For REALTORS®, the 30-year-old buyer is an important one to pay attention to. According to recent National Association of REALTORS® statistics, 30-year-olds are big: The average age of first-time buyers is 31, and the average age of millennials is 30—and they make up the largest generational category of buyers by a large amount. Thirty-five percent of buyers are millennials, while the next-biggest generation, Gen X, is only 26 percent.
But—and we’re sure you’ve heard this before—these 30-year-olds are different than previous generations. The U.S. Census Bureau just released a comparison of lifestyle factors for the average 30-year-old in 1975 compared to the average 30-year-old today, and there are some big differences: Today’s 30-year-old is far less likely to be married or have children, but is more likely to have a college degree and be active in the labor force.
| Characteristics of Young Adults (percent of 30-year-olds) |
||||||
| 1975 | 2015 | |||||
| Not enrolled in school | 99% | 92% | ||||
| Living on their own | 90% | 70% | ||||
| Ever married | 89% | 57% | ||||
| Lives with a child | 76% | 47% | ||||
| At least a high school diploma | 80% | 90% | ||||
| In the labor force | 71% | 81% | ||||
| Moderate income | 71% | 55% | ||||
| Homeowner | 56% | 33% | ||||
