Is 40 the median age of first-time U.S. homebuyers? | Fact brief

The median age of first-time U.S. homebuyers has increased to an all-time high of 40, according to a 2024-25 survey by the National Association of Realtors.

Meanwhile, first-time buyers made up a record-low 21% of all U.S. homebuyers. The share of first-time buyers has been cut in half since 2007.

The association doesn’t publish state-specific homebuyer age data. The Maine State Housing Authority reported an average age of 34 for participants in its 2023 First Gen homebuyer program, but that number doesn’t include all first-time buyers in the state.

MaineHousing said affordability remains the dominant concern for homebuyers. From 2015 to 2024, Maine’s median income grew by 44%, while the income needed to afford a median-priced home jumped 187%.

The median home price in Maine increased by 3.9% to $405,000 in 2025, the Maine Association of Realtors reported. Nationally, the median price rose 0.2% from the prior year to $409,500.