Key Housing Trends Among the 55+ Population

Adults ages 55 and older make up a large and growing share of the U.S. population and play an important role in the U.S. housing market. Only 16% of NAHB Builder members, however, reported building age-restricted housing for people age 55 or older, according to 2025 Member Census.

In 2024, around 103 million Americans were ages 55 or older, ranging from adults still in the labor force to retirees. For builders and remodelers targeting this demographic, it is important to understand the trends within this part of the housing industry.

What Is the Most Common Home Type for the 55+ Population?

Single-family detached homes are the most common living arrangements for the 55+ population, but the pattern changes with age. More than 72% of adults ages 55-74 lived in single-family detached homes, compared with about 70% of those ages 75-84, and 58% of adults 85 and older.

However, multifamily housing is more common as people age, rising from about 15% among adults ages 55-74, to 22.2% among those 85 and older. The shares living in group quarters also increased sharply with age, from less than 2% among adults ages 55-74 to 9.7% among those 85 and older.

What Are the Most Common Living Arrangements Among the 55+ Population?

In 2024, about 61.5 million housing units were households headed by someone 55 or older, accounting for 46.3% of all occupied housing units. Homeownership was widespread among these households, with 78% being owner-occupied and 22% being renter-occupied. Households headed by someone 55 or older accounted for about 55% of all owner-occupied homes, showing their substantial presence in the nation’s housing stock.

How Long Do 55+ Home Owners Stay in Their Homes?

Long residential duration is also common among home owners 55 or older, showing the significant share of aging in place among older Americans. Around 29% of home owners have lived in their current home for 30 years or more, while another 23% have lived in their home for 20 to 29 years. 

Length of residence increases with the age of the home owner. Among home owners ages 55-64, 14% have lived in their current home for at least 30 years. This share rose to 32% among home owners ages 65-74, 43% among those ages 75-84, and 56% among home owners ages 85 and older.

How Old Are the Homes Occupied by the 55+ Population?

Around half of home owners 55 or older lived in homes built before 1980, including 24.5% in homes built between 1960 and 1979 and 25.4% in homes built before 1960. Homes built between 1980 and 1999 accounted for the largest share, at 27.4%, while only 22.6% of older households lived in homes built after 2000. This concentration of older home owners in relatively aging housing stock signals a growing market for remodeling, maintenance and aging-in-place improvements.

How to Market to the 55+ Segment

The 55+ population is growing which means there is an opportunity for builders and remodelers to serve this group, whether it’s by staying at the forefront of age-restricted development or helping aging home owners stay in their homes safely and securely.

To learn more about tapping into the 55+ market, register for NAHB’s webinar Selling the Lifestyles: Marketing 55+ Communities in the Digital Era on Nov. 12. Attendees will leave understanding how marketing strategies for active-adult communities are evolving, including digital channels, virtual tours and social media engagement.

For more analysis on 55+ market trends, read this Eye on Housing post.