Visualized: America’s Home Buyers by Generation
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Key Takeaways
- Baby Boomers make up the largest share of home buyers at 42%, with younger Boomers (60 to 69) accounting for 26%.
- The median age of home buyers rose from 49 years old in 2023 to 56 in 2024.
The makeup of U.S. home buyers has shifted notably in recent years. Older generations, especially Baby Boomers, now dominate the housing market.
Rising home prices and mortgage rates have made it harder for younger groups to buy homes, while older buyers often have greater financial stability.
This visualization breaks down America’s home buyers by generation in 2024, based on the latest data available as of September 2025 from the National Association of Realtors.
Baby Boomers Dominate U.S. Home Buyers
Baby Boomers make up 42% of all U.S. home buyers, the largest share of any generation. Younger Boomers (ages 60 to 69) account for 26% and are the largest demographic of home buyers in the U.S., while older Boomers (70–79) represent 16%.
The data table below breaks down the share of U.S. home purchases in 2024 by generation, with Baby Boomers and Millennials split between older and younger cohorts. Percentages do not add to 100% due to rounding.
| Generation | Age Range | Share of U.S. home purchases in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Gen Z | 18 to 25 years | 3% |
| Younger Millennials | 26 to 34 years | 12% |
| Older Millennials | 35 to 44 years | 17% |
| Gen X | 45 to 59 years | 24% |
| Younger Baby Boomers | 60 to 69 years | 26% |
| Older Baby Boomers | 70 to 78 years | 16% |
| Silent Generation | 79 to 99 years | 4% |
The dominance of the Baby Boomer generation reflects the financial advantage of Boomers, many of whom have built wealth through decades of rising home values and equity investments.
U.S. Home Buying Among Younger Generations
Following the Baby Boomers are Millennials, which altogether made up 29% of U.S. home buyers in 2024. Overall, Millennials are slightly ahead of the older Gen X, which made up 24% of U.S. home buyers in 2024.
However, when you split Millennials into younger and older groups, we can see how younger generations make up a small amount of home buyers overall.
If you consider just younger Millennials and Gen Z, those aged 34 and younger only made up 15% of America’s home buyers in 2024.
The Median Age of America’s Home Buyers is Rising
The median age of home buyers climbed from 49 in 2023 to 56 in 2024, marking a significant shift in just one year. This reflects both the rising participation of Boomers and the challenges faced by first-time younger buyers.
This shift also suggests fewer move-up transactions from younger owners who may have locked in lower mortgage rates and can’t afford to purchase a new home at today’s higher rates.
If the trend continues, the U.S. housing market could become increasingly concentrated among older generations, and potentially lead to less activity in America’s real estate market.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
To learn more about U.S. demographics and wealth, check out this graphic of wealth by generation in America on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
