft, four-bedroom house in Texas to a 1,000 sq ft, three-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn.
- Their monthly rent in New York is three times their previous mortgage payment in Texas.
- The children share a bedroom, with two in a bunk bed and one in a lofted bed.
- The family reports that the children sleep better when sharing a room.
- The mother states that smaller living spaces in New York lead to a more simplified lifestyle.
Alexis Adegoke and her husband Tolu, who previously lived in New York City from 2014, moved back to Brooklyn in December 2025 after a stint in suburban Texas. The family of five, including their three children aged 6, 4, and 3, downsized significantly from a 2,000-square-foot, four-bedroom house in Dallas to a 1,000-square-foot, three-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. This move resulted in a threefold increase in their monthly housing costs, with rent in New York being substantially higher than their previous mortgage payments in Texas. The children now share a single bedroom, with two sleeping in a bunk bed and the third in a lofted bed, a setup that has surprisingly led to easier bedtime routines. The family had initially moved to Texas in June 2022, seeking a larger home and a 'white-picket-fence' lifestyle, feeling guilty about not providing their children with more space and green areas. However, within a year, they began to miss New York's walkability, community, and Tolu's career opportunities in the music industry. Alexis also found suburban life isolating during her third pregnancy. Upon returning to New York, they had to sell most of their belongings and furniture to fit into the smaller apartment. Despite the challenges of downsizing and the higher cost of living, the Adegokes report feeling happier and finding their lifestyle simplified, focusing on what they deem important.