I have been married for 8 years and was given a hand-me-down mattress. So I don't even know how old our mattress was. This mattress was a godsend, it is perfect for me as a stomach sleeper. The firmness says it is soft - medium but its pretty firm. (That may change with time.) My husband likes soft mattresses and he is not too happy with how it is on the firmer side, but the base makes up for it completely! I did not realize that it came with massage options so it was a pleasant surprise especially for my daughter who is immobile and benefits greatly from it. It's really great to have the adjustable base for reading and watching tv it also helps to prop my daughter up in a seated position. Overall it has been a great purchase. So good that we bought another one for another room. I highly recommend!