Building for the Future
Creating Homes & Communities for Aging Well
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Did you know?
In 2016, some 49 million people were at least 65 years old and by 2030, one in five Americans will be 65 years and older. This trend is expected to continue as this population is projected to grow to 95 million people in 2060. As a result, older adults are expected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history.
The urgency for policy action is clear. In 2021, 11.2 million older adults spent over 30% of their income on housing, while federal housing assistance reached only 36.5% of eligible households. More than 10 million older renters spent more than 30% of their income on housing. With households led by people 80 and older set to double by 2040, the U.S. is overdue to tackle the cost of aging in place.
Source: The U.S. Census Bureau, Demographic Turning Points for the United Sates: Population Projections for 2020 to 2060.
Note: Unless otherwise cited, all data used come from AARP’s new 2024 Home and Community Preferences survey. Photos of individuals in this data story are stock images and not actual photos of the individuals quoted.
The Common Thread: Aging in Their Home and Community
Home and community are essential for personal development, social connections, and overall flourishing. To support lifelong living, communities must offer features and services for people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and incomes, while paying special attention to the unique needs of the growing older adult population.
The Home and Community Preferences survey highlights the well-known desire among older adults to stay in their own homes and communities as they age. This preference has been largely consistent over the years, with the 2021 and 2024 surveys revealing that more than 70% of adults age 50 and older want to remain in place long-term. The studies also document older adults’ wants and needs for living independently for as long as they desire. Most pressing is the need to make homes more adaptable and improve community infrastructure to support older adults. This includes not only physical home modifications but also enhancing transportation options, healthcare access, and social support systems to ensure that staying in place is a viable and safe option for everyone.
TREND: Adults 50-plus share a common thread: they continue to be steadfast in their desire to live independently in their homes and communities throughout their lifetime.
As the U.S. older adult population continues to increase, it becomes crucial to consider how this demographic shift will impact the homes and communities where older adults want to live and thrive as they age. Homes and communities need to be equipped to meet the evolving needs of an aging society, especially given that most older adults aspire to live in their home (75%) and community (73%) for the long haul.
The vast majority of adults 50+ want to stay in their home and community for as long as possible.
Percent of adults ages 50+ who want to stay in their home or community for as long as possible
| Home or community | Year | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Stay in home | 2021 | 77% |
| 2024 | 75% | |
| Stay in community | 2021 | 79% |
| 2024 | 73% |
Moreover, a remarkable 72% of older adults say they would ideally reside in their own residence and live on their own. To a much lesser extent, about a quarter (23%) would be open to staying in their own home and have a family member or friend move in with them.
Seven in 10 adults ages 50+ prefer to stay in their own residence and live on their own.
Most preferred living arrangement among adults ages 50+
72%Prefer to reside in their own residence and live on their own
23%Prefer to stay in their own residence and have a family member or friend move in
6%Prefer to move in with a family member or friend
When thinking more realistically about their future years and changing needs, older adults are far more likely than younger adults to want to age in their current home and community. Nearly 3 in 5 (56%) adults 50-plus say they are most likely to stay in their current residence and never move. At the same time, about 1 in 5 (16%) recognize that they may be likely to move into a different home within their current community, while almost a third (28%) expect to move to a different community altogether.
While adults 50+ are more likely to stay in their current home, many still foresee a future move.
Expected location of residence in the future among adults ages 18+
| Activity | Length of time | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 18–49 | Stay in my current residence and never move | 31% |
| Move into a different residence within my current community | 28% | |
| Move to a different community | 40% | |
| Ages 50+ | Stay in my current residence and never move | 56% |
| Move into a different residence within my current community | 16% | |
| Move to a different community | 28% |
Staying in their home and community for the long-term is possible for many but may not be a reality for everyone. At present, 71% of older adults believe that their community is meeting their current needs extremely or very well, and yet, nearly half (47%) lack confidence in their community continuing to meet their needs as they age.
The majority of adults 50+ say their community currently meets their needs extremely or very well.
How well adults ages 50+ think their current community meets their needs
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Extremely well | 29% |
| Very well | 42% |
| Somewhat well | 22% |
| Not very well | 5% |
| Not at all well | 2% |
However, nearly half are not confident that their community will continue to meet their needs as they age.
Confidence among adults ages 50+ that their current community will continue to meet their needs as they age
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Extremely confident | 19% |
| Very confident | 33% |
| Somewhat confident | 32% |
| Not very confident | 10% |
| Not at all confident | 5% |
Among adults 50-plus who anticipate moving to another community, the major factors that impact their decision-making are cost of living, neighborhood safety, access to high-quality health care, and a variety of affordable housing options.
Adults 50+ consider cost of living, safety, and health care quality as key factors when deciding to move out of their community.
Top 10 major factors in deciding to move among adults age 50+ who expect to move out of their current community
| Factor | Percent |
|---|---|
| Lower cost of living | 65% |
| Feels safer and more secure and has little or no crime | 61% |
| High-quality health care facilities and health care providers | 56% |
| Variety of affordable housing options | 55% |
| Closer to family or friends | 49% |
| Homes are in walking distance to stores, restaurants, etc. | 44% |
| Homes with accessibility features | 42% |
| Climate with fewer natural disasters | 38% |
| Less populated and has more green space and natural areas | 37% |
| More opportunities for safe bicycling and walking | 34% |
Meanwhile, those who anticipate needing to move to another home, are driven by factors related primarily to housing costs and wanting a home that is easy to maintain and will allow them to live independently.
Cost and home maintenance ease are key factors for adults 50+ deciding to move out of their current home.
Top 10 major factors in deciding to move among adults age 50+ who expect to move out of their current residence
| Factor | Percent |
|---|---|
| Cost of rent or mortgage | 71% |
| Lower housing costs and having a home that costs less to maintain | 60% |
| Wanting a home built to withstand effects of natural disasters | 55% |
| Cost of property taxes | 55% |
| Wanting a home that is easier to maintain than current residence | 52% |
| Home that helps me live independently as I age | 51% |
| Cost of homeowner's or renter's insurance | 41% |
| Wanting a community with more affordable, diverse housing types | 38% |
| The ability to find homeowner's insurance | 37% |
| Wanting a smaller home | 33% |
| Wanting a larger home | 13% |
Community Heroes in Action: Building an Intergenerational Park in Vermont
Discover how Community Heroes in Vermont transformed Stark Street Park into a vibrant community hub with new ADA-accessible amenities, connecting residents to a larger trail network and offering recreational activities for all ages.
Let’s Create Vibrant, Inclusive, and Supportive Communities for All!
To ensure that everyone, especially older adults and people with disabilities, can live comfortably and independently, we must take the following actions:
Making Home the Right Fit
TREND: To support their continued desire to age in their homes, adults 50-plus need to make their homes fit their lifestyle.
Two-thirds (66%) of adults 50-plus live in single-family homes and 85% own the homes they live in. Although most have essential features in their homes like first-floor bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens, many lack easy and safe access into their home, driveway, or street. In fact, fewer than 5% of homes in the U.S. have the necessary features to accommodate individuals with just moderate mobility difficulties.
Most adults age 50+ say they have a bedroom or a full bathroom on the main level of their home.
Percent of adults age 50+ whose homes have the following features
| Home feature | Percent |
|---|---|
| A bedroom, or a room that could be used as one, on the main level | 81% |
| A full bath on the main level | 80% |
| Accessibile features such as lower counter tops, cabinets, or appliances | 72% |
| Accommodate mobility devices (wheelchairs, walkers, or scooters) | 70% |
| Sidewalk or walkway without steps for easy access to driveway or street | 57% |
| A half-bath on the main level | 49% |
Did you know?
The Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies estimates that only 1 percent of existing homes have a set of five key accessibility features:
- A zero-step (no-step) entry,
- Single-floor living,
- Halls and doors that can accommodate a wheelchair,
- Lever-style handles, and
- Electrical controls that can be reached from a wheelchair.
When planning for their future, 50-plus adults prioritize modifying their current home to ensure it remains their forever home. As older adults strive to live independently in their home for as long as possible, many (43%) recognize the need for structural changes that will enable them to easily and safely move around their home. The most anticipated home modifications are changes to the bathroom such as installing grab bars and no-slip tile (72%), and creating easier access into, or around, the home or by adding things like ramps, chairlifts or wider doorways (71%).
The majority of adults 50+ anticipate needing to modify their bathrooms and home access.
Percent of adults age 50+ who think they will need the following home modifications
| Home modification | Percent |
|---|---|
| Bathroom modifications like grab bars, handrails, non-slip tile | 72% |
| Easier access into or within the home | 71% |
| Accessible features like lower counters, cabinets, and appliances | 39% |
| Improve lighting outside the home | 35% |
| Put a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, laundry on main floor | 30% |
| Improve lighting inside the home | 28% |
Given the structural types of home modifications adults 50-plus need to make, it is no surprise that the majority place high importance on having trustworthy home contractors in their community that they can rely on and afford (72%), along with quality home services for repairs and yard maintenance (65%).
Recognizing that they may face physical limitations as they get older, more than half (56%) of adults 50-plus believe it is important for their community to have housing that has accessibility features, like a no-step entry and wider doorways and hallways to allow for mobility devices like wheelchairs and walkers.
Most adults 50+ consider trustworthy home contractors, maintenance services, and accessible housing as extremely or very important community features.
Percent of adults age 50+ rating very or extremely important
| Community feature | Percent |
|---|---|
| Trustworthy, high-quality home repair contractors | 72% |
| Home maintenance for older adults and those with varying incomes | 65% |
| Accessible housing (no-step entry, wide doorways, main floor bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens) | 56% |
TREND: Adults 50-plus expect they will need to integrate technology into their homes to help them live independently longer.
Home technology can also help create a safer home environment for adults, allowing them to stay in their current homes as they age. Nearly two-thirds of 50-plus adults (64%) believe, at some point in the future, they will install a medical emergency response system that can alert emergency services and caregivers in the event of an emergency.
Adults 50-plus would also consider adding smart home technology to their home to foster continued independent living. Among these types of technology many would consider adding smart home security features like a smart doorbell and surveillance cameras (44%) or smart home devices such as a voice activated assistant (43%) or smart appliances (34%). However, older adults could face some difficulty in using these technologies as 64% of 50-plus adults do not feel technology today is designed with their age in mind. According to a new study by AARP and CTA, Empowering Independence with Technology Among Adults Age 50+ found that older adults require different technologies at various stages of their aging journey to maintain independence. The specific technologies they find beneficial evolve as they age, from being more active in their 50s, needing some support in their 60s and 70s, to requiring more assistance at 75 and older. Therefore, technology manufacturers must consider and respond to the diverse needs of older adults.
More than half believe a medical emergency response system would make their home safer and more efficient.
Percent of adults age 50+ who will need to make modifications to their residence who will need to make the following modifications
| Home modification | Percent |
|---|---|
| Installing a medical emergency response system | 64% |
| Adding smart home security features | 44% |
| Adding smart home devices | 43% |
| Adding energy saving devices | 34% |
| Improving heating and cooling systems | 33% |
| Installing water-conserving landscaping | 24% |
| Improving in-home Internet | 23% |
| Adding green features | 19% |
| None of these | 14% |
Community Heroes in Action: Carolina Cross Connections, North Carolina
Carolina Cross Connection’s Home Repair program builds independence and pride for older adults by ensuring safe-access in and out of homes, while providing the opportunity to connect with youth in order to repair the social and emotional damages of isolation.
Community Heroes in Action: SF Tech Council, California
To help older adults in San Francisco connect their personal electronic devices to the internet, the SF Tech Council hosted “pop-up” events where people could receive one-on-one technical support and sign up for low-cost web services. An AARP Community Challenge grant helped to fund and promote the events, which offered assistance in English, Chinese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Let’s Ensure Homes Meet the Needs of Everyone!
Understanding that older adults primarily wish to live independently in their own homes, communities must provide options to help them achieve this goal. Here are three strategies for how communities can make this a reality:
Alternative Housing Options
TREND: Adults 50-plus would consider downsizing or living near or with loved ones if their needs were to change as they grow older.
Staying in their current home for as long as possible might not be realistic for some older adults, therefore some are willing to consider other alternatives. The most attractive option is to downsize from their current home (64%); however, most (75%) would still opt for a smaller single-family home to maintain their independence.
Although only a small number of 50-plus adults would consider adding an ADU onto their property, many would consider moving into one if their circumstances changed and they required additional support. About six in ten 50-plus adults would live in an ADU to be close to family or friends (64%) or if they needed help with daily activities or transportation (61%). Older adults are also more likely to choose an ADU to downsize from their current home (47%).
Many adults 50+ would stay in an ADU to live close to someone while maintaining their own separate space.
Percent of adults age 50+ who would live in an ADU for the following reasons
| Reason | Percent |
|---|---|
| Live close by to someone, but still in your own separate space | 64% |
| Need help with everyday activities* | 61% |
| Downsize and live in a smaller residence | 47% |
Did you know?
There are an estimated 1.5 million Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in the United States, making up roughly 2% of all homes in the country. ADUs are growing at a rate of 9%, which translates to about 100,000 new units annually.
Home sharing is another living arrangement that many older adults would consider as they age. The most preferred arrangement among 50-plus adults is to share their home with another family member other than a spouse (72%). A second choice would be to share their home with a friend (52%). Very few would choose to live in a roommate situation with someone they did not know (7%).
Most adults age 50+ would consider sharing a home with a family member or a friend.
Percent of adults age 50+ who would consider sharing their home with the following
72%A family member not including a spouse
52%A friend
7%A stranger or someone they do not know
21% would not share a home with any of the above.
Initially, some 50-plus adults are hesitant about sharing their home with anyone. However, when asked about specific reasons, many reconsider. Two in five (39%) would consider a home sharing arrangement to bring in a loved one who needs care. Additionally, one-third would consider home sharing if they needed personal assistance (33%), sought companionship (33%), or needed financial help (32%).
Many adults 50+ who initially opposed sharing their home would consider it to care for a loved one.
Percent of adults age 50+ who initially said they would not share their home who would do so for the following reasons
| Reason | Percent |
|---|---|
| Bring in a loved one who needs care | 39% |
| Need help with everyday activities | 33% |
| Companionship | 33% |
| Extra income | 32% |
Community Heroes in Action: Going Tiny with AARP
The AARP mini-series explores how downsizing can lead to big opportunities. It shares real-life stories of people 50+ using tiny homes and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to navigate life transitions, enhance their quality of life, and build closer connections.
Let's Create Flexible and Affordable Housing Solutions for Older Adults!
To support older adults in living independently and comfortably, we must provide a variety of housing options that meet their needs. Here’s how we can achieve this:
References
To learn more about the 2024 Home and Community Preferences survey, please visit https://www.aarp.org/livablesurvey2024. To learn about the Home and Community Preferences survey in general, including previous iterations, please visit https://www.aarp.org/livablesurvey.
Note: This report was created with the assistance of CoPilot and has been reviewed for accuracy and appropriateness.