Key Facts — Gen X vs Millennials

Emily Yau
Emily Yau
Aug 23, 2017 · 2 min read

Important take aways

College Education and Tuition

  • Then: 20% of women (18% men) had a bachelors degree
  • Now: 27% of women (21% men) have a bachelors degree
  • Then: Cost of school: $10,832
  • Now: Cost of school: $32,604 (3x as much)

School now costs as much as bachelors plus secondary education, plus a down payment on a home or car. This has been adjusted for inflation.

State school tuition has increased 100% in the last 25 years in the US. Ref

Dating and Marriage

  • Then: 36% of Gen X were married at our age.
  • Now: 74% of millennials have never been married
  • Then: Median age of marriage in 1970 was 20 W, 22 M Ref
  • Now: Median age of marriage in US is 27 W, 29 Men. Ref
  • Average 6 years later.

Roommates

  • Then: Move from your parents house into a married home.
  • Now: in 2014, 14% of people 24–34 were living at home Ref, or in a roommate living situation with multiple single people.
  • Why? Delaying marriage, and also financial constraints (paying off student loans)

Buying a home

  • Then: $23,600 (1970), $116,805.00 (1985)
  • Now: $371,200 (Jun 2017 Nat’l Average) Ref
  • 3X as much — $254,395 more.
  • $116,805.0 = $265,442.62 adjusted for inflation.

Still a $105,757.38 difference — again, the price of a “free” luxury vehicle — tesla.

Having Kids

  • Then: ages 18–34, 49% were gen x moms
  • Now: ages 18–34 2014, 42% are millennial moms

Fun/weird differences

  • Being on time
  • Cell phones vs. no phones
  • Maps vs. GPS
  • Meeting people in person vs. online / apps

We have to be in better financial shape than our parents ever had to be.

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