The Rising Age Gap in Economic Well-Being
This study compares household incomes of families headed by older adults (65-plus) with those headed by their younger counterparts (35 and under). Trends show that since 1984, the households with older adults have seen a significant jump in income, while younger households have been declining. This trend of older households making larger gains is also reflected in income, poverty, homeownership, and home equity. In 2010 eleven percent of households headed by adults ages 65 and older were in poverty, a sharp decline from 33 percent in 1967. These age-based divergences are due to a combination of factors ranging from the recent recession and larger college loans to the increased number of young women working.
From The PewResearchCenter