Part
01
of one
Part
01
What is the average age at which Americans experience life’s most significant moments: First child, First marriage, First divorce,Earn an undergraduate degree,Earn a graduate degree, Buy a home, First grandchild
Hello! Thank you for your request to determine the average age at which Americans experience life's most significant moments, including: first child, first marriage, first divorce, earn an undergraduate degree, earn a graduate degree, buy a home and have their first grandchild.
The short version is that the average age at which Americans have their first child is 26.4 years old, having increased from 24.9 years old in 2000. The average age at which Americans are first married is 29.2 years old for men and 27.1 years old for women, these average ages have increased steadily from 22.5 and 20.2 years old, respectively, in 1959. The average age at which Americans are first divorced is 41.2 years old for men and 39.7 years old for women, these average ages have increased steadily from 30.5 and 27.7 years old, respectively, in 1970. The average age at which Americans earn an undergraduate degree is an estimated 23.7 years old, for master's degrees the average age is an estimated 28.92 years old and for doctoral degrees, the average age at graduation is an estimated 33.15 years old. The average age at which an American buys their first home is 32 years old, having risen from 31 years old in 2012. The average age at which an American becomes a grandparent is 50 years old for women and 52 years old for men.
Below you will find a deep-dive of my findings.
METHODOLOGY
I have scoured the Internet for reliable sources and statistics related to this subject. For the bulk of the information, the US Census Bureau was consulted. Please note that the data provided by the US Census Bureau might be from 2015 or 2016, but is at present the most recent data available on these subjects.
Please note that information on the average age at which individuals graduate at various degree levels is extremely scattered (since the age at enrollment varies greatly among all demographics) but that enough information was available to provide statistically viable estimations.
The difficulty in providing an average age among graduates is highlighted in an interview on Education USA.
FIRST CHILD
According to data, provided by the US Census Bureau, the average at at which a US citizen has their first child is 26.4 years old. This has risen steadily from 24.9 years old in 2000.
FIRST MARRIAGE
Data provided by the US Census Bureau on this subject is only accurate up to 2010, however, Pew Research Center (a reliable market research firm) conducted a study on this subject in 2015, and is the most recent available data on the median age at first marriage in the US, according to this study, cited in an article on The Spruce, states that the median age at which men are first married in the US is 29.2 years old and for women, 27.1 years old. From this data table, we see that the median age for men has steadily risen from an all time low, 22.5 years old in 1959. For women, this has increased steadily from 20.2 years old in 1959.
FIRST DIVORCE
In an article by Bowling Green State University, citing information provided by the American Community Survey, the average age at which men are first divorced in the US is 41.2 years old, for women the average age at first divorce is 39.7 years old. The numbers have grown steadily since 1970, when the average age at first divorce for men was 30.5 years old and 27.7 years old for women.
EARN AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE
Information provided by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center states that the average length of time a student takes to achieve an undergraduate degree in the US amounts to 5.7 years. Which would suggest, since the majority of students enroll in undergraduate studies at the age of 18, that the average age at which a student in the US achieves an undergraduate degree is (18 + 5.7) 23.7 years old.
EARN A GRADUATE DEGREE
Since triangulation on this subject is fairly difficult (mainly because studies do not state the variables needed, such as: length of study, age at enrollment, etc) information on this subject is difficult to come by. However, Louisiana State University has released historical data related to the age of graduates by the level of degree obtained, and should be fairly indicative of the overall landscape. According to the data provided by Louisiana State University, the average age at which a student achieves a masters degree is 28.92 years old. For doctorate degrees, this rises to 33.15 years old. The data provided dates back to the year 2000, in which the average age of a masters degree graduate was 29.21 years old and a doctorate graduate was 36.63 years old.
BUY A HOME
A report by the National Association of Realtors, on the annual Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report, states that in 2016 the median age of a first-time house buyer in the US was 32 years old. This has grown from 31 in 2012, and is the same as in 2006, which was the highest recorded in the 35 year history of this report.
FIRST GRANDCHILD
Information provided by the Legacy Project, which provides research and sources on data related to cross-generational issues, states that the average age at which a woman in the US becomes a grandparent is 50 years old, for men this rises to 52 years old.
CONCLUSION
To wrap it up, the average age at which Americans have their first child is 26.4 years old, having increased from 24.9 years old in 2000. The average age at which Americans are first married is 29.2 years old for men and 27.1 years old for women, these average ages have increased steadily from 22.5 and 20.2 years old, respectively, in 1959. The average age at which Americans are first divorced is 41.2 years old for men and 39.7 years old for women, these average ages have increased steadily from 30.5 and 27.7 years old, respectively, in 1970. The average age at which Americans earn an undergraduate degree is an estimated 23.7 years old, for master's degrees the average age is an estimated 28.92 years old and for doctoral degrees, the average age at graduation is an estimated 33.15 years old. The average age at which an American buys their first home is 32 years old, having risen from 31 years old in 2012. The average age at which an American becomes a grandparent is 50 years old for women and 52 years old for men.
Thank you for using Wonder. Please let us know if there is anything else we can assist you with.