More Kids Living With Grandparents In ’97, the most recent year for which figures are available, 5.5% of all children under 18 in the U.S. live with a grandparent. That compares to only 4.9% in ’92 and 3.6% in ’80. The Census bureau blames social ills such as child abuse, neglect, AIDS, higher drug use among parents, and mental and physical abuse. (Business Week 8/9/99)