Young Americans are still migrating to metropolitan areas with abundant job opportunities, but Generation Z and Millennials are increasingly leaving coastal employment hubs for other destinations.
According to an analysis by Redfin based on the American Community Survey by the Census Bureau, adults aged 19 to 27 in 2024 are defined as Generation Z, while those aged 28 to 43 are defined as Millennials.
Released on September 15, Redfin’s analysis found that San Antonio attracted the most Generation Z migrants, with a net gain of 10,678 people.
Washington D.C. ranked second, with a net influx of 8,631 Gen Z residents, followed by Austin, Nashville, and Dallas.
Meanwhile, New York City had the highest net loss of Generation Z residents, with 29,554 people leaving. Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and San Francisco were also among the metropolitan areas with the highest Gen Z population losses.
In terms of Millennials, Houston topped the nation with a net influx of 16,365 people, followed by Dallas, Baltimore, Las Vegas, and Atlanta.
The speed at which Millennials are leaving New York also surpasses any other metropolitan area, with a net loss of 42,698 people. Los Angeles closely follows, losing 31,107 Millennial residents, while Miami lost 21,373, Washington D.C. lost 12,364, and San Francisco lost 11,819.
Redfin noted that the top 5 metropolitan areas with the highest increase in Millennials have median home sale prices below $450,000. In contrast, the median home prices in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco may exceed $800,000.
However, young Americans are not just fleeing expensive cities for the cheapest areas they can find. Redfin’s Chief Economist, Sheharyar Bokhari, stated that Generation Z adults prefer metropolitan areas with ample job opportunities and vibrant social activities, while Millennials place more emphasis on housing costs and living space.
Bokhari said, “Generation Z pursues opportunity, while Millennials seek space.”
Moreover, when young Americans move from one metropolitan area to another, they may not necessarily relocate far away.
Redfin revealed that the most common migration route for Generation Z in 2024 was from Los Angeles to the Riverside metro area. This area is located about 60 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, covering cities like Ontario and San Bernardino. Many residents in Riverside still commute to work in Los Angeles.
This trend is not limited to Southern California. Redfin’s data for 2024 showed the top ten migration routes for Generation Z all occurred between relatively closer metropolitan areas, such as from New York to Philadelphia, from Minneapolis to St. Cloud, and from Baltimore to Washington.
Overall, population mobility has also decreased. Redfin reported that in 2024, about 14% of 19 to 24-year-olds moved to another metropolitan area, down from approximately 15% in 2014. Among the 25 to 34-year-old population, this proportion decreased from 11% to around 9% during the same period.