Baby boomers vs. millennials

Fun fact: In 2015, millennials (born between 1981 and 1995) surpassed baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) as America’s largest living generation.

Known for being well-educated and tech-savvy with a penchant for cynicism, millennials are a far cry from the optimistic baby boomers who valued hard work and came of age during the Civil Rights era.

There’s no shortage of memes poking fun at the differences between these generations, but here’s a more serious look at some of those dissimilarities:

Feelings about marriage. While 87 percent of baby boomers had married at least once by the time they turned 46, an estimated 25 percent of millennials plan to never marry. Overall marriage rates for the younger demographic are projected to drop to 70 percent, well below the 91 percent of their older counterparts.

Support for social issues. A majority of millennials support gay marriage and marijuana legalization, and they’re less likely to identify themselves as religious. On the other hand, most older Americans tend to be affiliated with a particular religion, and 44 percent of baby boomers in 2014 classified themselves as politically conservative.

Economic opportunity. The millennial generation is the first in U.S. history to enter a labor market in worse economic shape than their parents. Though highly educated, these 20- and 30-somethings face higher unemployment rates and steep student debt. Meanwhile, baby boomers were born during a period of economic prosperity and job growth – and enjoyed certain perks, like pensions, that have long since disappeared.

There’s no doubt these groups have made important contributions to our nation’s history. But with most millennials being raised by boomer parents, we have to ask: Is the so-called feud between the generations a real thing?