Newly built luxury developments in Boca Raton stand in contrast to a new poll showing many younger Floridians believe the American Dream-- including homeownership-- is increasingly reserved for the wealthy. (Credit: Facebook/Uptown Boca)
By DeAndre James | Medialab@Fau
Feb 15, 2026
For generations, the American Dream has been tied to the belief that hard work leads to stability, opportunity, and a better future. But for many Floridians, that promise increasingly feels unrealistic.
A newly released poll from MediaLab@FAU and Mainstreet Research shows a sharp generational split, with most young voters saying the American Dream is no longer within reach for the average person.
The poll, which was conducted in November 2025, asked 723 registered voters living in Florida for their opinions about housing, economics, and demographic shifts in the state and what they mean for Florida’s future.
The poll found that 72.6 percent of respondents between 18 and 49 believe that the American Dream is only available to the upper class. Among voters aged 50 and older, just over half shared that view. At 18%, Floridians 50 and up were almost twice as likely as younger Floridians (10%) to say that the American Dream is achievable for anyone in the country.
There was also a gender divide in feelings about the American Dream, with men showing slightly more optimism than women: 55% of male respondents said that the American Dream is available to only the upper class with an additional 28% saying that the middle class and above can achieve the American Dream. For female respondents, those numbers were 64% and 17%, respectively.
Patrick Perez, 25, a homeowner in Port St. Lucie who is also a software engineer for MTN Global , said he believes the American Dream is slipping away for most. “The American Dream to me means supporting yourself and a family, being able to live comfortably and setting up your children's future success,” Perez said. “I do not believe it is still achievable for most.”
Perez said he has little confidence that leadership will improve the situation. “No, there is not one leader I trust with making things better for America or the rest of the world,” he said. “I think those in power have feelings that surpass even greed.”
The poll results reflect a growing sense of economic frustration among younger Floridians and Americans more broadly, many of whom are facing rising housing costs, student loan debt and wages that have not kept pace with inflation. For some, milestones that once defined the American Dream such as buying a home, building savings, or feeling financially secure now feel increasingly out of reach.
Caroline Hanley, a professor of sociology at the Virginia university William & Mary, whose research examines earnings inequality and economic restructuring in the United States, said Americans still value the idea behind the American Dream, even if it feels farther away than it once did.
“What Enobong Hannah Branch and I report in our book, Work in Black and White, is that Americans continue to value the premise behind the American Dream,” Hanley said. “But it feels remote from people's day to day lives because it is: we have more economic insecurity, more inequality, and fewer opportunities for upward mobility in the US today than in the past.”
Hanley added that while economic insecurity is rising overall, it has not been experienced equally across groups. “Economic insecurity is not new for everyone,” she said, explaining that many of the stable jobs available in the postwar period were not equally available to women, across racial groups, or to Black men. She also said the pathway from college education to career stability is less straightforward today than it was 25 years ago.
Still, some young adults say the American Dream is not completely dead but changing.
Elliot Figueroa, 25, who works in IT and lives in Miami, said his definition of the American Dream is simple: stability. “Living financially stable where you are not burdened with the thought of struggling to pay bills,” he said.
But Figueroa said that kind of stability feels harder to reach for many young people today. “I am currently treading the waters financially,” he said.
Figueroa said younger generations may have more career options than earlier generations, but less ability to afford major purchases. “I feel like we have more opportunities to succeed than our parents did, however they had it easier for making big purchases like houses and cars,” he said.
He also expressed doubts about the country’s current economic direction. “I do believe a good leader can help this economy prosper, however under our current leadership, I don’t think it’s possible as of right now,” Figueroa said. “I feel pessimistic for the future if our government keeps going down its current path.”