12 U.S. Cities Attracting Millennials: A Massachusetts Favorite Tops the List
Millennials, who range in age from their late twenties to early forties, have an opportunity that no generation before them had at their age — the chance to make money from their laptop from anywhere in the world.
A study by the financial technology company SmartAsset found that one in four millennials relocates to a new American city.
One Massachusetts city ranked among them. Can you guess which one it is?
Making Moves
Whether relocating to a different city in the state they already reside in or from a foreign country altogether, millennials are on the move.
SmartAsset used U.S. Census Bureau data to determine the cities with the highest population of newly transplanted millennials.
1: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Millennials moved to Cambridge more than any other American city in 2022. Home to Harvard University and across the river from Boston, 14.7% of Cambridge’s population is millennial newcomers.
That totals around 17,275 adults relocating to the city, with a median age of 29.
2: Santa Clara, California
From California’s Great America amusement park to several tech company headquarters, Santa Clara is a bustling place, and millennials want in.
Located near San Jose in Silicon Valley, 13.3% of Santa Clara’s population is from the massive generation, totaling nearly 16,661 people.
3: Seattle, Washington
Millennials are packing their bags for Seattle, wanting to take advantage of this well-known Pacific Northwest city.
With a median age of 36 years, Seattle is home to 93,302 new millennials, making up 12.5% of the population.
4: Sunnyvale, California
Sunnyvale is another popular destination among millennials in the Golden State’s Silicon Valley. A total of 18,862 millennials moved to the picturesque urban-suburban city in 2022.
The median age of Sunnyvale residents was 35.9 years.
5: Denver, Colorado
Many young people flock to Colorado’s capital for its glorious mountain views and outdoor recreation opportunities.
In 2022, Denver saw an influx of 85,390 millennials, totaling 12.1% of its population.
6: Arlington, Virginia
Located just about 15 minutes from Washington, D.C., Arlington is a vibrant and exciting place for millennials to live. While the housing costs are steep, the city saw 26,699 millennials move there in 2022.
With a median age of 35, millennials are bound to find friends their age in Arlington.
7: Bellevue, Washington
Another city in Washington made the top ten among millennials: Bellevue. This picturesque city across Lake Washington drew in nearly 17,131 millennials in 2022, accounting for 11.3% of the population.
It has the oldest median age on the list, at 39.
8: Killeen, Texas
Killeen is known as an affordable city in Texas, which may be one of the reasons millennials are moving there. In 2022, it attracted 16,853 millennials, making up 10.8% of the population.
The city boasts a strong military presence due to its proximity to Fort Hood.
9: Austin, Texas
Austin isn’t as affordable as Killeen, but it’s still popular among millennials. It’s home to the University of Texas and has been bursting with culture, excitement, and charm for generations.
Millennials are making their way in, with a whopping 103,461 moving to Austin in 2022.
10: Sandy Springs, Georgia
Rounding out the top ten is Sandy Springs, which was ranked one of the best places to live in Georgia by Niche. It has plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks for residents.
Over 10% of the city’s population comprises newcomer millennials, totaling 11,210 individuals.
11: Savannah, Georgia
Following closely behind Sandy Springs is Savannah, another millennial fan-favorite city with southern charm, parks, and riverfront views.
In 2022, 15,303 millennials moved to Savannah, making up 10.25% of the city’s population.
12: Boulder, Colorado
While its high cost of living is a downside, it’s hard not to fall in love with Boulder. A total of 10,544 millennials moved to the lush Colorado city in 2022.
Just under 28% of the city’s population is millennials.
Packing Bags
While it placed 12th overall for the highest population make-up of newcomer millennials, Boulder is one of the most rapidly growing among the millennial generation.
Over one-third of millennials in Boulder moved in the last year, giving it the highest rate of fresh millennials behind Cambridge.
Many Millennials
In Jersey City, Seattle, and Denver, 41% of the population is millennials.
Recent moving trends aside, together, they have the highest concentrations of millennials across SmartAsset’s study.
Low Riders
We know where millennials are flocking, but where are they staying away from? According to the study, Port St. Lucie, Florida, and Brockton, Massachusetts, had the lowest rates of millennials moving there in 2022.
Millennials also seemed to dodge a handful of California cities, including Fontana, Santa Ana, Moreno Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Lancaster.
Welcome to America
Millennials new to the US seem to be moving to cities that aren’t as popular among Americans of the same age group.
Data shows Hialeah, Florida, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, rank as primary destinations for foreign millennials.
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