Equities Have Surpassed Housing in US Household Net Worth

Corporate stock holdings now account for a record portion of wealth as residential real estate values represent a smaller share.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Residential

Isometric editorial illustration of a brass bull figure and a ceramic house model, representing the shift in household wealth composition. — Corporate equities have reached 39.9 percent of total United States household wealth, outpacing residential real estate as the primary driver of net worth growth. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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United States household net worth has reached $185.65 trillion, with equities now comprising 39.9 percent of that total. Meanwhile, residential real estate equity has fallen to 19.3 percent of total household wealth.

Why it matters

The shift in asset composition reflects significant market returns that have outpaced the growth of residential real estate values. This divergence highlights a transition in how American families store and grow their wealth compared to previous years.

Corporate equity holdings now total $74.03 trillion, representing 39.9 percent of the $185.65 trillion in total US household net worth. By comparison, owners' equity in residential real estate sits at $35.81 trillion, or 19.3 percent of total net worth.

The players

Federal Reserve

The central bank of the United States oversees the collection and publication of national Financial Accounts data.

Bank of America

This multinational investment bank provides ongoing financial analysis and market outlooks for major indices like the S&P 500.

The details

The composition of household wealth has shifted significantly, with equity exposure increasing by 12.6 percentage points since the third quarter of 2022. During the same period, the housing share of net worth decreased by 3.5 percentage points, despite the Case-Shiller national home price index rising 1.5 percent in the year through June 2026.

Q3 2005 marked the peak of real estate exposure at 24.1 percent.
Q3 2022 began the current divergence in household wealth.
June 2026 saw a 1.5 percent annual rise in the Case-Shiller index.
September 21, 2026, marked the Nasdaq and S&P 500 market close.
December 2026 is the expected release of the next Financial Accounts report.

Culture Shift

The current 19.3 percent share of net worth in real estate remains well below the 24.1 percent peak reached in Q3 2005. This shift reflects a broader societal move toward market-based assets as the primary driver of household wealth accumulation.

Homeowners may find their total wealth less tied to property value than in recent cycles, potentially influencing how they approach savings and retirement planning. Those with significant stock portfolios may see their net worth fluctuate more closely with the volatility of the Nasdaq and S&P 500.

The takeaway

As equity markets play a larger role in household balance sheets, investors should consider the implications of a portfolio more heavily weighted toward corporate stocks. Diversifying assets between real estate and market securities can help manage the risks associated with these shifting financial trends.

What happens next

The Federal Reserve will provide updated figures on household net worth and asset distribution when it releases the next Financial Accounts report in December 2026.