Millennials on the move prefer the south, Gen Z the northeast

Gen Z and millennials have their differences when it comes to lifestyles – and also regarding preferred places to live.

Both groups are part of the trend that has put interstate moving at an all-time high, with a record-breaking 8.2 million Americans making the move across state lines in 2022, according to Storage Café.

Conversely, same-state relocations plummeted over the last decade, from 37.8 million Americans involved in local moves in 2013 to just 31 million in 2022.

Millennials (aged 24 to 39) represent the largest cohort (34%) of those moving out of state, typically seeking a “better” home and a “thriving” job market, according to the report, often in the South.

Texas saw a net influx of over 75,000 millennials in 2022, making it the top choice for young professionals, while Georgia emerged as the runner-up, welcoming a net gain of 36,000 millennials. Florida ranked a close third in net migration.

Gen Zers are the second-most mobile generation in the US, and they are choosing to avoid major urban hubs such as Los Angeles and New York City, instead opting for locations where they can solidify their career paths and streamline life expectations.

Connecticut and Washington, D.C., top that list as they offer higher incomes, on average,

“Impressively, the influx of 13K young people that DC experienced in 2022 represents almost a quarter of the District of Columbia’s total Gen Z population,” according to the report.

As the first digitally native generation, Gen Zers are more comfortable with fully remote working. Their approach to work-life balance and their lifestyle preferences opens them up to a wider range of potential places to call home and might even influence the migration status quo currently seen flowing mainly towards Southern hotspots.

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DC is home to the largest cohort of remote workers in the US – roughly 23% of the local talent pool – appeals to this group. Connecticut has 14% of its workers doing so remotely.

Gen Z also seeks a slower pace of life, according to the report, and North Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Pennsylvania provide that.