Scott Rasmussen's Number of the Day for May 16, 2017
The Number of the Day columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
May 16, 2017: Most Americans think people should be financially independent of their parents by the time they turn 21. Only 29 percent of young adults achieve that goal.
Census Bureau data shows that most Americans believe 21 is the ideal age for young adults to begin living outside their parents’ home. Twenty-two is seen as the ideal age for completing formal schooling and having a full-time job. As for getting married, having a child, and being able to support a family, the ideal age is seen as 25.[1]
| Milestones of adulthood | Ideal age | % who completed milestone by ideal age as of 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Completion of formal schooling | 22 | 52% |
| Full-time employment | 22 | 37% |
| Capable of supporting a family financially | 25 | 42% |
| Financially independent from parents/guardians | 21 | 29% |
| No longer living in parents' household | 21 | 47% |
| Marriage | 25 | 24% |
| Parenthood | 25 | 38% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau Note: The Census Bureau defines ideal age as the median response offered by survey respondents. | ||
Earlier Numbers of the Day have highlighted major changes in the living arrangements of young adults over the past four decades. In 1975, more young adults lived with a spouse than with their parents. The opposite is true today. One reason for that is young adults today are far more likely to attend college than young adults in the 1970s.
In my newly released book, Politics Has Failed: America Will Not, I define the 1970s as a pivotal decade that began a “Great Turnaround” in American society. The book shows the importance of noting societal changes because the culture leads and politicians lag behind.
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- To see other recent numbers, check out the archive.
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