The report, based on moves within the United States, highlights how job opportunities and lifestyle choices shape where these younger generations live. While coastal hubs like New York and Los Angeles remain key departure points, the migration patterns reveal a strong preference for regional moves rather than cross-country relocations.
Where Young Professionals Are Going
Gen Zers are gravitating toward cities that offer a blend of career growth and social activity. Washington, D.C., Austin, and Nashville rank as top destinations, with San Antonio leading the pack. A separate Redfin and Glassdoor analysis placed Washington, D.C. as the best big city for recent graduates, followed by Dallas and Austin. Nashville has become a magnet for young professionals, attracting companies like Amazon and Apple, which are expanding or relocating offices there.
“Nashville has become a magnet for young professionals because the job market is growing right alongside the city,” said Kristin Sanchez, a Redfin Premier agent in Nashville. “We’re seeing companies expand or relocate here, bringing opportunities in healthcare, tech and entertainment that are especially appealing to people early in their careers. And for Gen Zers coming from expensive places like California or New York, Nashville can offer the best of both worlds: a lively city with strong career opportunities where their money can go further.”
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For millennials, who are typically in their 30s and early 40s, the focus shifts toward housing affordability and space. Houston leads the list for this generation, followed by Dallas. The report notes that all five most popular destinations for millennials have a median home-sale price of less than $450,000. This contrasts with the high costs of coastal markets, where the most common moves are often short hops to nearby areas.
Big cities like New York and Los Angeles are losing residents from both generations, with New York posting a net outflow of 29,554 Gen Zers and 42,698 millennials. The most common moves for both generations are short hops between neighboring metros, rather than cross-country relocations. For Gen Zers, the most common route is Los Angeles to Riverside, CA, with 10,261 movers, followed by New York to Philadelphia and Los Angeles to San Diego.
Migration Patterns Over Time
The metro areas that young people are leaving have also changed over time. In 2014, 19-33 year olds were most commonly moving away from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Miami. Today, New York and Los Angeles are still among the top metros that young people are leaving, but other cities like San Jose and San Francisco have also joined the list. The median home-sale price in these cities is often higher than in other parts of the country, making it difficult for young adults to afford housing.
The full report, including interactive charts and methodology, is available on the Redfin website. It provides more detailed information on the migration patterns of Gen Zers and millennials, as well as the factors that influence their decisions about where to live. The report is based on data from Redfin and other sources, and it offers insights into the ways in which young adults are shaping the housing market and the economy. And the fact that expensive coastal cities are losing residents from both generations is a reminder that even the biggest job centers can lose their pull when housing costs get too high.
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San Antonio is the most popular migration destination for Gen Zers, with 10,678 more Gen Zers moving into the metro than moving out. Other top destinations for Gen Zers include Washington, D.C., Austin, Nashville, Dallas, Providence, Las Vegas, Virginia Beach, Honolulu, and Charleston. Three of those five metros are in Texas, and several stand out as particularly attractive places to start a career.
Houston is the most popular destination for millennials today, with 16,365 more millennials moving into the metro than leaving. For Gen Zers and Millennials, the Most Common Moves Are Short Hops, Not Cross-Country Treks. The most common Gen Z route is Los Angeles to Riverside, CA, with 10,261 members of the generation making that move in 2024. It’s followed by New York to Philadelphia and Los Angeles to San Diego.
For millennials, the most common route is also Los Angeles to Riverside, with 19,983 movers, followed by Washington, D.C. to Baltimore and San Jose to San Francisco. The typical home in New York sells for $832,000, compared with $309,000 in Philadelphia, and the typical home in Minneapolis sells for $404,000, compared with $323,000 in St. Cloud. Roughly 14% of 19-24 year olds moved away from their metro area in 2024, down from roughly 15% in 2014. And roughly 9% of 25-34 year olds relocated in 2024, down from about 11% in 2014.
