Young Americans Are Fleeing Big Cities for These 8 Housing Markets

New York: Young Americans are packing their bags and leaving big cities. The high cost of living is pushing them to seek out suburban and exurban areas. It’s a big shift from the trend of moving back to cities that we saw in the past couple of decades.

This isn’t the first time people have left crowded urban areas. Back in the 50s and 60s, many Americans moved to the suburbs, chasing that classic dream of a home with a white picket fence. Now, it seems like history is repeating itself, but with a twist.

According to Zillow’s senior economist, Orphe Divounguy, many young folks are heading even further out to the exurbs. These are communities just beyond the suburbs but still close enough to commute to the city. They offer a nice mix of suburban life and access to urban job markets.

The pandemic has changed how people work, too. With more hybrid work options, many are discovering smaller cities they might have ignored before. Treh Manhertz from Zillow noted that this shift is likely driving the trend.

Cities like New York, San Jose, and Los Angeles are seeing many millennials and Gen Zers move out. In fact, a report showed that nearly two-thirds of those leaving New York were from these younger generations.

But don’t get it twisted—city life isn’t dead. Young people are still moving into pricey markets, but there’s definitely a noticeable trend of them leaving the hustle and bustle for more affordable living. Zillow’s recent analysis showed that seven out of the top ten housing markets people are interested in are suburban or exurban.