About 50 years ago, young people reached the traditional milestone of adulthood – moving out of their parents’ home, getting a job, getting married, and having children, these goals were almost synonymous with being 30 years old. Today, the situation is very different. According to the latest report released in August by the U.S. Census Bureau, only 21% of young people aged 25 to 34 have achieved these four goals, far below the 45% in 1975.
The report from the U.S. Census Bureau analyzed data from the “Current Population Survey” from 1975 and 2024, comparing the proportions of young people achieving traditional adult milestones in the past and present.
Researchers say this shift reflects changing priorities, economic pressures, and the evolution of the definition of adulthood.
The most common adult path today, according to census bureau data, has shifted towards economic independence: 28% of young people move out of their parents’ home and enter the workforce, but marriage and childbirth are no longer top priorities, contrasting sharply with only 6% choosing this path in 1975.
Melissa Soehono, 29, a public relations officer in Jacksonville, Florida, shared her story which resonates with many of her peers.
Seeing friends of the same age getting married or moving into new homes, Melissa admits she occasionally feels the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), but she says, “My current situation makes these goals seem less achievable.”
International financial planner Douglas Boneparth points out that many young people now see marriage and having children as goals to pursue only after ensuring financial independence.
“Economic pressures, including soaring housing costs, high rental burdens, and the need for a more stable economic environment, are major factors delaying the establishment of families.”
Furthermore, the increased female labor force participation has also changed traditional family models.
In 1975, the common adult path was for women to marry and stay home to raise children, a model that has now disappeared from the mainstream as more women choose full-time work, delaying or forgoing marriage and childbirth.
The report suggests that the changing “adult goals” are closely related to the rising cost of living. According to a report from the National Association of Realtors in 2024, the median age of first-time homebuyers has risen to 38, reaching a historical high, compared to the 20s in the 1980s.
Census bureau researchers Paul Hemez and Jonathan Vespa, in a blog post related to the report, said, “Moving out of parents’ home, getting a job, getting married, and having children used to be the most common adult path, but today young people prioritize economic security.” They added that the rising costs of housing, food, fuel, etc., have exacerbated this trend.
While today’s young people have a higher proportion of four-year college degrees than their parents, this also comes with an increased burden of student loan debt due to rising college costs.
The report also notes that the Census Bureau is expanding its tracking of “adult goals” by including educational attainment in updated research. With the changing social and economic conditions, the collective understanding of “adulthood” may also undergo changes.
Another report from the Pew Research Center also found that Millennials and Generation Z in the U.S. are reaching family and financial milestones later than previous generations, primarily in response to economic conditions.
(Reference: CNBC)