Quarters, which bills itself as the largest co-living company in the United States and Europe today, launched from a new spin on an old business model: the company town. The co-living space’s popularity for eKomi employees led Schmidt and his partners to launch the Medici Living Group, which provides co-living for professionals and students, the following year.

As for the WeWork that all of these co-living companies wish to emulate, its co-living division is itself expanding. The “Private sector has spotted a gap in the market with co-living,” the report says, “Aimed at enticing young professionals with a sociable environment and lifestyle offering, all with a hassle-free system of paying just one bill.”

“Co-living provides a much more affordable price to get into a Class A asset without sacrificing location and amenities and so forth,” said Ryan Shear, a principal of PMG’s X Social Communities, which develops its own co-living communities from the ground up.

The net operating income from the co-living spaces is also 30 percent higher per foot, he said-even with the cost of the co-living amenities and perks. Might a crash keep individuals, like firms, from wanting to make any big, long-term changes-and instead stay put in their tricked-out co-living spots? Yes, say co-living companies, so long as prices in their host cities don’t drop too far.