Even as housing prices have surged post-pandemic, more single women now own homes in the U.S. than ever before — outpacing single men in the housing market by nearly two to one.
A record 20 million single women became homeowners in 2025, according to an analysis from First American that was reported on by Fortune. They made up a quarter of all first-time buyers last year, compared to 10% of single men and 50% of married couples.
“We continue to see that single women are truly a force in the market,” Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research at the National Association of Realtors, told the magazine. These home buyers range in age, from young women just entering the market to older women buying homes after a divorce or death of a spouse.
It’s a stark contrast from 1981, when single women comprised just 11% of home buyers. Now that figure has doubled to 21%.
Many Americans are waiting longer to purchase homes amid a stubborn affordability crisis. Home prices surged 50% since the pandemic, according to the New York Times, and more than half of people under 30 who were polled said they were most worried about trying to afford housing.
Home buyers need to earn roughly $93,000 to afford a typical home with a 20% down payment — up from $52,000 needed six years ago.
According to First American’s findings, single women are more empowered to buy homes because of their gains in education and earning. Single women are also more likely than men to cut non-essential spending, forgo vacations and work overtime to save for a down payment.
“Single women are making more financial sacrifices,” Lautz told Fortune. “They’re really just saying, ‘This is my top financial priority.’”
