Age and income play a significant role in whether homeowners decide to tackle home repair and renovation projects themselves or hire professionals, according to a recent in-depth study.
Owning a home often means stepping into the world of endless projects — some anticipated, some unexpected, some small fixes, and others major renovations. But when it comes to deciding whether to roll up your sleeves or call in an expert, the answer is frequently shaped by two key factors: your age and your income. This insight emerges from a comprehensive analysis conducted by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, featured in their latest report titled Improving America’s Housing 2025.
The study examined data from the 2023 American Housing Survey, conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and revealed fascinating patterns about how homeowners approach home improvements and repairs. By analyzing five distinct income groups — ranging from those earning less than $37,500 annually to those with incomes exceeding $172,000 — researchers uncovered how spending habits and project choices differ across the economic spectrum.
For example, the lowest earners typically spent about $3,100 per year on home-related projects such as landscaping, minor plumbing repairs, and bathroom upgrades. While this amount may seem modest compared to the nearly $11,000 spent annually by the highest earners, it actually represents a much larger proportion of their income — about 16.3 percent compared to just 3.7 percent for the top income bracket. Those with higher incomes were more likely to hire professionals for complex and costly jobs, like window replacements and major remodeling, while lower-income households often made do with smaller, less expensive improvements.
Sophia Wedeen, a senior research analyst at the Joint Center, emphasized the deeper implications of this disparity: “Lower-income householders are often cash-strapped. The fact that they’re investing significantly less in dollars but a higher percentage of their income is reinforcing existing inequities in housing conditions and financial stability.” This underscores a reality many lower-income families face — making meaningful home improvements can be a difficult balancing act between financial limitations and the desire to maintain and improve their living spaces.
Beyond income, the report also looked at other factors like race, ethnicity, and household composition, but income remained the dominant driver behind spending decisions.
Interestingly, when it comes to do-it-yourself (D.I.Y.) projects, the data tells a slightly different story. Lower-income homeowners and younger adults, particularly those under 35 years old, were the most likely to undertake home repairs and improvements on their own. According to Ms. Wedeen, several factors contribute to this trend. Younger homeowners generally have lower incomes and less home equity built up — a common resource for funding larger professional projects. Moreover, many of these younger homeowners live in newer properties that don’t require major repairs but do call for smaller, hands-on projects like painting or installing fixtures.
“D.I.Y. work is typically smaller in scope and less expensive,” Ms. Wedeen explains, “and younger homeowners tend to be more interested in being directly involved in their homes. It’s a hands-on approach that fits their lifestyle and financial situation.”
This D.I.Y. inclination is not just about saving money but also about personal engagement and pride in crafting a home environment themselves. For younger generations, learning to fix, build, or renovate isn’t merely a necessity — it’s part of the experience and joy of homeownership.
In summary, the choice between hiring professionals and doing it yourself is deeply influenced by who you are and your financial situation. Higher-income homeowners often delegate major projects to experts, while younger and lower-income owners are more likely to take on the challenge themselves — balancing passion, necessity, and practicality in the evolving journey of maintaining and improving their homes.