Despite the attractiveness and high incomes of New York, Gen Z youth are increasingly distancing themselves from this metropolis. An analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau conducted by Redfin showed that in 2024, more young people left New York than arrived, totaling 29,554.
However, this does not mean a complete rejection of large American cities. Many young people are moving to neighboring metropolises, maintaining their professional and social ties while seeking more affordable housing and better career opportunities.
One striking example is the New York-Philadelphia corridor. In 2024, about 9,284 Gen Z individuals left the New York metropolitan area, making it the second most popular migration route for this age group. A significant difference is observed in housing costs: the average home price in the New York metropolitan area is around $8.32 million, whereas in Philadelphia, it approaches $3.09 million.
The most sought-after destination for Gen Z in 2024 was the Los Angeles to Riverside, California route, where about 10,261 people traveled approximately 60 miles. Following this in popularity was the route from New York to San Diego, which saw 9,237 young people arrive.
Texas recorded the largest net gain of young people in San Antonio, which registered a net inflow of 10,678 people. This was followed by Washington, D.C. (8,631), Austin (8,590), Nashville (8,093), and Dallas (6,944). These three cities—San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas—made the top five most popular destinations for Gen Z in 2024, collectively attracting a net inflow of 26,212 young people.
In addition to the net outflow from New York (29,554), other cities that lost young residents include Minneapolis (17,815), Los Angeles (16,465), Denver (13,882), and Detroit (11,696).
Among millennials, there was also a significant net outflow from New York in 2024, amounting to 42,698 people. This was followed by Los Angeles (31,107) and Miami (21,373). However, millennial preferences differed from Gen Z's: the most popular destination for them was Houston, where 16,365 people arrived, followed by Dallas (13,072), Baltimore (11,724), Las Vegas (8,860), and Atlanta (8,753).
According to Forbes, the average housing cost in the top five cities chosen by millennials was below $4.5 million. Sheheryar Bokhari, Chief Economist at Redfin, noted that Gen Z seeks opportunities, while millennials focus on finding more space. He emphasized that young people choose places where they can build careers and social lives, whereas millennials pay more attention to maximizing their income and simplifying homeownership.
Bokhari also specified that young Americans are not trying to leave expensive cities for the cheapest ones, but rather relocating to relatively nearby locations. This indicates a desire to find better jobs or lower the cost of living without abandoning their existing social and professional circles.
Redfin's analysis also revealed that young Americans try to avoid completely leaving their current metropolis. In 2024, about 14% of people aged 19 to 24 left their current metropolitan area, slightly lower than the 15% recorded in 2014. The data for this analysis was obtained from the 2024 U.S. Census Bureau survey of the American community. For this study, Gen Z was defined as adults aged 19 to 27, and millennials as those aged 28 to 43.
