DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Why is the average marriage age lower in the US than in Western Europe?

**cepAceryTem** · 09-28-2010, 09:33 PM

1) The American heartland is more traditional and conservative than Western Europe.
2) Non-whites, making up almost 40 % of the USA, generally get married earlier, especially first-generation immigrants.

---------- Post added 2010-09-28 at 15:25 ----------

This could also be a factor; housing in the United States is probably much more affordable than in densely populated Western Europe.

---------- Post added 2010-09-28 at 15:27 ----------

Um, isn't it the other way around? Highly educated people usually get married later in life.

Usually, but also take into account that even among the lower educated, Americans are far more religious. A lot of those folks marry early because they are virgins or the girls don't want to appear "slutty" this is very true in rural areas, many people marry right out of secondary school and have 2 or 3 kids by the time they are 25.

I don't see this in Europe...not often.

My point is that although Americans have "higher education" it is deceptive. The variation in educational achievement is much larger than in Europe, we have some of the least educated people of any industrialized nation and the most educated people in the same nation.

We also have a lot of religious fanatics, America's religiosity is more on terms with developing nations than any developed nation, and most of that is also concentrated in the lower classes.

Also you are correct, that housing is generally cheaper, less demand, more space.

You can be enormous houses in places like Texas for very little money, 6 bedroom house, with a huge yard (the likes of which most Western Europeans can't imagine) for US$250,000.

That is not the case in New York City of Washington D.C., but those cities are not normal for the United States either.

09-28-2010, 09:33 PM	#6
cepAceryTem Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 517 Senior Member	1) The American heartland is more traditional and conservative than Western Europe. 2) Non-whites, making up almost 40 % of the USA, generally get married earlier, especially first-generation immigrants. ---------- Post added 2010-09-28 at 15:25 ---------- This could also be a factor; housing in the United States is probably much more affordable than in densely populated Western Europe. ---------- Post added 2010-09-28 at 15:27 ---------- Um, isn't it the other way around? Highly educated people usually get married later in life. Usually, but also take into account that even among the lower educated, Americans are far more religious. A lot of those folks marry early because they are virgins or the girls don't want to appear "slutty" this is very true in rural areas, many people marry right out of secondary school and have 2 or 3 kids by the time they are 25. I don't see this in Europe...not often. My point is that although Americans have "higher education" it is deceptive. The variation in educational achievement is much larger than in Europe, we have some of the least educated people of any industrialized nation and the most educated people in the same nation. We also have a lot of religious fanatics, America's religiosity is more on terms with developing nations than any developed nation, and most of that is also concentrated in the lower classes. Also you are correct, that housing is generally cheaper, less demand, more space. You can be enormous houses in places like Texas for very little money, 6 bedroom house, with a huge yard (the likes of which most Western Europeans can't imagine) for US$250,000. That is not the case in New York City of Washington D.C., but those cities are not normal for the United States either.
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