Originally Posted On: Where Gen Z is Moving in 2020 – The Cost Guys
Generation Z are quickly entering the workfoce and moving across the country. Just as millennials entered the workforce nearly a decade ago and reshuffled the country’s biggest population center, Gen Z is poised to do the same in the next 5 to 10 years. In these cities, Gen Z is beginning to take over.
Cities With Biggest Influx of Gen ZOne commonality of where Gen Z is moving is that they are going to smaller to mid-sized cities where the cost of living is cheaper. The only large metro areas which saw an increase in Gen Z population were Boston and Phoenix which ranked 96 and 56 respectively. In fact the average population of the ten cities that saw the largest Gen Z growth was around 304,000.
Here are the top cities where Gen Z is moving in 2020:
Lynchburg, VALynchburg is Virginia’s 5th largest metro area, as well as America’s fastest growing Gen Z stronghold.The city of 260,000 can likely thank its Gen Z population growth to the numerous universities in the city. The reasonable cost of living also makes this smallish city an ideal place for Gen Zers to start their careers.
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metro AreaSituated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the Huntington-Ashland metro area is the biggest in the region with Huntington being West Virginia’s second biggest city. Despite an overall population decline of 2.7% since 2015, this area has seen a 3.6% increase in its Gen Z population, making it the 2nd biggest city for Gen Z growth in the country.
Trenton, NJThe capital of New Jersey is often overshadowed by Newark and near by neighbor Philadelphia. This mid-sized city however is becoming a hot bed for Gen Z which has seen a 4.3% increase in its population despite its overall population declining by 0.8%.
San Luis Obispo, CASituated nearly equidistant from San Francisco and Los Angeles, this nearly 300 year old city has seen its Gen Z population boom in the past several years. The town has seen its Gen Z population grow by nearly 5% compared to just a 0.5% growth in the rest of its population. The city’s Gen Z growth may in part be due to Cal Poly being near the city.
Kalamazoo, MIThis city home to several universities has seen its Gen Z population grow by 4.4% since 2015. In comparison, the rest of its population has only grown by 1% in that same time – making it have the 5th highest growth of any large metro are. In comparison, Detroit has seen a loss in 5.2% of it’s Gen Z population in that time.
Data and MethodologyWe determined where Gen Z is growing the most by looking at the U.S. Census American Community Survey 2018 One-Year Estimates and then at the U.S. Census American Community Survey 2015 One Year Estimates. We looked specifically at where the 18-24 year population (Gen Z) increased the most relative to the total population. In some cases the Gen Z population may have grown, but the regular population grew the same amount. We are looking specifically for cities where just the Gen Z population is growing.