For decades, marriage was the cornerstone of the American Dream - the step you took after school and before a house. Now a new survey shows Gen Z treats it as an afterthought.
Just over a third of young adults see marriage as essential to their ideal life. The rest rank it below financial stability, homeownership, and happiness.
The Numbers Show a Clear Gap
The data from the American Dream Pulse Survey tells a stark story. That compares with 67% of U.S. high school seniors in 2023 who said they'll most likely get married someday, down from 80% in 1993.
Financial differences are dramatic. Married couples under 35 have a median net worth of nearly $114,000. Single men in the same age bracket have roughly $22,000.
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Single women have only $9,000. "Data are really so clear that if you have somebody who loves you and somebody you love, you're so much better off in life," said John Gottman, a clinical psychologist and relationships expert.
Yet young adults are not convinced. A 2023 Gallup Poll found 61% of married Americans say they are "thriving," compared with 45% of those who have never married. That gap is real, but Gen Z is still stepping back.
Why Gen Z Is Walking Away
Several forces are pushing young people away from the altar. One big one: a gendered split in education and economic opportunity. Women ages 25-34 now earn $0.95 for every dollar earned by men, up from $0.74 in 1982. That financial independence means women no longer see marriage as a necessity.
"Is it written on paper that women have to sacrifice [in marriage]? No, but they continuously do it, time and time and time again," said Isabel Crawford, a 25-year-old DJ and event photographer in New York who has decided to boycott marriage entirely.
The rise of online misogyny also plays a role. "We've seen the rise of a lot of misogyny recently," Gottman noted. Gottman said, "Many Gen Zers see marriage as more of a 'capstone' experience than a 'cornerstone' of their lives."
What to Watch
Postponing marriage delays the availability of financial perks such as joint tax returns, shared health coverage, and Social Security spousal benefits. "If you're creating financial silos or operating too independently from a financial perspective, you're actually doing yourself a disservice," said Douglas Boneparth, a certified financial planner.
The March 2026 World Happiness Report ranks young adults in the U.S. among the least-happy globally. A Harvard poll from April 2025 reported that only 17% of under-30 adults feel a strong sense of belonging to any community.
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