Are Millennials the Greatest Generation of Savers?

Despite their reputation for being the #treatyoself generation, studies show that millennials are capable of strong financial discipline.

Millennials started out behind Gen Xers

$72,000: The debt level of the average millennial in 2016 vs. $67,000 for Gen Xers in 2001.

$90,000:  The average net worth of millennial households in 2016 vs. $130,000 for Gen Xers in 2001.
 

But they’re saving

10%: The retirement savings rate of surveyed millennial parents in 2017, double that of boomers.

24: The age millennials started saving for retirement, 11 years earlier than boomers.

39% of millennials put more than 10% of their income toward retirement.
  

They’re wary of debt

$43,000: Typical mortgage debt among millennials, $6,000 less than Gen Xers at that age.

$1,800: The average millennial credit card debt in 2016, 1/3 less than Gen X in 2001.
 

They value education

1 in 4 millennials are saving for their own continued education.

68% of millennial parents are saving for their kids’ college.
 

They’re jumping into the home market in a big way

36%: The share of homes purchased by millennials each year.

30% of millennial homebuyers spent more than $300,000 on a home.

James Thorne is a freelance journalist who has written for CNBC and Reuters, among other publications.

Artwork by Kyle Bean.
 
Learn how to avoid 5 common money mistakes people make in their 20s and 30s.