Married Americans tend to be wealthier and happier. Gen Z is forgoing the institution anyway
Key takeaways
- Traditionally, achieving the American Dream usually means going to college, getting married, buying a house and then having kids.
- Gen Z may be more inclined to skip the marriage part, according to a recent CNBC and Survey Monkey American Dream Pulse Survey.
- Just 37% of Gen Z respondents saw getting married as integral.
Traditionally, achieving the American Dream usually means going to college, getting married, buying a house and then having kids.
Gen Z may be more inclined to skip the marriage part, according to a recent CNBC and Survey Monkey American Dream Pulse Survey. Among the survey's 4,130 respondents, getting married was one of the least-important markers for feeling like they'd achieved the American Dream, lagging far behind achievements like financial stability, owning a home and simply being happy.
Just 37% of Gen Z respondents saw getting married as integral. That's a departure. According to Pew Research Center data, two thirds (67%) of U.S. high school seniors surveyed in 2023 said they'll most likely get married some day, but that's down from 80% who reported the same in 1993.