The Church Number: 55% of Younger Adults Prefer Small Churches

Article by: Thom S. Rainer

Founder of Church Answers

Read the full article HERE

It’s a massive change that few church leaders are noticing.

For decades, the conventional wisdom was simple: younger generations flocked to bigger churches with contemporary music, better tech, and full-service programming. That assumption may now be outdated. According to a groundbreaking 2023 national study of churchgoers, a majority of 18- to 34-year-olds—exactly 55%—say they prefer smaller churches.

And this isn’t just some internet poll or denominational one-off. The finding comes from This Place Means Everything to Me: Key Findings from a National Survey of Church Attenders in Post-Pandemic United States, published by PRRI (Public Religion Research Institute) and the New York-based nonprofit organization, Faith Communities Today (FACT).

The survey is large, recent, and credible. Conducted in late 2023,  it offers one of the most detailed snapshots of what church life looks like post-pandemic, with a nationally representative sample  across regions, ethnicities, and denominations.

The phrase “smaller churches” was clearly defined as those with  fewer than 250 attendees. For many churches in the U.S.—especially those under 100 in attendance—this number may feel aspirational. But within the broader church landscape, 250 still signals intimacy, relationship, and visibility. And “fewer than 250” does not mean 250. It could mean 50, 85, or 126.

In short, the 55% number is more than a stat. It’s a directional signal. If you’re in a smaller church, this may be the most hopeful news you’ve heard in years. And if you’re leading a larger church, it’s still good news—it just means you’ll need to work harder to create small environments inside your big one.

Younger Adults Are Redefining Church Norms

The next generation isn’t just walking away from church—they’re quietly rewriting the rules for what church should look like. The same survey that revealed the “55%” church number also points to a broader trend:  younger adults are reshaping expectations  around size, style, and spiritual engagement.

Unlike their parents or grandparents, most younger adults aren’t looking for the biggest show in town. They’re opting for authenticity over performance, relationship over programming, and participation over passivity.

Their preference for smaller churches is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. They want to be seen, heard, and known—not just entertained or managed. And that means traditional metrics of success don’t carry the same weight anymore.

This generation is also blurring the lines between spiritual spaces and community ministries and outreach. They’re more likely to want churches that actively serve their communities and tackle real-life issues.

This movement is not atheological. Theology still matters, but so do tone and transparency.

What’s happening here is subtle but significant: church norms aren’t being abandoned—they’re being redefined. And if we’re paying attention, we’ll realize that this isn’t a crisis. It’s an opportunity.

Smaller Churches Are a Better Fit For Younger Adults

One of the key insights from the study is that smaller churches aren’t just being tolerated by younger adults—they’re actually preferred. Again, 55% of adults under the age of 40 say they would rather attend a church with fewer than 250 people. That’s not just a nudge toward intimacy—it’s a loud signal that “big” doesn’t mean “better” for the next generation.

Why the shift? For many younger adults, large churches can feel overwhelming, impersonal, and even performative. They often describe smaller congregations as more authentic and community-driven. In a smaller setting, you’re more likely to be known by name, have access to leadership, and find opportunities to contribute meaningfully. In short, smaller churches feel more human.

This preference also aligns with broader generational trends. Younger adults value relationships, transparency, and shared ownership. They aren’t drawn to charismatic pastors or elaborate productions. Instead, they’re looking for a place to belong—and smaller churches are well-positioned to meet that need.

If your church fits that size, don’t apologize for it. Embrace it. Highlight it. Many younger adults are looking for what you already are. You’re not too small to make a difference—you may be just the right size to reach the next generation.

The Opportunity For Smaller Churches is Bigger Than Ever

For decades, smaller churches have felt like second-class citizens in the church growth conversation. They’ve been told to emulate larger churches, expand their programming, or make things more “excellent” if they want to attract younger generations. But the data from this recent study flips that narrative on its head.

If 55% of younger adults prefer churches under 250 in attendance, then smaller churches are not the underdog—they’re the frontrunner. This should be an enormous encouragement to pastors and church leaders who serve in modest congregations.

Smaller churches offer the very things younger generations are looking for: authenticity, connection, involvement, and community. In these churches, people can actually know each other.

Small is Relative - But It's a Real Trend

What qualifies as a “small” church? The answer depends on who you ask. For some, anything under 250 feels too small. For others, a church of 150 feels like a crowd. But when researchers use the term “small,” they often mean churches with fewer than 250 in

attendance—and that’s the number highlighted in the study we’ve been exploring.

According to the 2024 report This Place Means Everything to Me, 55% of younger adults say they prefer a church with 250 people or fewer. Again, “fewer” includes churches of 65 or 42 or 128 in attendance. Whether you call that small, midsized, or right-sized, it’s a clear indication of a shift.

Younger generations are looking for something more human, more relational, and less anonymous.

This doesn’t mean that large churches are in trouble or that growth is bad. But it does mean that church leaders need to rethink assumptions about what younger adults actually want.

The draw is no longer size—it’s connection. And if churches once dismissed as “too small” are actually better positioned to meet that desire, then the church growth scoreboard may be overdue for a reset. Small is relative—but this trend is very real.

What Smaller Offers That Larger Often Can't

There’s a certain kind of spiritual chemistry that happens in a smaller church. It’s not about perfection or polish—it’s about presence. Smaller congregations often create a space where people feel known, seen, and missed when they’re not there.

You’re not just another face in the crowd. You’re a person with a name, a story, and a seat at the table. That kind of relational environment is what younger adults are craving. The post-pandemic shift has made people more aware of their desire for connection, authenticity, and shared purpose.

Smaller churches offer that in ways large churches often struggle to replicate, even with the best of intentions. There’s less formality, fewer layers, and usually more opportunity to jump in and serve, belong, and be shaped.

It’s not that large churches are incapable of these things. Many of them are working hard to build smaller environments within their structures. But for the average person walking through the doors, the smaller church often gets there faster. It’s simpler. It feels more real.

And in an age where loneliness is a cultural epidemic, that matters more than ever. What smaller churches may lack in size, they make up for in depth. And depth, right now, is what people are hungry for.

Don't Confuse "Small" With "No Evangelism"

There’s a necessary caution to add here: just because younger generations prefer smaller churches doesn’t mean churches should be content with spiritual inertia. “Small” should never be a synonym for complacent, nor an excuse to neglect evangelism. The Great Commission wasn’t size-specific. It was obedience-specific.

A church of 50 can be a mighty force for gospel advancement. In fact, smaller churches often have greater agility to build relationships, serve their neighborhoods, and disciple people more deeply. But that agility must be accompanied by intentionality. If we’re not prayerfully pursuing the lost, equipping believers to share their faith, and opening our doors to new people, we risk becoming cozy country clubs instead of missional outposts.

Church leaders—especially planters and pastors of smaller congregations—should constantly evaluate whether their size reflects missional clarity or just comfort. There is no virtue in being small for small’s sake. But there is great power in being small on purpose—when that purpose is shaped by a relentless focus on reaching the lost and multiplying disciples.

In short: be small, but be strategic. Be personal, but be purposeful. And never forget that the One who sends us into the world is not constrained by square footage, budgets, or attendance counts. He simply asks for faithfulness.