Average Length of Home Ownership in the United States

It’s less common nowadays to find people who have lived in the same home for decades. Earlier, homeowners would happily do so for 40, 50, or 60 years. Today, the average length of home ownership has dipped drastically. Did you know that on average, people own at least three houses in their lifetime? That’s a considerable number of homes! The average homeownership duration is currently around 10 to 13.2 years. Although this homeownership tenure is slowly increasing. Keep in mind that the timeline depends on a lot of factors, all of which we will explore in this blog.

What is the average length of home ownership?

The typical U.S. homeowner stays in their home for less than 16 years! The primary reasons why homeowners in the United States move are better housing, changes in the family, and newer employment opportunities. Fortunately, the average length of home ownership has increased by approximately 21% since 2012. Over the past decade, there has been a trend of homeowners holding onto their homes for longer periods. For example, in 2012, the average tenure was 10.2 years, which increased to 13.5 years by 2020, due to the stress and partly remote work that homeowners engaged in during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this trend flattened somewhat after the pandemic, with the average tenure dropping to 12.3 years in 2022.

What factors affect the average length of home ownership?

How long a homeowner and the family member stay put in a house depends primarily on the region, the age of the home, and their income level. For instance, homeowners in the Northeast tend to stay in their homes the longest, while those in the Mountain States have the shortest tenure.

Duration of homeownership and region

In major cities such as New York City, homeowners stay in their homes for 15 to 18 years on average.

Homeowners in California, particularly in major cities such as Los Angeles, San Jose, and San Francisco, tend to stay in their homes the longest. For example, the average homeowner in Los Angeles stays for 18.7 years, the longest in the country.

In California, Proposition 13 limits property tax increases, encouraging homeowners to hold onto their properties for longer periods. This means that many homes purchased decades ago in California are now worth significant amounts. And yet, their homeowners pay lower property tax amounts compared to new buyers of smaller homes.

In contrast, homeowners in more affordable metro areas, mainly in the South, tend to move more often. Three of the five cities with the shortest homeownership durations are in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Homeownership and the age of the house

Interestingly, homeowners with older homes tend to stay in them longer compared to those with newer properties. For instance, homes built in the 2010s had an average homeownership tenure of 4.6 years, whereas homes constructed in the 1970s saw an average tenure of 11.5 years. The primary reason is that newer homes are more likely to attract new homeowners. While those who have owned their homes for a longer time are often inclined to remain in their residences. Many of them desire to continue to spend their last years in their homes.

Homeownership and the buyer’s age

Experts point out that first-time buyers often behave differently when it comes to home purchasing. Typically, they spend less time in their homes compared to more experienced homeowners. Many of them only keep their first starter home for two to five years. What’s more, the average age for buying a first home has dropped to 27 years old from 34 years old just a few years ago.

On the other hand, more baby boomers are opting to retire where they currently live, which is raising the average age of homeowners. Many of the baby boomers today have been in their homes for 20 years or more. In comparison, Gen X homeowners have lived in their homes for much less time. And, the millennial homebuyers even less.

Homeownership and finances

As mentioned the financial situation of homeowners also significantly impacts the average length of home ownership. For instance, lower-income families tend to stay in their homes for longer than the national average duration. Before achieving homeownership, they may move more frequently due to factors such as affordability, quality of housing, household size changes, or employment relocation. However, once they own a home, their moving frequency decreases, and they end up surpassing the average length of home tenure.

Here are some more interesting facts for you to mull.

The median income for homebuyers increased significantly from $88,000 in 2022 to $107,000 in 2023. This rise is likely because the competitive housing market tends to favor buyers with higher incomes.

First-time homebuyers typically have a median household income of $95,900, while repeat homebuyers have a median income of $111,700.

Why are homeowners delaying relocating, today?

Older Americans prefer to stay in their homes as they age, driving the trend of long homeowner tenure. The population is aging, with about 17% of people in the U.S. being 65 or older, up from roughly 13% in 2010, and this trend is expected to continue. This contributes to the trend of aging in place.

Factors such as lack of affordability also discourage people from moving. Home prices remain high compared to pre-pandemic levels, and mortgage rates are elevated, resulting in near-record monthly mortgage payments. Many homeowners are reluctant to sell and buy another home due to historically low mortgage rates they obtained in the past.

Additionally, high rental prices are motivating some homeowners to become landlords instead of selling their homes.

Moreover, there is a shortage of homes for sale, with the supply being low and few new listings coming on the market. This scarcity makes it challenging for homeowners to find suitable options if they are considering moving.

Keep in mind that the housing shortage creates a competitive market, leading to longer homeowner tenures. This cycle, where fewer people want to move because of the competitive market, in turn, contributes to the limited supply of houses available. Therefore, it becomes a vicious cycle.

What is the relationship between home ownership and home maintenance?

If staying in one place for most of your life is your goal, there are important steps you need to take as a homeowner to ensure your home lasts. Remember that neglected homes are seen as liabilities by insurance companies. And, can result in higher insurance premiums. Therefore, it’s crucial to properly care for your home to avoid these increased costs.

Last thoughts

Real estate ownership durations vary widely. Some owners stay for just a few years, while others stay for decades or even life. Factors such as personal situations, finances, job changes, family needs, and local housing markets affect how long people stay in their homes.

Today, homeownership tenure has been on the rise, with the typical homeowner staying put for around 10 to 13 years. It remains to be seen whether this trend will continue. In fast-growing areas, where new housing options are abundant, average ownership tenures tend to be lower due to frequent arrivals. Conversely, in more expensive and competitive markets, people are likely to stay in their homes for longer periods.

What’s the average length of home ownership in the U.S.? was last modified: July 18th, 2025 by Ramona Sinha

Written by Ramona Sinha. January 26, 2025

Ramona is the Senior Content Writer for Kukun. This experienced blogger uses simple and succinct words to decipher the complex phenomenon called life. She has written articles covering a broad range of topics, such as real estate, lending and mortgage, finance, business, taxation, home designs, home improvement projects, decor concepts, and more. An avid traveler, she’s a digital nomad at heart and an animal lover from the depth of her soul.