Older generations complaining about younger generations is a time-honored tradition. While we have quickly moved from walking to school uphill both ways to “we actually had to make plans on where to meet and when,” the general plot remains the same. However, when you move past the yelling at clouds and “OK, boomer” tropes, there are some interesting views out there when it comes to how Americans see their own generation, and how that compares to those who are younger and older. 

Overall, about half of Americans (49%) feel that the older generations have it worse off, while about a quarter (26%) feel that the older ones have it better. When looking in the opposite direction on the age scale, Americans are divided on how the younger generations have it. Just over 2 in 5 (42%) feel the younger generations are worse off, while a similar percentage (41%) feel they have it better. 

Overall, 17% of Americans feel that their generation has it the best, 12% feel that their generation has it the worst, and 15% feel it’s all the same. The generation with the highest concentration of those feeling they are the best off? Gen X (21%).

Key takeaways:

• 👵👴OK, Boomer: The generations all have varied views on those above and below them on the age chart. Boomers are split on those younger than them, with a third feeling the younger generations are worse off and 29% feeling they have it better. Millennials have the biggest difference when looking at younger generations, with 34% thinking that Gen Z and Gen Alpha have it made in the shade, while 30% feel the younger generations have it worse. 
• 👶👦👧 Younger generations more likely to be viewed as having it better: While there is a higher likelihood that people feel things are worse for the younger generation, there is usually a higher concentration of those thinking the younger generations have it better than the older generations. This is especially true among Black Americans (+14) and White Americans (+12), but Latino/Hispanic (+8) and Asian Americans (+10) also show the same pattern, albeit with a slightly smaller delta.
• 💲💰💲 The higher your income, the more likely you are to think the other generations have it better: Nearly 2 in 5 of those making $80k or more per year (39%) feel that younger generations have it better than they do while 23% of those making less than $40k feel the same way. The difference is even more pronounced for older generations, where 36% of those making more than $80k feel the older generations are better off, while just 12% of those making less than $40k agree.