My parents married when Mom was 34, Dad, 28. They are still living, happily married. Age is a factor if you plan on lots of children. Two of three children are living. My brother died after two days, reason unknown. The job at which my Dad worked 40 hour weeks provided enough money to enable Mom to quit her job to raise us. He bought a house and had excellent benefits, all on a high school diploma and three years of mechanical training from the military. The same job today requires a minimum of a Master's degree in mechanical engineering, computers expertise, and 8-10 years experience. The only jobs at the same firm for someone with high school and military training would be working part-time as a custodian, probably for a private cleaning company on a contract basis. IOW, in no way enabling a man to support a wife and family. Societal conditions have pushed the age of marriage way up for both men and women. It can no longer be said what are appropriate ages. My Mom hardly stayed waiting at home. At 34, she had worked her way up on a high school diploma to being in charge of billing at the local water utility. Her job is nowadays replaced by a computer! She did help my Dad to buy the house, outright, no mortgage.