Map Reveals Cities Where Gen Z Are Flocking To

Gen Z are flocking to cities like Denver, Minneapolis, Austin and Philadelphia, suggesting a shift toward lifestyle-driven relocation patterns, new analysis from Bank of America shows.

The report, based on internal account data through the first quarter of 2026, found Gen Z is moving to different cities than older generations, showing diverging migration patterns across age groups.

"This suggests that while some Gen Z may be attracted to cities with growing employment and career prospects, lifestyle and culture may also be major drivers," Bank of America said.

Why It Matters

The findings point to a growing divergence in how younger and older Americans are choosing where to live, with Gen Z's mobility increasingly shaped by factors beyond traditional job growth or affordability.

What To Know

The Bank of America analysis showed there has generally been a slowdown in relocation across most age groups over the past three years, with the exception of Gen Z, which has remained comparatively resilient.

Gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, was the only generation which had a larger number of movers in the first quarter of 2026 than in 2023, despite a modest decline since last year.

While Gen X and baby boomers generally follow the same trends of moving to certain areas, Gen Z's patterns are different, suggesting they have different priorities when choosing where to live.

Gen Z movers were more drawn to cities like Denver, Minneapolis, Austin and Philadelphia compared to older generations, which were the top four cities for Gen Z population growth.

However, some of the cities with the largest relative growth in Gen Z populations, such as Denver and Minneapolis, saw slight decreases in jobs created in January, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This suggests Gen Z may be prioritizing factors like culture, environment and career progression opportunities when choosing which cities to move to, Bank of America suggested.

Gen Z was also not deterred by higher costs of living, moving to cities like New York City, San Francisco, Seattle and San Jose, California, which all saw decreases in populations of Gen X and baby boomers.

The Bank of America analysis suggested Gen Z, being earlier in their careers, may be more attracted to the opportunities these cities may offer, compared with older generations which are prioritizing moving to less expensive places as they get closer to retirement.

While Gen Z and millennials did not target the same cities at similar rates, there were some cities which increased their populations of both generations. These include Austin; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Richmond, Virginia, as well as West Coast tech hubs like Seattle and San Francisco, alongside Denver, Minneapolis and Philadelphia.

Bank of America noted places with a bump in millennial and Gen Z populations may experience pressures on their rental markets, as young people are more likely to be renters.

What Happens Next

Gen Z could continue reshaping migration patterns if current trends continue, with younger Americans increasingly flocking to different cities than older generations.

Cities attracting young populations could experience effects like greater demand for rental housing.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 5:54 AM.