Lowest Homeownership Rate for Younger Households Since 2020

Amidst elevated mortgage interest rates and tight housing supply, housing affordability is at a multidecade low. The youngest age group, who are particularly sensitive to mortgage rates, home prices, and the inventory of entry-level homes, saw the largest decline among all age categories.

The homeownership rate for those under the age of 35 dropped to 37% in the third quarter of 2024, reaching the lowest level since the first quarter of 2020, according to the Census’s Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS).

The U.S. homeownership rate held steady at 65.6% in the third quarter of 2024, showing a flat trend over the last three quarters. However, this marks the lowest rate in the last two years. The homeownership rate remains below the 25-year average rate of 66.4%.

See more specifics based on each age group in this Eye on Housing post from NAHB principal economist Na Zhao.