Maybe millennials aren’t as special as they thought they were. Just like their parents, millennials with good jobs and a couple of kids are leaving their apartments in the city for a home in the burbs.
America’s largest cities lost tens of thousands of millennials last year, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau last week. More than 27,000 young adults between the ages of 25 and 39 fled cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Houston in 2018 for nearby suburbs. Las Vegas, Washington, and Portland also faced significant drops.
This is the fourth consecutive year big cities have experienced this kind of mass exodus, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of the Census.
New York experienced the biggest drop: The city lost almost 38,000 young adults, which is almost double what its drop has been in years past.
Millennials may be more selective than older generations about the suburb in which they ultimately choose to lay down roots. They leave the skyscrapers in search of good weather, high-paying jobs, and reputable schools, according to another Wall Street Journal analysis.
For young adults, the suburbs are more than just a place to settle down; they’re an escape. Even affluent adults are abandoning the hustle and bustle of city life and seeking out the quiet reprieve of their weekend homes in the provinces. No data was immediately available on the sale of white picket fences.
