According to a Pew Forum, 61% of Boomers say they pray daily compared to 56% for Gen Xers. 38% of Boomers report attending religious services at least once a week while 47% say they attend services a few times a year at most.
The numbers for Gen Xers are 34% for at least once a week and 50% for those who attend a few times a year or less. Boomers state that religion is very important in their lives at a rate of 59%, with Gen Xers reporting at 53%.
Craft beers are the trend right now, particularly with younger generations. According to a survey by YouGov.com, both Baby Boomers and Gen Xer’s selected their top four favorite beer brands as Heineken, Guinness, Samuel Adams, and Corona.
While the four choices were the same for each demographic, they were ranked differently. It was also noted that Gen Xers ranked light beers as their 5th and 6th choices while no light options made the Boomer list until number 10.
Most Boomers prefer traditional first-date outings like coffee or dinner, while Gen Xers are open to unique experiences—the more unique, the better. While they may be open to the idea of dating, 82% of Boomers and 70% of Gen Xers are not currently doing so.
Online dating has become acceptable for both generations seeking companionship, but Gen Xers are twice as likely to text a new romantic interest as Boomers. However, both groups prefer meeting potential love interests through the more traditional methods.
A 2019 panel on American trends found that support of marijuana use varies just a bit among generations. When you add the political leanings of each age demographic, the numbers are considerably further apart.
A large majority of Boomer Democrats (81%) and Gen X Democrats (78%) say the use of marijuana should be made legal. Only 49% of Boomer Republicans and 55% of Gen X Republicans favor legalization.
A study by Gordon Food Services comparing age demographics found a few universal expectations for eating out. Affordable prices, accurate orders, fast service, and quality food are important to pretty much everyone.
For Baby Boomers, value for the price, a variety of healthy options, and friendly, attentive service top their list of expectations. Gen Xers appreciate a fun, upbeat atmosphere, a good selection of adult beverages, and a menu and atmosphere that is good for groups.
Baby Boomers place the most importance on travel experiences, such as touring and sightseeing. They are more likely to travel for a week, or even longer. They also tend to book trips far in advance, often months before departure and they place a high importance on seamless booking.
Gen Xers tend to seek relaxation experiences, such as beach vacations and spa packages more than any other type of travel. A national study found that long weekends are the preferred amount of time for Gen X trips. They tend to travel less than others, and family life often shapes their travel preferences, so trips are usually based on school calendars.
Both Boomers and Gen Xers fondly recall films that influenced them in some way through a number of factors that include response to authority, political views, music, race relations, social values, and a variety of other themes.
A few classics for Boomers are, The Graduate (1967), Easy Rider (1969), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Love Story (1970), and American Graffiti (1973). A few films that have stuck with Gen Xers include E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Risky Business (1983), St. Elmo’s Fire (1985), The Breakfast Club (1985), and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), to name a few.
Baby Boomers statistically divorce more than any other generation. The tides changed as this generation emphasized individuality, so it became acceptable to divorce rather than stay in an unhappy marriage.
Generation X has the distinction of being the first generation of children who were the product of divorce. Because of this dismal reality, many in this demographic put off marrying until they were older than previous generations and quite a few choose not to marry at all.
When it comes to shopping, Boomers prefer convenience. While there is an 84% preference for brick and mortar stores, 66% of Boomers make purchases online. Social media platforms seem to have little influence on Boomer purchasing habits.
Gen Xers utilize online shopping more than Boomers, but also enjoy browsing and making in store purchases. Email promotions based on previous purchases and personalized deals are a great draw for Gen Xers.
Baby Boomers rank as the highest consumers of traditional media like newspapers, television, radio, and magazines. While embracing these traditional news sources, about 90% of Boomers utilize Facebook accounts to stay in touch with their families and reconnect with old friends.
As a whole, Generation X watches TV (including streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu) more hours per week than any other generation. Gen Xers, having aged along with the advances in technology, spend more hours per week on Facebook than other age groups.
Older Americans, specifically Baby Boomers, now buy more new cars and light trucks than any other generation. Half of all new vehicles purchased in 2017 are owned by people over the age of 55.
New car purchases by Gen Xers have decreased from 50% to 35%. Factors for this decline include increased prices for new cars and younger generations driving cars longer before replacing them with a newer model.
Both Baby Boomers and Gen Xers spent much more time actually playing with toys than younger generations. Boomers and Gen Xers relied heavily on their imaginations and spent a great deal of time playing outside.
A few toys that made their debut or were hugely popular with both generations include Mr. Potato Head, Hot Wheels, Frisbees, Barbie dolls, and Troll Dolls. While some of these toys are still available today, they are competing with a large landscape of advanced electronic devices.
When people think of a midlife crisis, things like red sports cars, trips to Vegas, a new trophy spouse, and generally rebellious behavior often pop in their heads. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, this has often been the case, in various degrees, for Baby Boomers.
Generation Xers often have something more meaningful in mind. They are usually more likely to travel, hike, practice yoga, and seek personal improvement. There also seems to be a sense of taking stock and making life improvements to stick around for their children and grandchildren.
According to a 2019 study by Homes.com, there are cities that are specifically suited for either Baby Boomers or Generation Xers. The study focused on median home prices, health care, number of jobs and cultural offerings for that specific age group, and population concentrations.
Three top cities were selected for each age group. Miami, FL, Atlanta, GA, and San Francisco, CA ranked the highest for Generation X. Miami, FL also made the list for Baby Boomers, along with Pittsburgh, PA and Birmingham, AL.
As Boomers have become empty nesters and aged, a surprisingly large number of them have opted to sell their suburban homes and chosen to live in rental properties with full amenities. This shift is motivated in part by avoiding chores like lawn upkeep and worrying about a mortgage.
According to a report by CNN Money, while home ownership is alive and well for Gen Xers, many are staying in the rental market much longer than anyone predicted. This is due in part to higher costs and stagnant wages for this age group, making it difficult to save enough money for a down payment on a home.
Baby Boomers have been called hippies who became yuppies who became workaholics. They place a high importance on quality and full service, eye contact, and are much more likely to proudly display a wall full of their educational career achievements.
Gen Xers are generally loyal to specific people rather than a company. This generation appreciates work flexibility that enables a balance between work and family life and tend to be more interested in completing a job in their own way and on their own timeline.
Every generation produces celebrities across the realms of music, film, television, politics, literature, and many other areas that bring notoriety. A few famous Baby Boomers who are instantly recognizable include Elton John, Barack Obama, Bill Gates, and Jon Bon Jovi.
Generation X also produced a number of famous folks. They include Janet Jackson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matt Damon, Jennifer Lopez, Dave Grohl, Will Smith, Jay Z, Elon Musk, and Jennifer Aniston.
A Better Business Bureaus study found a few key traits to be specific to each generation. For Baby Boomers, their belief in the “American Dream”, along with financial stability, loyalty to brands, optimism, and “big picture” perspectives, define their age group.
For Gen Xers, there’s also a “big picture” perspective, in addition to independence, being tech-savvy, somewhat skeptical/cynical, and flexibility as common characteristics. This generation also has an appreciation for tangible results, not just talk.
What did Baby Boomers listen to as they were coming of age and into young adulthood? What music do they still claim as their own? What music do we all enjoy thanks in large part to this generation? The answer to all three questions is rock and roll. Elvis, Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who, and so many other iconic names in music define this generation.
When it comes to music, Gen X tastes are all over the place. Nicknamed the MTV Generation, this age group came of age at a time when there was a huge mixing pot of genres and subgenres. A few artists associated with Gen X include Madonna, Michael Jackson, INXS, Prince, and Nirvana.
A good sense of humor is a healthy part of our existence. It’s something that relieves stress and can bond us together with laughter. Each generation has defining moments in comedy and their own iconic comedians; however, Saturday Night Live became a favorite for both generations.
For Baby Boomers, Dr. Demento, National Lampoon, George Carlin, and All in the Family were a few sources of laughter. For Gen X, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Beavis and Butthead, Robin Williams, and Eddie Murphy were the favorites of the day.
Amazon is popular among all generations, but there are some brands that appeal to specific age groups more than others. The 10 most loved brands by Boomers, ranked in order of preference are UPS, Home Depot, USPS, Lowe’s, FedEx, Amazon, Hershey, AAA, Tide, and Cheerios.
The top 10 brands for Gen Xers, ranked in order, are Google, Amazon, Netflix, UPS, Home Depot, Hershey, Cheerios, USPS, Android, and FedEx. While there are some similarities, there are also vast differences in each generation’s preferences.
Eating three meals a day is standard for most Americans, but snacking plays a large role in our eating habits as well. For those in the workforce, snacking is most common in the afternoon. There are some generational differences when it comes to snacking.
40% of Gen Xers and 34% of Baby Boomers have 3 meals a day plus snacks. Both age groups are tied at 9% for 3 meals with no snacks. Those reporting less than 3 meals a day and no snacks came in at 9% for Gen X and 15% for Baby Boomers.
According to Kasasa.com the generational name given to Baby Boomers stems from post-World War II America, when the country was enjoying a new-found prosperity and experienced a large baby-boom. The children born as a result were dubbed the Baby Boomers.
The name Generation X refers to the ‘X’ as an unknown variable or a desire to not be defined at all. They are also referred to sometimes as the “baby-bust” generation because of the drop in birth rate after the baby-boom.
When it comes to texting and driving, 35% of Gen Xers thought it was okay when it seemed safe (light traffic, dry road conditions) in a study by Erie Insurance. At 13%, Baby Boomers are the age group least likely to text and drive, even when they felt it was safe.
The survey also found that seat belt use declines with each generation. 94% of Boomers buckle up when they get in a car, followed by 87% for Gen X.
When it comes to charitable donations and volunteering, more than 29% of Gen Xers donate their time, the highest rate of all generations. In addition, 46% of Gen Xers share that they have raised money directly for a charity in the past year.
That’s considerably higher than the percentage for Boomers. Baby Boomers are more likely to write a check than do hands-on volunteer work. This becomes more understandable as this group ages but has been the trend for some time now.
Each generation has their own specific touch points when it comes to important, life-altering, news. Generation X came of age during the AIDS epidemic, saw the end of apartheid in South Africa, the loss of the Challenger’s crew, and the first Apple computers on the market.
Baby Boomers saw the assassination of J.F.K., the resignation of President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal, and the appointment of the first African American Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall, in 1967, among other sensational news.
According to a recent Better Business Bureau study there are a couple of differences between Baby Boomers and Gen Xers when it comes to cell phones.
86% of Boomers own cell phones, compared to 95% for Gen X. Boomers spend an average of 2 hours and 29 minutes on their phones each day. The number for Gen Xers is 2 hours and 36 minutes.
All generations have defining experiences that mold them in different ways and remain in their memory bank over the years. For Baby Boomers, some of these moments include the Cold War, “the swinging sixties”, the Apollo moon landing, the civil rights movement, and Woodstock.
Generation X is often defined by the end of the Cold War, fall of the Berlin wall, Thatcherism, and Live Aid. The introduction of the first personal computer, early mobile technology, MTV, and largely being latch-key kids also impacted this age group greatly.
There are trends in every generation in everything from music to hairstyles, and even recreational activities. For Baby Boomers, the popular choices were alcohol around age 19, marijuana between the ages of 18-20, with stimulants and sedatives peaking at age 20 at a rate of 10%.
Over 80% of Gen Xers used alcohol when they were around the age of 22. Marijuana was also a popular choice, with about 30% using during the age range of 18 to 20. About 10% of Gen Xers used psychotherapeutics around the age of 20.
Each generation has advanced our society with their own milestones in technology. While previous generations brought us cars and airplanes, later age groups had groundbreaking technology as well.
Baby Boomers will never forget the life-altering technology that is associated with their generation including television (1956), audio cassettes (1962), and transistor radios (1955). For Generation X, technology came along in the form of the VCR (1976), Walkman (1979), and the first IBM personal computer (1981).
