Sociology professor Susan L. Brown reveals why the average age of marriage is increasing in the U.S.

For decades the average age of marriage in the United States has been steadily rising, as part of a broader trend in how different generations see marriage.

Census data shows that in 1956 the average age of marriage was 22.5 for men and 20.1 for women. By 2023 those figures had risen sharply, to 30.2 for men and 28.4 for women. There is evidence to suggest that the increasingly difficult financial situation facing young people is the cause of the change, with more barriers to home ownership and stable employment.

But a study by the Center of Family and Demographic Research has highlighted another cause: the change in perception of marriage. In previous generations marriage was seen as a ‘cornerstone event,’ meaning that it was a foundational part of adult life. However now it is seen as a ‘capstone event,’ something to be done only once couples are content with all other parts of their lives.

Susan L. Brown, co-author of the journal study, explained: “People are waiting longer to marry as marriage is now a ‘capstone experience,’ meaning that the bar for marriageability is high.”

“Increasingly, completion of one’s education, having a steady, well-paying job, and minimizing one’s debts are prerequisites for marriage. For many young people, these are difficult hurdles to surmount and thus marriage can feel out of reach.”

Another finding relates to the difference between states in terms of marriage age. Typically, average ages relate to the demographics of each states, with older populations more likely to produce marriages between older people.

Brown explained: “One of the reasons the average age of marriage differs across states has to do with the age distribution of the state’s population. In Northeastern states, for example, the population tends to be older than elsewhere in the U.S., skewing marriage entry to later ages. In a state such as Utah, the population is very young, which helps to explain why we see earlier average marriage ages.”

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