Fact Check: Has the median age of a homebuyer in the US increased from 31 to 56 in the past few decades?
Yes
According to Apollo Global Management, the median age of a homebuyer was 56 in 2024, against 31 in 1981.
In the past few decades, the median price of a house has risen faster than the median household income, though both rose faster than inflation for the overall economy. In 1984, the median income was $22,420 and the median home price $79,950. In 2024, these figures had increased to $83,730 and $418,975, respectively. This means the median family had to work for 3.6 years to buy a home in 1984, against 5 years in 2024.
The NBC News Home Buyer Index rose from 28 in July 2012 to 81.1 in July 2025, with higher values showing increased difficulty in buying a home.
The Cato Institute estimates that in 2022, 69% of Americans had doubts about whether their children and grandchildren would be able to afford a home.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources:
Apollo Academy Median Age of Homebuyers: 56
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Median Household Income in the United States
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
NBC News How hard is it to buy a home right now? The NBC News Home Buyer Index measures the market
Cato Institute Poll: 87% of Americans Worry about the Cost of Housing; 69% Worry Their Kids and Grandkids Won’t be Able to Buy a Home
EconoFact Hitting Home: Housing Affordability in the U.S.
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