Houston had a net migration rate of 0.9 percent—or 16,365 more millennials moving into the metro than leaving. Dallas had a net migration rate of 0.7 percent, with a net inflow of 13,072 millennials.
Redfin defines millennials as people in their 30s and 40s, a group for whom buying a home and finding more space may weigh more heavily in moving decisions. Millennials’ top destinations include major employment centers where housing generally costs less than coastal cities like New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
“All five of the most popular destinations for millennials have a median home-sale price of less than $450,000,” according to the analysis.
Baltimore, Las Vegas and Atlanta rounded out the top five moving destinations for millennials. Similar to Gen Zers, millennials are leaving New York at a faster rate than any other metro area, followed by Los Angeles, Miami, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco.
When it comes to the younger generation, San Antonio claimed the top spot with 10,678 more Gen Zers moving into the metro than out—a 3.1 percent net migration rate.
Austin and Dallas also made it into Gen Z’s top five moving destinations, claiming spots No. 2 and No. 5 respectively. Washington, D.C. ranked second and Nashville ranked fourth.
“Three of those five metros are in Texas, and several stand out as particularly attractive places to start a career,” according to the analysis.
The study also shows Gen Zers are moving to neighboring cities. Redfin shows that the Houston to Dallas migration route is among the most popular for Gen Zers, with 6,862 people making the “short hop.”
Redfin describes Texas as an enduring hotspot for young movers.
Only two cities on both top-five lists for young Americans today and young Americans a decade ago are both in the Lone Star State: Austin and Dallas.
“Austin is known for both its strong job market and vibrant live-music and food culture,” according to the analysis. “Back in 2014, when the U.S. was coming out of the Great Recession, young people were flocking to smaller cities instead of the most well-known job hubs, like New York and Los Angeles. Those slightly smaller cities offered a combination of strong job markets and proximity to recreation.”