Ten Surprising Baby Boomers Facts

Ten interesting things learned about baby boomers from reading Mary Furlong's book Turning Silver Into Gold:

* The average adult American woman is 5 foot 4 inches and wears a size 14 dress.

* Baby boomers are the 1st generation in American history in which the majority have obtained at least some form of higher education.

* There are more significant life transitions in the fifties and sixties than any other phase of life.

* For Baby Boomers, health care is shifting from a medical topic to a blend of entertainment, fitness, beauty and spiritual well-being.

* The top 6 concerns of Baby Boomers are: a) Having enough money to retire; b) Overall financial health; c) Having enough energy to do what they want; d) Having enough money for health care; e) Taking action to prevent disease; and f) Getting good advice from doctors.

* By 2020, healthy living will be a trillion dollar business.

* Gardening is the #1 hobby for adults over 50.

* The median consumer for a new Harley-Davidson cycle is a 46-year old male.

* Boomers make up 60% of all divorced people over the age of 15 in the U.S.

* One in four boomers in the U.S. has a second home, and the typical vacation home buyer was 52 years old, earned $82,800 and purchased a property that is 197 miles (median) away from their primary residence. The largest concentration of vacation home buyers is in the midwest.

Oh yes I also learned that in 2025, the 50+ market in China will be 525.8 million. Now that's a market.

The above is just a sampling of what can be learned from Furlong's book. Very interesting reading if you, like us, market to baby boomers.

Read more LifeTwo posts about the Baby Boomer generation in Midlife Observed.