America's Young Adults Flocking To These Seven Cities: Brookings

Young Americans have moved around less since the start of the recession. But when they do, they're choosing different cities to move to than before, according to a recent analysis.

Indeed, though migration among young adults -- designated as those between 25 and 34 years old -- has declined as a whole in recent years, many young Americans every year continue to take the plunge into a new city. More often, however, they're moving to what Brookings Institution senior fellow William Frey in a recent blog post labels "cool cities," rather than cities like Riverside, California that benefitted from the housing boom.

Frey finds that In the years directly preceding the Great Recession, 2005 to 2007, young people were more inclined toward cities like Phoenix, Arizona and the aforementioned Riverside. Between 2008 to 2010, though, they chose cities "which are known to have a certain vibe -- college towns, high-tech centers, and so-called 'cool cities,'" Frey writes.

Certain cities have seen particularly notable jumps. Denver, for one, rose during the recession to become the city with the highest net migration among young Americans, from twelfth most popular beforehand. Washington D.C. also saw a big increase, jumping to sixth from forty fourth.

Likewise, two of the nation's largest cities, Los Angeles and New York City, which Frey says have "long held appeal to young people," have seen sharp declines in the amount of young people moving away.

But many of America's young adults aren't moving into new cities, instead opting for or being forced to choose their parents' couch. With the rate of employment of 16 to 29 year olds last year at it's lowest level since World War II, the number of young adults aged 18 to 34 living with their parents has increased 25 percent since the beginning of the recession. Half of women 18 to 24 years old live with parents, Politico reports, and the number is higher for men of the same age.

And among many young Americans, hope is fading: 48 percent of those born between 1977 and 1993 say they will be worse off than their parents, according to a recent poll.

The cities with the highest average net domestic immigration by 25-to-34-year-old Americans between 2008 and 2010, according to the Brookings Institute:

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• 7. Portland, OR

  <strong>Number of people aged 24 to 34 moving to city:</strong> 6,656

• 6. Washington, D.C.

  <strong>Number of people aged 24 to 34 moving to city:</strong> 7,044

• 5. Austin, TX

  <strong>Number of people aged 24 to 34 moving to city:</strong> 7,099

• 4. Seattle, WA

  <strong>Number of people aged 24 to 34 moving to city:</strong> 7,451

• 3. Dallas, TX

  <strong>Number of people aged 24 to 34 moving to city:</strong> 8,731

• 2. Houston, TX

  <strong>Number of people aged 24 to 34 moving to city:</strong> 9,366

• 1. Denver, CO

  <strong>Number of people aged 24 to 34 moving to city:</strong> 10,429

Comments

[Lindytindy]

09:01 AM on 11/11/2011

Most of these I get but Denver, Dallas, Washington and Houston I don't get. Horrible weather, Houston was the most polluted city in the USA, maybe that's changed. Must be because of jobs in these places. If I were young I'd go for Sydney, Australia or Vancouver, Canada, just to name two great places, there are many more. Go live in a country that has a sane economy and culture, far less corrupt government, or at least government that leaves you alone, free health care for life, beautiful scenery, lots of great activities, culture. You really want to leave the USA and it's social and economic woes behind. Not to mention it's militarism. We haven't seen the last of the draft, I'm sure. Find out what it's like not to live in a police state.

[Ivyleaguequaker]

06:03 PM on 11/13/2011

Denver has the most sunshine days of just about all American cities, it's great for hiking, biking, climbing, running, and skiing. But if you don't like the outdoors Denver wouldn't at all be right for you. On your other comments, NOTHING is FREE, NOTHING!! If you don't pay for it outright, you pay for it in taxes!

[sarasarap]

10:31 PM on 11/14/2011

Houston was never "most polluted", there was one year where it passed L.A. on ozone only but that's long past and L.A. and others are back ahead again by a lot. Houston and Dallas weather is no more "horrible" than it is in Austin, they are all similar in weather. Not as familiar with Dallas, but Houston is underrated, it actually has lots of interesting culture/art and lots to do, all at affordable prices and yes, good job market.

[Trapper50cal]

08:18 PM on 11/08/2011

Interesting that they show a picture of Morrison, CO to represent Denver....

[axcordova]

07:04 PM on 11/08/2011

Could it be that by "cool" you mean liveable cities; cities with good public transportation, good music and food, a progressive and educated population and abundant creative class? Though if that were the case I don't know what Dallas is doing on the list.

[jstrate]

10:23 AM on 11/08/2011

Young people should take up the challenge of living in Detroit. It's a Darwinian struggle, to be sure, but why not see how tough and adaptable you are? Tell anybody you are from Detroit and they will not mess with you. Other than the elected public officials, there's nothing phony about the place.

[Ryan Noh]

11:11 AM on 11/08/2011

But everyone knows about Detroit AND can probably tell just what you're referring to in the population in the use of "Darwinian" lol xD

[mose joseph workman]

05:12 PM on 11/07/2011

atlanta is a hellhole

[imissmydog]

04:45 PM on 11/07/2011

Does this state if the people are moving from different states? Most of those people moving to those Texas cities are from other Texas cities.

[jesthefaxman]

02:37 PM on 11/08/2011

Not Austin. Everyone is moving here from California and Illinois...to name two plates I've seen a lot of lately.

[imissmydog]

03:10 PM on 11/08/2011

Well there's such a big university in Austin (and in some of the other cities listed) for people to go for. Those universities are cranking out hipsters/grad students into the cities at a phenomenal rate. In fact... I'm here in Austin too.

[EssayTask]

04:20 PM on 11/07/2011

All of them are great places to visit. How about going somewhere out of the country? There's so much to see in the world. Steve from www.essaytask.com

[Blackorpheus]

03:23 PM on 11/07/2011

Lots of Texas on the "cool" city list. Someone make a mistake?

[plaidsportcoat]

04:03 PM on 11/07/2011

oil moneys
koch, etc

[Lochness71]

03:46 PM on 11/09/2011

We got it going on man. If you have ever visited you would know this.

[Blackorpheus]

09:11 PM on 11/09/2011

Lochness, I like Scotland. Evocative country, flavorful scotch. But what does that have to do with Rick Perry's Texas?

[Nerdiac]

03:08 PM on 11/07/2011

I'm surprised to see so many outrageously expensive cities on there. I guess some people are doing better than we thought!

[Andrew Wojtkowski]

03:03 PM on 11/07/2011

We move to these cities for one reason and one reason only: jobs.

I could have stayed behind, unemployed, complaining at rallies about how I don't have a job.
Or I could move to DC, find a job instantly that pays incredibly well.

Which would you do? It astounds me how many people pick the first.

[Nerdiac]

03:13 PM on 11/07/2011

So, to everyone with a wife, kids, an aging family member, or a mortgage, they're just whiners. Got it.

[moutonnoir]

12:13 AM on 11/08/2011

(rolling eyes)

way to see the big picture, champ.

[lensamy]

02:49 PM on 11/07/2011

is it only me or the young adult category should also include those between (20-23 yr old) the way I see it they are not longer teenagers lol btw interesting article

[benro]

02:47 PM on 11/07/2011

Houston is definitely a # 2.

[Katchalater]

02:09 PM on 11/07/2011

It is cloudy and rains in Seattle and Portland but people go jogging in it anyway. Natives consider it normal. No tornadoes, hurricanes (although some Pacific storms), generally temperate and in the summer it is not humid.

[liberalbug]

10:59 PM on 11/07/2011

shhhhh!

[Lindytindy]

09:10 AM on 11/11/2011

Yes and the beautiful green all year, mountains, trees, it's lovely, but yes, rainy and overcast most of the time. Chilly too. California has the best climate, no humidity, around 70 degrees all year with ten degree deviations, in most places, the coast and desert interior are different. No insects to speak of, very little of that. But it's brown and barren in most places, studded with live oaks. Lots of sunshine. And affordable if you find the right place. Beaches in southern CA, forests in northern CA, incredibly beautiful coastline in the middle and north. But if you need a job, forget it. Technology jobs have gone to India, Silicon Valley only hires very specific skills and little of that, and it's a horrible place to live, expensive, barren, lots of dense traffic, no 'center' to speak of, just random suburban communities, not a place I would want to live as a young person, SF is two hours away except in commute time when it's four hours away by car. And CA has laughable public transportation. Everything is far away from where you can afford to live. Worst commute traffic in the USA recent polls indicate. A tainted paradise..good if you came here thirty years ago and bought a home.

[Ivyleaguequaker]

06:06 PM on 11/13/2011

I just read your other comment above, you sound miserable, you really do. Good luck, hope you someday find happiness in the things around you where ever it is.

[Katchalater]

01:55 PM on 11/07/2011

Portland, the upside if you are interested in the arts and music it is way cheaper than NYC. The downside, not a lot of jobs except service industry jobs. Upside you don't need a car; public transportation and bike lanes abound. Downside not a lot of good paying jobs. Upside if you end up homeless Portland is accommodating to the homeless. Downside rain. Upside clean air. Downside great but expensive artisan restaurants. Upside happy hours with cheap food and food carts with a wide variety. Downside volcanos. Upside Slabtown coffee.

[Sue Bryant]

05:35 PM on 11/07/2011

Eh, the volcanoes are not that close....except that one...

[Katchalater]

07:43 PM on 11/07/2011

Both Mt St. Helens and Mt. Hood are volcanic but there is one right in the city, Mt. Tabor.

[Lochness71]

03:47 PM on 11/09/2011

How many volcanoes does it take to kill you?

[liberalbug]

11:02 PM on 11/07/2011

You forgot that the best beer in the nation comes from Oregon (lots Portland made but others like Ninkasi, Rogue, Deschutes, etc. make killer, killer beer (and have tap rooms in portland to boot, at least Deschutes and Rogue do as far as I know).

[timthemighty]

03:24 AM on 11/08/2011

pshaw...... Denver has the best beer, sweetie.

[timthemighty]

03:42 AM on 11/08/2011

Flying Dog, O'Dells, New Belgium, Avery, Breckenridge, Rock Bottom, Il Vicino, Laughing Lab, Boulder Brewery... shall I go on. Colorado is the Napa of beer.

[demilieu]

01:41 PM on 11/07/2011

As of 11/07/11 Houston will only accept young, single women.

[ExaminedLife]

07:06 PM on 11/07/2011

Do us once young, single women in Houston need to vacate? Grrrr...packing my bags now - gonna miss y'all!