According to the latest federal government and industry data, a set of 15 numbers can help paint a picture of Americans’ daily lives. These data, while not strictly “averages,” some being medians and others percentages, offer a glimpse into the current lifestyle of Americans.
The median age of first-time homebuyers in the United States reached a historical high of 40 years, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
Data from the “2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers” released by NAR covers housing transactions from July 2024 to June 2025. First-time homebuyers accounted for only 21% of the market, significantly lower than the historical norm of around 40% before 2008.
These homebuyers are entering a costly housing market. As of July 2026, the typical value of a residential property in the U.S. stood at $371,774, marking a 1% increase from the previous year, as per the Zillow Home Value Index.
There are significant differences in housing prices across states. For example, as of July 31st, the typical home values in Texas, Illinois, and Michigan were $301,806, $299,900, and $269,576, respectively, based on Zillow data.
Compared to the previous year, home values in Texas declined by 1.8%, while Illinois saw a 5.1% increase, and Michigan had a 4% increase.
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the median age for first marriage in the U.S. was 30.8 years for men and 28.4 years for women in 2025.
This represents a significant increase from 1975 when the median age for first marriage was 23.5 years for men and 21.1 years for women.
In other words, Americans are generally getting married about 7 years later than they did 50 years ago. Data also shows that in 2025, only 47% of U.S. households were married couples, down from 66% in 1975.
Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in June 2026 shows that the average age of first childbirth for American women in 2024 reached a record high of 27.6 years.
This figure is slightly higher than the average age of 27.5 years in 2023, continuing the long-term trend of women in the U.S. delaying childbirth.
The latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that the average U.S. household has about 2.5 people. Data collected from 2020 to 2024 shows an average household size of 2.53 people.
At the same time, living alone is becoming increasingly common. Census Bureau data shows that in 2025, nearly 3 out of 10 households in the U.S. consist of one person.
There are approximately 39.7 million single-person households in the U.S., accounting for 29% of all households, up from 20% in 1975.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ “American Time Use Survey,” full-time employed Americans worked an average of 8.1 hours on weekdays in 2025.
The average weekday work hours increased to 8.5 hours this year, with weekend work averaging 5.5 hours.
S&P Global Mobility reports that the average age of cars on U.S. roads reached a record high of 12.8 years in 2025, up from 12.6 years in 2024.
This reflects Americans’ trend of extending the lifespan of their vehicles. The latest American Community Survey estimates show that the average one-way commute time for Americans in 2024 was 27.2 minutes, slightly higher than 26.8 minutes in 2023.
Commute times vary across states, with Illinois averaging 27.8 minutes, Texas at 26.7 minutes, and Michigan at 24.2 minutes from 2020 to 2024, according to QuickFacts data.
Analyzing USDA data, WalletHub found that the average monthly grocery expenditure for two people eating at home in May 2026 was $569.50.
Based on the same per capita consumption calculation:
– 4-person household: approximately $1,139 per month
– 6-person household: approximately $1,709 per month
– 8-person household: approximately $2,278 per month
Experian data reveals that as of March 2026, the average credit card debt for U.S. consumers was $6,659, slightly higher than the $6,618 recorded a year earlier.
Over the same period, total U.S. credit card debt increased by 5.4%, nearing $1.25 trillion.
Equifax reported in January 2026 that total consumer debt in the U.S. reached $18.21 trillion, a 2.9% increase from a year earlier.
Of this, mortgage debt, including home equity loans, accounted for 74% of the total. Within non-mortgage debts, auto loans and leases comprised 35.7%, student loans 27.8%, and credit card debt 24.9%.
According to the FICO Spring 2026 Credit Insight Report, the average FICO credit score for Americans was 714 in 2026, continuing a recent trend of decline from the peak of 718 in 2023.
FICO credit scores typically range between 300 and 850:
– 670 to 739: Good
– 740 to 799: Very Good
– 800 and above: Excellent
In the second quarter of 2026, the median weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary workers in the U.S. stood at $1,251, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This corresponds to an annual income of around $65,052 when calculated over 52 weeks. The “median” indicates that half of workers earn more than this figure while the other half earn less.
There are substantial wage disparities across states. SoFi’s average annual salaries are reported as follows:
– Illinois: $69,020
– Texas: $63,660
– Michigan: $63,120
– National Average: approximately $69,847
A report released in April 2026 by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) revealed that about 3 out of 10 American adults reported not getting enough sleep, less than 7 hours, within a 24-hour period.
This report was based on data from the 2024 National Health Interview Survey. Additionally, approximately 1 in 6 adults reported difficulty falling asleep, and about 1 in 5 reported difficulty staying asleep.
As per the “American Time Use Survey” published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in June 2026, Americans aged 15 and older spent an average of 5.2 hours per day engaging in leisure and sports activities in 2025.
Watching TV accounted for the most significant portion of their leisure time, averaging 2.6 hours per day, roughly half of all leisure time. In comparison, Americans spent an average of just 16 minutes per day reading.
According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute’s Retirement Confidence Survey for 2026, working Americans anticipate retiring at age 65, yet the actual median retirement age for current retirees is 62.
Most retirees leave the workforce before age 65, with nearly half of them stating they retired earlier than initially planned.
Empower data from June 2026 shows that the median 401(k) account balance for users over 60 on its personal finance management platform was $191,372.
Retirement savings vary by state. SmartAsset’s 2026 study indicates that:
Additionally, according to a 2026 EBRI survey, about 64% of Americans are confident they will have enough money to sustain a comfortable lifestyle during retirement.
Data released by the National Center for Health Statistics at the CDC in January 2026 showed that the average life expectancy for Americans in 2024 had reached a record high of 79 years, up from 78.4 years in 2023.
Breakdown by gender:
– Female: 81.4 years
– Male: 76.5 years
From these 15 sets of data, can you outline the lifestyle of an average American? Feel free to discuss in the comments.