Partisanship didn’t seem to be a factor in these findings, and education level didn’t have a dramatic impact. Instead, the response reveals widespread sentiments held across the country. It also means that a large number of adults feel that the American dream is more attainable by focusing away from material wealth as a measure of success. Overall, 36 percent say their family has achieved the American dream, while another 46 percent say they’re “on their way” to achieving it. And an arguably small amount, just 17 percent, say that the American dream is wholly out of reach. It’s notable that respondents made it explicitly clear that the traditional indicators of the American dream aren’t relevant anymore. Around half say that owning a home and having a successful career aren’t essential. That could be related to the fact that homeownership has become harder and harder for a large share of American people. But more so, it shows that values of freedom and family are simply much more important to people than money.
