Buy a house, get married, have kids – sometimes life can feel a bit like a checklist. But while older generations may have lived through pressure to get settled and hit major life milestones at a young age, the times are changing.
We surveyed 1,013 Australians to find out how old they were when they reached major life milestones, if they reached them at all.
Key trends
Australians pass most of their big milestones in their late 20s and early 30s, but aren't at their happiest until their 83rd birthday.
Women reach all of life's major milestones earlier than men, but reach peak happiness slightly later than men.
Younger generations are less likely to get married and have children than their parents, and those who do start families do so later in life.
Younger generations are moving out of home and buying their first property later in life than older Australians did.
When do Australians reach major life milestones?
On average, Aussies are reaching their major life milestones in their late 20s and early 30s. After moving out of home at age 24 and buying their first car at age 25, taking out private health insurance is the next big step at age 28.
Buying a home comes around age 32, while writing a will comes a little later at age 40.
Despite getting married, having children and buying a home early on in their lives, Australians don't reach peak happiness until their 83rd birthday. Whereas 77% of all Aussies say they're happy, a whopping 95% of 83-year-olds purport to be happy. The data poses the interesting question that perhaps ticking milestones off a to-do list is not what truly makes life enjoyable.
Trends by generation
Australians are starting families later in life
One of the starkest trends is that people are getting married and having children later in life. Finder's data shows 80% of baby boomers were married before turning 30, compared to just 46% of generation X – an incredible shift from one generation to the next. Similarly, 66% of baby boomers had their first child by age 30, compared to 38% of gen X.
So, why are Aussies starting families later in life? Changes in societal expectations and gender norms, and greater access to higher education mean younger generations are spending more time focusing on their careers and building independent lives. More than three-quarters (78%) of those aged 35–44 have been educated beyond high school, compared to 53% of those aged 65–74. At the same time, women are no longer expected to become housewives and mothers; marriage statistics show 4 in 5 couples (80%) live together before tying the knot.
These trends are impacting not only the age at which people are starting families, but the percentage that do so at all. According to the ABS, the marriage rate has been declining for decades, down from 5.9 per 1,000 population in 2000 to 4.5 in 2019. The birth rate has also been in decline, down from 2.02 births per woman in 2008 to 1.66 in 2019.
Younger generations are living at home longer and buying property later
Housing affordability is an increasingly debated topic in Australia. Over the past 12 months, the price of the average Sydney home went up 25%, while wages increased by just 2.2%. Despite low interest rates reducing borrowing costs for homebuyers, Finder analysis shows millennials are paying 4.9 times more for a home than baby boomers did.
As a result, Australians are getting into the housing market later in life. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of baby boomers had bought their first home by age 30, compared to 42% of gen X and 34% of millennials (note there are some millennials still aged under 30). At the same time, young adults are spending more time living with their parents. While the vast majority of baby boomers (92%) had moved out of their childhood home before their 30th birthday, this declines to 75% of gen X.
Trends by gender
Finder's research found women hit all of life's landmarks at an earlier age than men. The largest gender gaps are in getting married for the first time (26 for women; 32 for men) and having a baby (28 for women; 33 for men). A US study also found women are more likely to live with children outside of marriage than men, which is attributed to the higher prevalence of single mothers than single fathers.
Traditionally, researchers posited that women married older men, who were more likely to have high incomes, while men partnered with younger women who had more child-bearing years ahead of them. However, long-term population studies have shown the gender age gap in marriage and birth has declined as more women entered the workforce.
Finder's research also found women reach their peak happiness slightly later in life than men. While men achieve maximum happiness at age 80, women peak at age 83. The life expectancy of Australians is 81 and 85 years for men and women respectively, meaning Aussies are at their happiest at the very end of their lives.
Trends by state
Australians across the country are reaching milestones at a similar age, with the exception of buying a home and buying a car. Whereas the average Western Australian gets into the property market at age 27, those from New South Wales don't sign for their first home until age 34 – a mighty 7 years' difference.
Similarly, while those from Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland purchase their first set of wheels at age 22, those from Victoria (26) and New South Wales (27) are waiting a little longer. This discrepancy could be due to young Melburnians and Sydneysiders relying on public transport networks; those from smaller cities likely have a greater need for a car to get around.
Life insurance can protect your family at life's most precious moments
Once you have financial responsibilities or a family relying on your income, it's a good idea to protect yourself with life insurance.
Sophie Wallis is a senior insights analyst with a passion for data storytelling. She spends her time turning complex data into digestible stories and uncovering new consumer trends. When she isn't working, you'll find her planning her next overseas holiday or bingeing on a big novel. Sophie has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Melbourne.
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