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.
Latest from NAHBNow
Remodeling | Business Management
Apr 10, 2026
Home Remodeling Profit Margin Jumps on Demand and Business PracticesProfitability for residential remodelers reached its highest level in nearly 30 years in 2024, according to NAHB’s most recent Remodelers’ Cost of Doing Business Study.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Apr 09, 2026
Remodeling Market Sentiment Edges Down but Remains Positive in First QuarterIn the first quarter of 2026, the NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a reading of 62, down two points compared to the previous quarter. Despite this decline, the overall reading has been solidly in positive territory since Q1 2020.
Economics
Apr 08, 2026
Remodelers Saw Profit Margin Gains in 2024Profitability for residential remodelers reached its highest level in more than two decades in 2024. Industry-wide profit benchmarks are important because they allow companies to evaluate their financial performance in context with the industry.
Economics
Apr 07, 2026
Rising Rates Weigh on Mortgage ActivityMortgage application activity decreased month-over-month as the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application volume, declined 4.3% from February on a seasonally adjusted basis but remained 30.8% higher than a year earlier.