Home Security Survey: How Different Generations View Home Security

Boomers. Gen X. Millennials. Gen Z. These groups are notorious for their differing perspectives on life, work, and how they spend their time. But what about each generation’s view on home security?

In the 2023 Home Security Trends Report published by Cove, it reports the findings of a survey of 1,000 people in the U.S. from various generations. The survey asked questions that explored people’s experiences, habits, and perceptions of home security and safety. In this article, we’ll look at the survey results with regards to how different generations view home security.

Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964)

The life experience of Baby Boomers got them where they are today. They’re pretty traditional when it comes to how they live and their decision making. They put their trust in tried-and-true methods of home security, such as locks, alarms, fences, and gates. Additionally, they appreciate neighborhood watch groups and human security personnel.

What is Baby Boomers’ top home safety concern? The answer was house fire, according to the Cove survey.

Boomers also have a lot of faith in their furry friends to defend their home. In fact, 48% believed their dog would “definitely not” make friends with an intruder.

Only 18% of Baby Boomers said they felt comfortable using security cameras. A mere 1% of Baby Boomers posted to social media when they are traveling away from home.

Gen X (Born 1965-1980)

They grew up without technology, but adopted it as adults. Generation X tends to have some traditional views while still being open to new ideas. They can be leery and a little slower than the younger generations when incorporating new technology into their lives, but they usually come around if it will affect their lives for the better.

In the Cove survey, it’s interesting to note that of all the generations, the reason Gen X most commonly gave for not having a security system was cost. It’s no wonder, since they’re currently the “sandwich generation,” meaning they’re taking care of aging parents at the same time raising children. That is an expensive venture, and anything that isn’t absolutely necessary gets cut from the budget. Like Baby Boomers, Gen X listed fire as their top home safety concern on the Cove survey. Only 7% of Gen Xers posted to social media when they vacationed away from home.

Millennials (Born 1981-1996)

Growing up with technology in their hands, Millennials look at life differently than Baby Boomers or Gen X. As such, they more easily gravitate toward smart home security solutions and love when tech is integrated. They appreciate cost-effective and DIY options.

While Boomers and Gen X listed fire as their top home safety concern, Millennials’ was different. According to the Cove survey, home invasion worried them most. No surprise that Millennials opted to post more often to social media while traveling away from home, but still not a huge amount at 22% of Millennials. This generation was the most comfortable with security cameras at 54%.

Gen Z (Born 1997-2012)

Gen Z is still navigating their younger adulthood years, but so far this tech-savvy generation is highly receptive to the idea of smart home security. They love being connected, so integration of tech is vital. They also value sustainability.

Similar to Millennials, Gen Z cited home invasion as their top home safety concern, according to the Cove survey. They posted a bit more about their travels on social media (13% of Gen Z) than the older generations, but still less than Millennials. A strong 45% of Gen Z said they were “very comfortable” with security cameras in their homes.

It’s clear that how we are raised shapes our perceptions. All generations want a safe home, but whether or not they put their trust in a home security system depends on how they feel about technology and whether they feel it’s worth the cost. For older generations, home security seems less important than to younger generations. But younger generations were okay with posting that they weren’t home on social media, unlike older generations. Do you agree with our findings? Why or why not?

About Cove

Cove was created to provide complete peace of mind without the headaches of traditional home security systems. In 2018, the founders drew upon their 30 years of combined experience in the home security industry to offer a better solution. As a result, Cove has no pushy salespeople, no contracts, easy DIY installation, effective and affordable equipment, round-the-clock customer service, and a 60-day money back guarantee.

Our wireless system features professional-grade burglary and environmental sensors and state-of-the-art security cameras. We provide 24/7 professional monitoring for less than $1 per day, and our rapid emergency response is up to 4 minutes faster than other companies.

Ready to give Cove a try? Click below to take our quiz.