The Wall Street Journal examined whether millennials or boomers had it harder financially, comparing key data points when both generations were at similar ages. The analysis challenges the common perception that millennials have been definitively worse off than their boomer predecessors.

Millennials' median incomes in their early decades of adulthood were roughly on par with boomers', and gains over the past decade put them in a better position than many recognize. The comparison looked at home prices, student debt, and the cost of other goods and services across both generations.

This data-driven look at two of the biggest generations in American history provides nuance to the often-polarized debate about economic opportunity. The findings suggest generational disadvantage may be more complex than typical narratives suggest.