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LOS ANGELES - Nearly 50 years ago, the classic hallmarks of adulthood—moving out, getting a job, marrying, and having kids—were nearly synonymous with turning 30. Today, that’s no longer the case.
According to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau, only 21% of 25- to 34-year-olds in 2024 had reached all four of those milestones, a sharp drop from 45% in 1975. Instead, the most common path to adulthood today is economic rather than familial: 28% had moved out of their parents’ homes and joined the labor force, but had not necessarily married or had children.
The findings are based on an analysis of the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey data from 1975 and 2024. Researchers say the shift reflects changes in priorities, economic pressures, and evolving definitions of adulthood itself.
Why are fewer young adults reaching all four milestones?
The backstory:
The traditional "four milestones" used by the Census Bureau include:
- Living away from one’s parents
- Participating in the labor force
- Ever having been married
- Having at least one child
In 1975, nearly half of young adults had achieved all four. By 2024, this had dropped to about one in five. In contrast, living independently and being in the labor force — without marriage or children — became the most common experience for young adults today.
FILE - A bride and groom hold hands with their dog sitting between them during an outdoor wedding ceremony. (Getty Images. )
What we know:
Reaching economic milestones alone — like moving out and working — is now the most common pathway to adulthood. In 1975, that combination ranked fourth. In 2024, it ranked first.
Every top-five milestone combination in 2024 included being in the labor force, a shift that aligns with rising costs of living and greater participation by women in the workforce.
The percentage of young adults experiencing "other combinations" outside the five most common has also grown, suggesting broader diversity in how people approach adulthood.
What we don't know:
The data doesn’t fully explain whether these milestone shifts are temporary delays or permanent changes in life paths.
It’s also unclear how new social factors — such as student debt, remote work, or cultural attitudes toward parenthood — might shape these trends over the next decade.
What’s driving the shift away from marriage and parenthood?
By the numbers:
These numbers illustrate how dramatically the definition of adulthood has shifted in just one generation.
- 45% of young adults had achieved all four milestones in 1975.Only 21% had done so in 2024.
- 28% in 2024 had reached the two economic milestones only (moving out + working), up from just 6% in 1975.
The other side:
In 1975, it was common for a parent — typically a woman — to be married and caring for children at home, often not participating in the labor force. That combination no longer appears in the top five most common adulthood paths in 2024.
More women are now working full time, and many adults are delaying or forgoing marriage and parenthood altogether.
What they're saying:
In a blog post accompanying the data release, Census Bureau researchers Paul Hemez and Jonathan Vespa wrote:
"Moving out of the parental home, getting a job, tying the knot and having kids used to be the most common pathway to adulthood."
"Findings suggest that young adults today prioritize economic security over starting a family, reflecting the rising burden of housing, food, gas and other costs," they added.
What's next:
The report also noted that the Census Bureau is expanding how it tracks milestones of adulthood by including education levels in newer research. As social and economic conditions shift, so too may our collective understanding of what it means to "grow up."
The Source: This article is based on findings from a new working paper published by the U.S. Census Bureau in August 2025. The report draws from the Current Population Survey’s 1975 and 2024 Annual Social and Economic Supplements. Additional analysis was provided by Census Bureau researchers Paul Hemez and Jonathan Vespa.