Archive · 3 Aug 2025
Millennials Are Wealthier, But Anxiety Persists
Millennials are now wealthier than expected, having overcome recessions and the Covid-19 pandemic.
They are doing better than previous generations.
Despite this, many millennials still worry about their financial future.
They are concerned about housing costs, healthcare, and college debt.
The high cost of these items makes achieving financial success challenging.
Some millennials are also affected by AI and how it may affect their jobs.
While some have achieved success, others are still struggling financially.
Millennials, now in midlife, are wealthier than previous generations at the same age, adjusting for inflation.
Many millennials still worry about their financial futures despite increased wealth, citing past economic downturns.
Rising home values and stock prices have boosted millennial wealth, though these were initially volatile for the generation.
Not all millennials have achieved financial success; some struggle with student debt and homeownership.
Millennials cite high housing costs, healthcare costs and college degrees as key sources of their financial anxiety.
- Who
- Millennials (born 1980s and early 1990s), economists, researchers and those in fields like law, finance, and design.
- What
- Millennials are wealthier than previous generations, but many still worry about their finances.
- When
- The study compares millennial wealth in 2022 to that of previous generations at similar ages, and covers data from the late 2000s and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Where
- Boulder, Colo.; Burleson, Texas; Bellevue, Wash.; Dallas; Asheville, N.C.
- Why
- Millennials are worried because of past economic downturns and the high cost of living, including housing, healthcare, and education, even though they are wealthier than previous generations.
Millennials can be pessimistic
Millennials are often optimistic and have caught up
Overall Financial Outlook
Millennials can be pessimistic
Millennials focus on the negative, citing financial challenges.
Millennials are often optimistic and have caught up
Millennials have surpassed previous generations in wealth accumulation at a similar stage of life. The generation is catching up financially.
Challenges and Resilience
Millennials can be pessimistic
Financial success is much harder for millennials than for other generations, due to factors like the cost of housing and healthcare.
Millennials are often optimistic and have caught up
Millennials, despite challenges, demonstrate resilience by navigating historic recessions and adapting to changes in the economy.
- Millennial Net Worth (2016)
- More than one-third lower than expected
- Millennial Net Worth (2022)
- More than one-third higher than expected
- Average Millennial Net Worth (Early 2025)
- 31% higher than Baby Boomers
- Average Millennial Net Worth (Early 2025)
- 20% higher than Gen X
- Wealth Gap (Millennials, 2022)
- Almost $350,000 between 20th and 80th percentiles