Key Findings
- More than 7.7 million millennials moved in 2024 – that’s 1 in every 10 millennials in the U.S.
- Colorado led the nation with the highest millennial migration rate (+34.8%), while Connecticut saw the steepest decline (-64.8%).
- On the city level, Hanford, CA (+82%) and Baltimore, MD (+70%) drew the most millennials, while Amarillo, TX (-84%) and Sarasota, FL (-74%) saw the biggest drop-offs.
- The top drivers of millennial moves were seeking new or better housing (16.8%) and job opportunities (12.6%).
- High-income millennials earning $120,000 or more most commonly moved to Maryland, North Carolina, and New York, respectively
Understanding where millennials are moving provides key insights into economic shifts, housing demand, and workforce distribution. This report analyzes millennial migration trends across the U.S., identifying the states gaining and losing millennial movers.
Millennial Magnets: Which States Are the Most and Least Attractive?
Some states attract millennials at higher or lower rates than the general population To measure this, we compare the percentage of millennials who moved to the state to the percentage of all U.S. movers relocating to the same area. The difference is expressed as a percent change to highlight how millennial migration trends differ from overall migration patterns.
Millennials Move to Colorado at the Highest Rate Compared to Other Generations
This migration trend reflects economic and lifestyle shifts among millennials. Many of the top states attracting millennials offer strong job markets, such as Maryland and Colorado, which ranked 2nd and 7th respectively for job growth last year. Conversely, states seeing lower millennial migration often face high housing costs, and fewer job opportunities, such as Iowa and Indiana which ranked 49th and 50th for job growth.
Top States for High- and Low-Income Millennials
High-income millennials seem to be concentrating heavily in certain coastal and high-opportunity states. Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Washington, and California all stand out, with Maryland seeing the sharpest increase; high-income millennials are moving there at a rate 138% higher than the general population. Similarly, North Carolina (+113%) and New York (+111%) reflect a pull toward major job hubs and lifestyle centers that combine economic opportunity with cultural appeal. These states also tend to be strong in tech, finance, or government-related employment, which aligns with the income profile of these movers.
This table compares where millennials of different income levels are moving at higher rates than the general population. For this analysis, low-income is defined as under $60,000, middle-income as $60,000–$120,000, and high-income as above $120,000.
While some regions are attracting high-income millennials, many others are losing them at steep rates. The decline is particularly visible in Southern and Midwestern states like Alabama, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, all of which show 100% or nearly 100% lower migration rates compared to the general population. This suggests a widening gap: high-income millennials are leaving behind lower-cost but slower-growth areas in favor of high-cost but opportunity-rich states.
There’s also a small group of states with mixed performance. For instance, Nebraska and Pennsylvania are not usually seen as top destinations for millennials, yet both are attracting high-income millennials at double-digit rates above the general population. Meanwhile, states like Florida and Georgia — historically strong draws for relocations — are actually underperforming with this group, showing declines of around 50–60%. Taken together, the data shows that high-income millennials are not simply chasing affordability, but are clustering where career growth, amenities, and urban networks are strongest, even if it means higher living costs.
State-by-State Breakdown of Millennial Migration Trends
The table below offers a state-by-state analysis of millennial migration, showcasing where millennials are moving compared to the general U.S. population.
Top Metro Areas Millennials Are Moving to and Away From
The chart below shows the top metro areas where millennials moved, ranked by the percentage of the total population of millennials who moved.
New York City Tops the List as the Most Popular Metro for Millennials
The largest metropolitan areas, such as New York City and Los Angeles continue to attract the most millennials, likely due to their strong job markets and diverse economic opportunities. However, more affordable metros like Houston and Phoenix also rank highly, signaling a shift toward more affordable yet still dynamic urban centers.
“Cities such as Hanford, Virginia Beach, and Greenville have become millennial magnets, signaling shifts toward urban centers that offer both job opportunities and outdoor lifestyles.”
Much like states, there are certain metro areas that see millennials moving to and from there in rates higher/lower than the general population. The graph below highlights the top 20 metro areas in that category. These cities have a disproportionately high or low share of millennial movers compared to broader migration trends, offering insights into shifting urban preferences.
Millennials Move to Hanford-Corcoran, CA at the Highest Rate Compared to Other Generations, While Amarillo, TX Comes in Last
Metro areas with higher millennial migration rates are likely attractive to the cohort because of a mix of strong job markets, affordable housing, and desirable lifestyle factors. Cities such as Hanford, Virginia Beach, and Greenville have become millennial magnets, signaling shifts toward urban centers that offer both job opportunities and outdoor lifestyles.
How Housing Costs Factor Into Millennial Moves
Housing prices are a key factor influencing relocation trends. The table below breaks down millennial migration rates across major U.S. metro areas and how they compare to average home values.
The average U.S. home price is $357,138, yet many of the metros attracting the most millennials have home values below or near this threshold—for example, Baltimore ($182,997) and Wichita ($194,372).
“Many of the top states attracting millennials offer strong job markets, such as Maryland and Colorado, which ranked 2nd and 7th respectively for job growth last year.”
In contrast, cities where millennial migration is lower, such as Oxnard ($760,739) and Salinas ($738,586), have home prices well above the national average. While some expensive metros like Seattle ($871,963) and San Jose ($1.5M) continue to draw millennials, it’s likely due to strong job markets. High-cost areas with fewer economic opportunities appear to be losing younger residents.
Why Are Millennials Moving? Better Housing and Job Changes Lead the List
Understanding why millennials are moving is just as important as knowing where they are relocating. The top reasons for millennial migration highlight a mix of economic, housing, and lifestyle factors.
The data suggests that housing considerations are a major factor in millennial migration, alongside career opportunities. While job changes account for a significant share of moves (12.6%), the leading reason millennials relocated was the desire for new or better housing (16.8%), indicating that affordability and homeownership goals are key motivators. With rising home prices and cost-of-living concerns, many younger adults are moving to areas where they can secure better housing options or transition from renting to owning. This highlights the strong influence of both economic and lifestyle factors in shaping millennial migration patterns.
And the millennials who