The step from renting to owning is not a step, exactly. It’s a leap. And that financial leap is smaller for Gen Z living in Chicago, according to a new study from RentCafe.
Looking at IPUMS data from nearly 200 U.S. metro areas, RentCafe determined the average income and housing costs for both Gen Z and millennials when they were aged 22 to 29 — the ages of current (albeit older) Gen Zers.
The findings reveal that the average Gen Zer will earn a total of $550,000 in their 20s, which is 14% more than millennials earned. Of course, income levels vary city to city and are significantly higher in coastal metros, like San Jose and San Francisco.
Nationwide, the percentage of income spent on rent during one’s 20s was the same for both Gen Z and millennials: 26.5%. Accounting for their increased income, though, that means Gen Zers spend an extra $21,000 on rent by the time they turn 30: $145,000 for rent in total.
That may seem like bad news. But it makes the gap between renting and owning smaller. If a Gen Zer were to purchase a home before age 30, as opposed to rent, their homeownership costs during their 20s — excluding down payment — would equal $165,206. That makes for a difference of $20,650.
Millennials, however, spent an average of $127,477 on rent during their 20s — less than Gen Z. But to own before 30 would have cost them $172,144, excluding down payment, resulting in a difference of $45,636.
In short: It cost the average millennial $45,636 to transition into homeowning by age 30, while it would cost today’s Gen Zer an additional $20,650. That’s a 45% decrease.
Nationwide, Ann Arbor ranked as the best city for young buyers. The average Gen Zer there would actually save $21,379 by purchasing a home before 30. Ann Arbor is one of just three U.S. cities to offer direct savings, in addition to Bloomington, Indiana, and Ocala, Florida.
In Chicago, the numbers are also pretty stark. The gap between homeowning and renting for Gen Z is $26,300, while it was $72,000 for millennials: a 63.5% decrease.
Chicago Gen Zers are expected to shell out $157,250 on rent before they turn 30, more than millennials who spent $142,00. But homeowning costs remain lower for the young generation: $183,500 overall, compared to the $214,000 experienced by millennials.
It’s no secret that millennials have struggled to buy homes, compared to the generations before them. Last year, baby boomers outpaced millennials when it came to homebuying, despite millennials being the largest generation group. Recently, though, millennials bounced back to reclaim the greatest market share.