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Texas is the No. 1 destination for Gen Zers on the move, study says
Gen Z likes the state of Texas.
A new population analysis by real estate marketplace Zillow has pegged the Lone Star State as the No. 1 destination for adults born between 1996 and 2004 – also known as Gen Z.
Using data from the 2022 U.S. Census Bureau, the report identifies the Top 10 states to which Gen Zers are moving, and Texas was the runaway winner – far outranking No. 2 destination California with 76,805 Gen Z movers, versus California's 43,913.
Reasons for moving vary, but the report says young adults from 18 to 24 years old may prefer to live in states with high performing job markets, especially in a place like Houston where many top employers reside. In fact, Houston has previously scored No. 9 in a 2023 list ranking the best cities for Gen Z.
Favorable weather also may play a factor in the high migration of Gen Z'ers, the report suggests. Texas' mostly year-round sunshine makes it more attractive to younger crowds who are looking for fun activities around the state, not to mention the advantageous impact on dating opportunities.
Other top states with high influx of Gen Z movers include Washington (No. 5), which added over 33,500 Gen Z movers in 2022, and Colorado (No. 6) with just under 31,000 new Gen Z residents.
Their least favorite destination was Michigan. The Northeast also ranked poorly, with four New England states – Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine – all in the bottom 10.
High cost-of-living states like Washington, Colorado, and Virginia (No. 7) are places where young adults are more likely to have a bachelor's degree, work in tech, or serve in the military, according to Zillow principal population scientist Edward Berchick.
However, becoming a homeowner is much more difficult, as the report found 77 percent of the Gen Z workers in these states are renters.
"Gen Z movers are likely drawn to the job opportunities in these states, despite the higher costs of housing," Berchick explains. "They may also be in a stage of life where they're willing and able to be flexible in their standards of living while starting their careers."
The top 10 states for Gen Z movers are:
- No. 1 – Texas
- No. 2 – California
- No. 3 – Florida
- No. 4 – North Carolina
- No. 5 – Washington
- No. 6 – Colorado
- No. 7 – Virginia
- No. 8 – Illinois
- No. 9 – Georgia
- No. 10 – Arizona
