Top 15 Cities Where Gen Zers Are Moving

Generation Z is young, with a substantial number still younger than 18. For those 18 to 24, many are on the move, going away to college, starting a career or exploring life in a new place. Some are also making their first foray into the world of investing. Although this cohort may not have the disposable income of their older counterparts, their movement into new communities still plays an important role in local economies, according to research from SmartAsset. An asymmetrical move can affect demand for goods, services and infrastructure, as well as local job and housing markets. With this in mind, SmartAsset examined Census Bureau data for the largest U.S. cities to determine where Gen Zers are relocating. Researchers ranked cities based on the number of people 18 to 24 who moved into each place in 2022, as a percentage of the total population. The data came from the U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey for 2022. The study included 268 cities that had available data and 100,000 or more people ages 1 or older. Population figures are as of midyear 2022. See the accompanying gallery for 15 cities where Gen Zers are moving.