Key findings
- Financial stability is the biggest contributor to the American Dream
- Gen Z men and women have different views on the American Dream and whether they will reach it
- Cost of living is the largest barrier to achieving the American Dream
Most Americans see the American Dream as achieving financial stability: 72% say they would have to achieve financial stability to feel like they had achieved the American Dream. About half include owning a home (58%), being happy (54%), and freedom to pursue passions (51%) as part of achieving the American Dream. The full list of achievements include:
- Being financially stable (72%)
- Owning a home (58%)
- Being happy (54%)
- Freedom to pursue passions (51%)
- Feeling like part of a community (35%)
- Owning a car (34%)
- Advancing in your career (34%)
- Doing better than your parents (30%)
- Obtaining your dream job (28%)
- Having children (26%)
- Getting married (25%)
- Being your own boss (23%)
These achievements vary by gender and generation, with Gen Z men and women having the largest differences:
| Achievement | Gen Z Men | Gen Z Women |
| Being financially stable | 69% | 77%* |
| Owning a home | 68% | 61% |
| Being happy | 69% | 67% |
| Freedom to pursue passions | 53% | 66%* |
| Feeling like part of a community | 38% | 46% |
| Owning a car | 46% | 48% |
| Advancing in your career | 47% | 53% |
| Doing better than your parents | 31% | 35% |
| Obtaining your dream job | 36% | 50%* |
| Having children | 46%* | 30% |
| Getting married | 43%* | 33% |
| Being your own boss | 29% | 29% |
*Significant difference at p < 0.05
About a quarter of Americans think that the American Dream is achievable for anyone in the U.S. (24%), while another quarter think it is achievable for most, but not all (25%), and nearly half (45%) believe it is achievable only for some people. This varies starkly across party lines, with Democrats more likely to say it is only achievable for some (66%, vs. 27% of Republicans and 42% of Independents) and Republicans more likely to say it is achievable for anyone (39%, vs. 9% of Democrats and 23% of Independents).
Almost half of Americans (44%) say they have achieved their definition of the American Dream. This is higher among older generations: 22% of Gen Z, 33% of Millennials, 47% of Gen X, 68% of Boomers, and 84% of the Silent Generation. Among those who have not yet reached their definition of the American Dream, about half (55%) are confident that they will achieve it, while 45% are not confident. Cost of living is the main barrier to achieving the American Dream (81%), followed by housing prices (60%), healthcare costs (49%), and low wages (47%).
While many Americans, especially those in older generations, have already reached some of the milestones that make up the American Dream, others feel that these major milestones are out of reach.
Among those who have not already reached each of the following milestones:
| Milestone | Completely within reach | Somewhat within reach | Not at all within reach | Not interested |
| Being happy | 43% | 45% | 10% | 2% |
| Freedom to pursue passions | 32% | 47% | 17% | 4% |
| Feeling like part of a community | 32% | 43% | 14% | 10% |
| Advancing in your career | 30% | 37% | 17% | 16% |
| Owning a car | 29% | 40% | 21% | 10% |
| Doing better than your parents | 27% | 36% | 25% | 12% |
| Being financially stable | 24% | 45% | 28% | 2% |
| Obtaining your dream job | 23% | 37% | 23% | 17% |
| Getting married | 22% | 24% | 22% | 32% |
| Having children | 17% | 19% | 26% | 38% |
| Owning a home | 16% | 31% | 45% | 8% |
| Being your own boss | 16% | 28% | 26% | 29% |
Within Gen Z, there is a stark divide between men and women on getting married and having children. Among those who have not already reached the milestones, 38% of Gen Z men say getting married is completely within reach (vs. 24% of Gen Z women) and 27% of Gen Z men say having children is completely within reach (vs. 18% of Gen Z women). In contrast, 22% of Gen Z women say they are not interested in getting married (vs. 11% of Gen Z men), and 29% of Gen Z women are not interested in having children (vs. 17% of Gen Z men).
Many Americans (53%) still believe that hard work is more important than luck in achieving the American Dream. Another third (32%) believe hard work and luck are equally important, and just 15% believe that luck is more important. Democrats are more likely to cite luck (24%, vs. 6% of Republicans and 15% of Independents) while Republicans are more likely to cite hard work (68%, vs. 36% of Democrats and 53% of Independents).
Half of Americans (52%) say they are doing better now than their parents were at their age – higher among Boomers (59%) than Gen Z (51%), Millennials (45%), and Gen X (51%).
Two in ten (21%) Americans have moved states to improve their quality of life. Another 8% are actively planning to move, 23% have strongly considered moving, and 18% have considered moving, but not seriously. Among those who have moved, 82% say the move has improved their quality of life.
While 42% of Americans would never consider leaving the U.S., 4% are actively planning to leave for a better quality of life, and 16% have strongly considered leaving. Another 20% have considered leaving, but not seriously. Democrats are much more likely to have considered leaving compared with Republicans (63% of Republicans would never consider leaving, vs. 25% of Democrats).
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